The record-union., 1891-02-01

Under the bright blue sky"
The north wind is blowing this morn
ing, so it is good day to wash. There
are not many kinds Of work that have
not their pleasant phases and washing is
no exception to the general rule. One of
the most pleasant features of washing is a
bright sunshiny day, tor when the
clothes are hung on the line, in all their
snowy whiteness, seeming IL the whittier
IN the sunshine, they bring glow of sat-
isfaction of work well done to my queen
OF the tub. But clothes, like a great
many other things, are affected by their
surroundings, and on dull, cloudy day
they look as leaden in color as the sky
above them, having very depressing
effect on the tired worker at the washtub
Since the days when our great-grand-
mothers washed at the spring, and hung
the clothes on the bushes to dry MANY
improvements have been made to tighten
the labors of washing day. The boys of
the present day know nothing of the
music OF the pounding barrel, varied by
carrying water from the well, worked by
WlndlaSS, which was equal to any mod
ern gymnastics for the promotion of
muscle. But all that hard work belongs to
q past generation, and now we have wash
ing machines without number, soaps,
fluids and powders-all warranted to
cleanse the soiled linen without labor to
speak OF. to say nothing of the wringers,
stationary tubs, with hot and cold water
right at hand. And last, but not least, is
All Sin, the Celestial, who for a moderate
compensation will take the weeks wash
ing. to his domicile, and the odor of soap
and water and boiling clothes does not
nprnln1tp w nd
no disorderly rooms and picked-up dim
ners that are supposed to accompany that
most dreadful of all days-wash dax,
But with all the modern appliances to
relieve the toiler at the washtub, but little
has been done to Tighten the labor of the
ironing-table. With the exception of the
large laundrieS, we still use the same
tiatiron that our grad-mothers did, stand
at the table or ironing-board and press
out one garment at time Just as they
did, unless some weary housekeeper,
with no fear of being called lazy, sits
upon high chair and by folding sheets,
tabiecloths and towels, one upon
thereby make the ironing tritie
easier, though perhaps not 50 nicely DONE
But even then there are many garments
left that have to be unfolded, and care
fully ironed one piece at a time. 1t does
seem as ifthere was wide scope for some
DOty > lllNGlltlNe genius.
Washing, as 4 rule, fall hardest on
farmers wives, for the reason that they
have to pump and carry the water that is
the majority of them do), and that is one
OF the most labOrlOuS parts of the work.
Even in these days of Improvements and
iabor-saving devices, the pump is not al
ways as near the kitchen door as it might
be. Washing days at the time of the
Tudors and StuartS, though little more
important than in the preceding ages,
had none of the unpleasantnesses and
terrors which are said now to accompany
them. Articles which required washing
were few and far between, while those of
q texture that would stand the wash
We're usually worn. The dyer was
the laundress, and his trade thus
covered multitude of sins of
omission of personal cleanliness, which
the laundress would have remedied with
more healthful results. Velvets, taffeta,
and rich silks were, in the Middle Ages,
often worn by the wealthy without any
underclothing whatever, while the do
mestics and people of lower order wore
coarse wooden, also without under
clothing. The possession of a linen shirt
even with the highest mobiles was mat
ter of note, and but few wardrobes con-
tanned them. Under the Tudors night
gowns were worn though they had not
Deeu DoloIe, anu tuey were formed most
ly of silk or velvet, so that no washing
was required. Night-caps We're mostly
of silk and velvet, and these, with the
velvet night-dresses, silken shirts, and
other matters of like kind, made easy
the work of the laundress, though must
have added to the discomfort of the
wearer.
With such a meager supply of linen
said to have been possessed by the people
of the middle ages, it is mystery how
enough was found to fill the buck basket
which contained Sir John Falstatf, when
that gay and corpulent knight was flee
ing from the wrath of Mr.. Ford. 1t has
been said that in olden time the people of
Holland only washed once year; per-
haps it was the same in "Merrie Eng
land" and that might have been the
annual washing day in the house of the
Fords. No wonder disease stalked ram
pant in those days, and if it is true, as we
are told, that cleanliness is next to Godli-
ness, the people of the middle ages must
have been very ungodly people, though
otltwardly more observing of religious
rites than the people of the present day.
Mrs. e, P. ID.
Lake House, Jan. %, 1891.