Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-09-27
MEAT AND POTATO PIE.
The Monotony of Housekeeping.

The chief objection urged against house
work is its monOtOny. The newlv-married
wife, with tendency to discouragement,
looks forward to long succession of wash
days, ironing-days, sweeping-days and
baking days, which must come and 90
with little variety, until they depart final
iy with all things mundane.
In well ordered household system is an
absolute necessity. The wise woman
knows that nothing is gained by postpnn-
ing the work that Is assigned to Monday
until Friday or Saturday 1t only accum-
uIates to be added to that which is already
waiting at the end of the week. Where the
washing is done in the house, if possible it
should be gotten out of the way on Mon
day, hung out in the air and sunshine,
when the weather permits, or under shell
ter if it is raining The clothes should be
sprinkled folded smoothly and tightly in
readiness for the Tuesday ironing Fri
dry is universal sweeping-day while the
pantry shelves should be restocked on
Saturday in anticipation of Sunday rest
All this does become rotine but rou-
tine has compensations that should be
borne in mind and properly appreciated.
In the first place. with routine there is no
uncertainty as to plans. 1t enables one to
economic time, and adds to the general
comfort and convenience in the end.
Then, practice makes perfect. and
where thing IS done on the same day. at
the same time, over and over again, it can
be dispatched finally with ease and speed.
There Is no occupation or profession which
Is not more or less mOnOtOnOus. For the
matter of that, life itself may by summed
up as doing the same thing perpetually-
work, rest, JOY, and sorrow, alternating,
representing the sum total of human exist
ence.
The merchant or professional man
goes to his placeof business
by the same route at the
same hour, every morning; leaves at the
same hour in the evening. and his bust
ness varies little from year end to years
end. The physician contends with eases
which require out the same prescriptions
and treatment from the time he benins
practicing until he retires. The work of
the editor varies only in the events which
he chronicles, or upon which he comments.
and not III ways or means. There is
nothing so mOnOtOnous on earth as the
vocation of the teacher with its recitations.
examinations, and per cents.
Homework IN reality permits more
variety than any other profession. for 1t Is
profession. The real difficulty lies in the
fault of regarding it as dull. tiresome, and
prosaic 1t is true that there is not much
that Is edifying in cooking or sewing on
buttons, if such work is looked
upon constantly as stupid and
uncongenIal: but when kindness. the
sense of rendering service, dignity and
sweeten it it becomes a part of the whole
duty of life performed.
The way Of varying the routine of work
is to observe all the festival days from
Christmas to the Fouth of July, with all
the birthdays and family anniversaries
Not one should pass unnoticed They
should be so frightened and gladdened
that they viii be always remembered and
looked forward to- The celebration need
not involve much labor or expense: it can
be compassed by little variation in the
bill of fare: the presentation of some
simple gift; the mother appearing in her
best dress. ready to spare few hours from
work which she permits to absorb too
much of her thought and time.
The people who get the most out of life
are not those who have the most abundant
means. They are those who know how to
dlspel dizziness with cheerfulness, TO make
much of little things. and to provide en-
tertalnment for themselves and others out
of what the peevish. the stupid. and the
envlous mistakenly degrade into drudgery.