Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-03-29
THE WOMAN'S WORLD.
INTERESTING CHAT FOR THE HOUSE
WIFE AND THE MATT.
Attractiveness of wit and Beauty Shoes
of Famous Women-Thc Mysterious -
Casket-How to Care for Birds-Thc
Game of "Nho Wears the Ring"

1t is true that family OF daughters is not
viewed in the same unpromising light as for
merly, but it is still SO much of problem
that | shall undertake to disclose the happy
domestic arrangements of a friend of mine
who is the proud mother Of six girls and a
boy. Now, there are good mothers and moth
ers good only in the sense of domestic serv-
ant / need hardly say that my friend--who,
by the way, is the wife Of prosperous iron
manufacturer in an adjoining state-belongs
decidedly to the first class At an age that
would seem to many almost incredible this
lady's little tots are taught to put on their
own stockings and shoes and to make their
ordinary every day toilets. The toilet bell is
rung ten minutes before the serving of each
meal, and the children, without hurry, con
fusion or the slightest disorder, take their
places at the table, where, with their freshly
washed faces and gentle looks, they remind
one Of row of white lilies.
As the little miss reaches the Sth year, she is
further instructed how to mend and take care
of her own linen and hssiery She is also
encouraged to keep her room and bureau
drawers Systematically tidy, so that every
article may be at hand when wanted In this
way each child learns its life lesson of order,
the eldest daughter is not oppressed with
semi-motherly cares for younger children, as
is so often the pitiful case in large families
where a retinue of servants is not kept, while
vexotious searches for lost" things, with re-
peated inquiries of, who has got my this or
my thatin Did you see my so and so?"-in-
QuiIies that keep many q household in u state
of feverish unrest-become out of the ques-
ton.
The next step is still more interesting It
is taken when the little girl has arrived at q
degree Of proficiency in keeping her clothes
in good condition, and is nothing moro or
less than an initiation into the mysteries of
her own personal expenses. An allowance is
paid to her quarterly, and from this sum she
is expected to provide herself with clothing,
school supplies, car fare, church money-in
short, everything which she needs. OF
course these little women consult mamma a
great deal about their purchases and shop
ping; but 1t is surprising what a knowledge
of business methods, ways and means, and
ways Of making ends meet, they acquire by
this kind of special training, The manner,
for instance, in which two of them, with
their mamma as the advisory member of the
committee, will appraise an outgrown gar
ment-which is always obligatory upon tho
experienced dealer in costumes.
| am aware that to many mothers, with
conservative notions about children remnin-
ing children, this system of my friends may
seem overly systematic, and perhaps even a
little harsh "Would not all this business
rob home Of its chief charm and leave us
only institutions and little clerks and nler-
chants" some one asks.
| admit that the idSl Of q child receiving
everything it needs directly from its parents,
with no forcthOught on its own part, and no
moro notion of commercial values than tho
budding blossom has of the value of a supray,
Is invested with much poetic charm Parents,
with various degrees of consciousness, enjoy
the typical relation they sustain toward their
children-giving, ever giving, out of re-
source that to the little one seems illlmitable.
But let us look at the facts of life without
prejudice, and think Of the painfully familiar
homo scenes in which we have witnessed chill
dren teasing parents for the whcrewithal to
buy some article, ornament or playthinG Is
it less harsh ask, less painful to the child
to be told No, | cannot get YOU so and SO, u
than that it should cast up a little account in
its own brain to ascertain for itself whether
or not the desired object is obtainablc.
We say nothing OF the effect OF this disci-
pline upon the future man or woman. Any
one at all observant of the miserable, covet
Gus cravings Of childish women for finer sur
roundinEs than their means can command
any one who reads the daily newspapers, and
Dondars tho stories contained in them of rob
blrics and ombczzlcmcnts committed 10y other
Wiso respectable men-Oftcn, 10 doubt, com
mitted for the purpose Of gratifying these
same childish womon-vill see in my friend.
system Of mental and moral discipline noble