Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-04
HOUSEHOLD.


In view of the place woman is destined
| to fill in the worlds economy, perhaps the
| gift most to be esteemed is that of home
makine-many women possess it in de-
gree, but its exercise and cultivation does
| not receive the attention that is merited.
When it is remembered that the higher
moral and physical development of the
race is largely dependent upon the home
that fosters it, it is hard to overestimate
the faculty or instinct, if so termed, which
enables 4 woman amid the most barren sur
roundings or with limited resources, to
evolve home suggestive of comfort and
even of beauty. There is something almost
pathetic in the efforts of the extremely poor
to adorn the dingy room or in the women
far in the country who, like the other,
strive for home building however adverse
the situation.
1t is worth any woman's effort, no matter
how small the house or how dingy the
apartment, to give free rein to q diviuely
implanted instinct compelling her to i'm
prove the home where her lot is cast. Not
only is it of infinite value as a conserver in
the family of morals and manners, but
amply repays the creator of whatever or
der and beauty there is in the four walls of
home. If farmers wives or other women
who lead isolated lives would devote more
time and thought to Frightening their sur
roundings, there would not be such pro-
portion from this class of the inmates in in
sane asylums.
A plain house neatly kept is more at
tractiye than a palace where neglect pre-
sides. In house that is to be dignified
into Il home, the first effort must be in the
line of cleanliness and order: secondary to
this is that of identifying, and this does
not imply large expenditure. nor crowd
ing of useless bric-a-brac, making picture
gallery of ones walls, nor the hanging of
rich tapestry. Clean floors, walls and win
dows are within the reach of many, and
bright rugs. pretty cretonne or muslin cur
tains, books, and few good pictures are
not unattainable. The desirable thing is
that women give more of their minds and
energy in efforts to brighten what have too
long been waste places. All women are not
endowed with that genius that finds its ex-
preston in the highest forms of art and
science, but unto very few is denied that
better gift which enables them to convert
even q dreary apartment into snug little
nest, and if their domain be more extensive
to make each room and the grounds around
CHEEKY and attractive.
In too many houses, and this is especi ally
true in the South, the kitchen is made as
una,tractive as possible. 1t is usually at
tached to the house as an afterthought, is
small, lily lighted and ventilated. This is
likely to continue until women, who in this
section now spend much of their time in
this place, that is suggestive of the diSa-
greeable only, take the matter into their
own hands, plan their kitchens and see to
it that this important room is made as con-
venient and pleasant as possible. The
kitchen needs to be large and have what
ever tends TO make it comfortable at all
seasons. The walls, the woodwork and the
windows should be finished suitably. and
let it be borne in mind that it is as cheap to
have the interior bright as to have it
work lighter and whatever rest can be pro-
vided for a weary woman ought not to be
overlooked, and into the whole should en-
ter the idea of cheerfulness. No woman
will work less effectively because the walls
are tinted, the wood vanished and the
floor oiled or because stove and tables are
the proper height and there is comfort
able chair where she can drop down either
to work or in the short intervals OF rest
that may come.
Women are becoming successful archi-
tects and there is no part Of the profession
in which they ought to excel more than in
the construction of dwellings. They know
the needs of house and there is little
doubt that on them this class of architect.
ure will eventually devolve. In the wait
ing for the good time coming let every
woman interested in housekeeping make it
her study to have things in the kitchen as
cheerful and comfortable as possible, and
in the building or In the improvement of a
house convince the man directing that she
knows her business and that her sugges-
tons are wise ones