Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-03-25
HELPS TO HoUsEkEEPERs.
BY MARY MARrIN.


may appear "Rints to Housekeepo-o,
but it Is "Helps," which, in this in
stance, includes hints. 1t is written
Tor more than hasty scanning. It is
hoped that some real hslp to tired
mother or housekeeper may be found.
Long ago, in poor Richards sayings,
We learned that heaven helped them
who helped themselves. 1t is thus
with the nousekeeper. She must help
herself, and in many ways To
begin, in furnishing q house, many
needless and often useless articles creep
in. For the matter of sleepipg rooms
alone, in many instances, what an array
Of decorationsi The draperies, hang
ings and adornments are quite wonder
tul, and were not put there without
much skill and labor. And that is not
all Much weariness will be the price
81 the constant warfare with dust they
will demand. A room which is used
nightly as sleeping room, in which
The bed must be made daily, will very
quickly be converted into q dust
satcher, and, as cleanliness Is, or
should be, the lsv before decoration,
in this room, the housekesper can
plainly see the way to help herself in
this instance.
Why get up this array of-French
millinery, I had almost said-pillow
cases and towels covers, and shams OF
almost every other description? And,
IS a D 'easant writer has lately said, it Is
matter of taste, but in the way of
some peoples thinking it amounts to a
sort of tinsel show, without one parti-
IL - ,y14 ha rhAl Ia
ot 1t.
less, something is almost always neg
lected, which often Is the useful
call to mind one housekesper who, in
her early setting up, was quite IN,
mindful of things needful, but,
assure you, her bay-window draperiss
we're ample.
The parlors and sitting-rooms, IL
short, nearly all the rooms Of some
houses are little less than museums for
different styles of decorative art that
have accumulated. Here is short
paragraph from q recent writer on this
subject:
"The different styles that have been
in vogue for many years accumulate in
some homes. Paper flowers, feather
lowers, wax flowers, worsted notices,
framed worsted work, applique work,
knitted, crochetsd, nstted and needle
work, in profusion and in wretched
taste, abound until one wonders how
any woman Of sense could have 50
wasted her precious life, as to fashion
such things, which catch dus-, make
labor and are rarely either useful OF
ornamental.
Simplicity In the home should be
urged, and the housekeeper should
take the initiative. In this way she
can help herself, and save money be.
sides, if that is An object. Retrench-
ments that save strength, time and
money are worth making, when the
housekeeper finds her work beyond
her strength, whatever that work be,
whether muscular labor and weary
planning or the management of un-
pleasant servants. This article is not
alone for the economical sister, Obliged
! to be such from the force and stress of
circumstances, but the sister with we'll
filed purse, who, nevertheless at times,
becomes a-weary with life's burdens
l believe the etendency Of the house
keeper of the present is 10 multiply
articles around her and to make herself
labor. May not this tendency be re.
versed by choosing the simple and USE
full? Or must the mothers days be sac
rificed in a way too often illustrated.
For such as do their own laundry
work simple rules of Washing may be
followed, if thought is given TO the
subject, and in ironing, many pieces
may be so folded as to require little or
none. 1t will also be found a saving of
strength il, in ironing, high stool or
chair is used, instead of standing SO
long.
In preparing meals many simpler
ways may be. instituted and substi-
tuted, generally bringing better re-
suits. The number of dishes served
may be reduced with benefit to the
family, If the mothers strength and
time are too much taxed to prepare
them.
One woman who makes pies and
pies, until il literally seemed her days
would end In making pies, was asked
why she did SO.
my family must eat" she replied.
"But not necessarily pies" was the
answer. "Why not stew the fruit and
give them plain bread with it7 1t Is
much more healthful for the children
and less work for you"
l do not think the thought had en-
tered her mind before. She was a con-
slant worker-I had almost said
slave to her family.
Each member of q family may be
taught methodical, cleanly, orderly
ways, helping to keep himself COM
Portable, without departing from the
standard of good house + eepin in the
least, and thereby saving the mother
many steps and much work. Often
times, the fatigue of doing everything
has SO used the energy and sapped the
springs of life, the mother cannot be
CHEEKY and entertaining and the family
wonders what has gone wrong. She 10
tired and wishes for the strength of
Hercules. The remedy is with the
mother, to simplify her work and have
each member of the household do his
or her part, unless there are we'll
trained servants, and then II Unfair
to throw all the burden Of care upon
one. The mother will age prematurely
and people will wonder why this il 80,
with all their money"
There are, Of course, other causes
that break women down. but the
amount of work attempted by some
unslded, and the amour actually per-
formed by others, is 50 great and the Ill
effects are SO manifeot, . warning ought
to be taken by those who still have
health lett to save.
can have not the power to reform
their present system OF living" hear
from some detected sister.
Perhaps not, but / am talking to
those who have.
Is my article one prolonged wailf
Nvill be . delightful wall if one sister
is, in the least, strengthened, helped or
encouraged by Its influence. That is
its mission.
And one word to Mrs. Shortpurse,
when she finds herself shopping with
n-ighbor Easymoney at her elbow.
Have your Ideas fixed on what you in
tend to buy, what your purse will
allow, and no more. Never mind Mrs.
Essymoney. She knows her business
and resources. None the less do you
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