Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-05-16
Good Housekeeping.

IL one were to get hundred re-
puted good housekeepers to come to-
gether and give their ideas Of what
constitutes good housekeeping, no
two would agree upon all points.
There are essentials which every one
recognizes, but there are many things
which one housekeeper considers Of
the greatest Importance, whereas
another may think the same things
of minor consequence or Of no conse-
quence whatever. 1t is a sad fact
that some good housekeepers are not
good home-m makers. The housekeep-
er should bear in mind that while it
Is essential that the home should be
clean and orderly, and the food well
cooked and regularly served, this
does not make the home. One can
get all these things in a well-conduct-
ed hotel or clearinghouse, but the
man or woman is to be pitied who
has no higher ideal OF home than
what is furnished by hotel or board
ing house, no matter how sumptuous.
A selfish woman can make a good
housekeeper, so far as the keeping OF
the house in perfect running order is
concerned, but it is difficult for a
selfish or lazy woman to make home.
A woman who would make an ideal
home must possess some judgment
and a heart in which charity and
sympathy have large place.
My idea of good housekeeping is
where a woman keeps her home
sweet and orderly provides simple,
well-cooked food makes her home
so restful and cheerful that all who
come into it shall be better for
breathing the atmosphere OF kindness
and cheerfulness that pervades the
place and where the household ma
chinery always runs smoothly because
of the constant thoughtfulness OF the
mistress of the house. A place like
this is truly home, and the woman
who makes such home deserves the
respect and admiration Of everybody.
| have seen such homes among the
rich and among the poor, for neither
wealth nor proverty prevents the
right person from filling with the at
mosphere OF comfort and happiness
the house of which she is the mistress.
A housekeeper's duties are many,
and, to the nervous and fretful, eI-
hausting What seems to the woman
of good digestion and steady nerves a
mere trifie to be laughed at and for
gotten, may appear 10 the delicate,
nervous womana calamity to be wept
over. Much Of the irritability from
which women suffer is due to their
expectations OF too much OF them
selves and others. Ifwomen could be
reconciled to the inevitable they might
make everybody about them much
happier. A choice bit Of china may
be broken. 1t is like the fall of
Humpty Dumpty:
All the Kings horses and all the Kings men
Can't put the pieces together again.
Is it worth the while to make the
whole household and yourself miser-
able for what can not be helped
A dish may be spoiled in the cooking.
1t will not help your digestion or
that OF the family to fret over it.
You may be naturally very orderly,
but some members Of the family may
not. Is it worth the while to make
them and yourself uncomfortable by
worrying over the matter q? II your
servant or any other member Of the
household does not come up to your
standard, throw the mantle Of charity
over the faults that you can not REM
edy, and pray that others may be
equally charitable to you.