The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-08-09
RESI- FOR THE WEARY
.Housekeepers Need an Occasional Vacation
as Well as Others.

ID " Ola 6k6 0V14Ol6e
Housekeepers as q class surely need
recreation as much as anyb body; but how
seldom do they take it! The daily rou
tine seems to leave no opportunity for
pleasure seeking, and thousands Of
housekeepers ar6 enduring q monoto-
nous existence. with no prospects Of
anything different. This is certainly
wrong. Eating. sleeping, cooking,
mer ding and cleaning are all very use
full and necessary as means to an end,
but when they are allowed to monop
olize life to the extent of shutting out
needed relaxation and relief, 1t is time
to call a halt.
No time for recreation? Of course
not If you wait for it; but take it any
how'll not in. q nice, big vacation,
then in SIN Ill lots. Take day at the
seashore, the mountains, the falls. the
lake. the river. or just the common
woods, Don't wear yourself out to pre-
pare an elaborate picnic dinner, but
pack up a singlelunch and go-husband,
children and all. If there are hired
men, let them have cold dinner for
once. They will live. and thrive, too.
Then if John happens to be going to
the village or to see man mile or two
in the country. and asks you to ride
with him, don't tell him you really
can't. for Sammy's socks must be
mended, or the cellar steps cleaned, but
put on your hat and 60 anyhow. Tuck
the children around In the crevices Of
the buggy and be determined to enjoy
all you possibly can. The cellar steps
and things can wait, and in week you
will never miss the precious hour YOU
took for delightful, restful drive.
Then, once in awhile, if you can't
leave home for a whole day in the
woods, live out of doors under the trees
near the house, or on the porch. That
will please the little people and do you
world of good. If you must work,
take your sewing with you. It is just
as easy and far more healthful to make
button holes and darn socks in the
sweet outdoor air as to do the same
work IN the house. Don't let house
work, however IMPORTANT, make an
utter slave Of you. once knew of a
lady with such mania fol cleaning
that her sole objectin life seemed to be
to keep her house spotless. She swept
and busted, scrubbed and rubbed,
secured and washed from morning till
night. She would follow her husband
over the house with a cloth to wipe up
any possible dirt or dust that might
Turk IN his wake, and altogether made
his home life miserable by her endless
devotion to her idol. Her husband, a
well.to-do business man, owned fine
horse and carriage, and often wished
his wife to drive out with him, but she
could never stop cleaning long enough,
50 his neighbors got the rides and she
staid at home, a perpetual slave to the
scrubbing- brush and wash cloth.
If you can not take real recreation
take your work in recreative way.
Sit out on the porch or under tree to
pare potatoes and apples. She'll peas
and beans by q cool window or in the
hammock and quaff long, deep draughts
of heavens pure air whenever you can.
Compel circumstances to yield you
enough relaxation and pleasure to fit
you for better living and greater useful
ness, Life Is short enough and wearing
enough at best; let us resolve whatever
our occupation, it shall not prevent us
from haylng good times or giving good
finooo RI nthoro