The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-01-26
THE no M G.
THE BENEFITS OF SOCIETY,

tnG ~ ME-
THE BENEFITS OF SOCIETY.
There are people who profess to find so.
ciety sha!low.and meaningless. To.a man OF
woman interested in people and In human
life 1t has perennial and a.profound inter.
est. 1t generally returns in kind whatever
is given, or rather it reflects back ones owl
individuality. There are the morbidly vail
and sensitive. the aspiring genius with tn,
perpetual grievance of unappreciation the,
declare themselves at war with society ant
an It's ways simply because 1t perceiyes IL
them only one of many and has not singled
them out for favOrs which they have not es
pecially earned. Human beings are remark
aoiy responsive to sympathy, and those wht
ale sluctreiy interested in humanity can
not fall to find in most people lovely or in
teresting traits where others perceive only
GOODNESS or indifference. Companionshin
even as little of 1t as may be had in formal
visits, is one OF the very best remedies for
dulness and low spirits. Let the woman
discouraged, put on her bonnet and make
half dozen calls. II the time is not spenl
In scandal and gossip, but in the kindly in
terchange OF opinions, in bright and cheer
ful conversation, she will return wonder
fully benefited. She will have something
with which to entertain Der own household
and she will have forgotten all about tn,
teasing tribes and the petty annoyances tina
marred her happiness and forced her to con
cl1de that life was not worth living.
staying at home used to be considered
commemorate trait in a woman, as gadding
as II was termed, was sign to be deplored
Ii Is realized now that too much staying
at home Is worse than too much going, fol
the man or woman who goes much, usually
picks up agreeable manners, knowledge and
acquires hopeful way of looking at life,
which, makes the ideal Companion
The hermit who secludes himself is morose
and irritable; the woman who shuts herself
up from the world becomes narrow, selfish
and peevish. She Is accustomed to make the
lew VINO people her realm bow to every
whlm. She Is quick to take offence at Sights,
at disregard OF her wishes aud prejudices,
and learns to imagine herself an autocrat
whose will must not be crossed. II society
teaches anything 1t teaches what is set forth
liz the old proveIb, live and let liye." The
woman who Is liked socially, and who likes
society In return. has, or has cultivated, a
regard for the feelings and opinions and
preJudices OF others. She learns not to
wound wantonly, to think before she speaks
and counts rudeness and disobligingness
among the deadly social sins. A symmetri
In absolute solitude. To develop the best
that is in one the stimulus of encouragement
and criticism Is necessary. Strength and
skill are required In honorable competition,
and the world is the field In which goodness
and talent and even genius are put to the
test. People need each other. The best So
ciety Is that where the interchange of thought
inspires the best and the broadcast ideas. and
1t Is a privilege which the wise value at its
true worth and of which they endeavor to
gain its full benefts,-Chicago Inter- Ocean.
NEATNEss ABOUT WORK.
STUDY how to look neat when doing your
house work. You may not be one of those
women who think the worse they look the
more work they can do, yet most women
from different motives occasionally fall into
slipshod ways. One is so tired. another
third believes 1t to be an extravaganza to
work "fxed up." Not that one should ever
DO rough kitchen work In an expensive dress.
or come from church and get her Sunday
dinner In her best and perhaps only nice
gown; but, giving Difference to fitness, wear
as shapely and neat dress as possible every VERY
day In the Kitchen, for many of us would
seldom look well If we waited until work
was done before thinking of self and per
s0nal appearances. That would mean less
attractive home, a chance for some other
women to look fairer If but in the children's
eyes.
1t costs no more to buy becoming prints
and giDghams than homely brown states and
drabs that make woman look ten years
older; 1t takes little more time to make a
skirt and fitted waist sewed together than
the loose wrapper or slouchy sack and skirt.
1t takes no more effort to put deep cuff of
contrasting color on a sleeve than to face it
INSIDE with the same material; il Is as easy
to make the sleeves themselves to cit and
t Hh1utIon tnem part way mp the arm to
turn back. as to cut them large and III fitting
just Tor the convenience Of slipping the
hand through. Ii Is much more healthfui
and also preventative of the beauty of the
foot to wear boots that button or lace trinity
around the ankle than to go round in thin
feet let her invite the trouble by wearing
loose mapping slippers.-N. K. Farmer.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF PLANO,
With proper care and attention of good
piano should last family lifetime, says
Chas. 81. Steinway, the piano manufacturer,
this is not given It, the piano will in time be-
come harsh and 'tinpanny," and afford little
satisfaction or delight to Its owner. Ordi-
nary practice. whether by child or grown
up person, will not injnre a piano in any
way. IL is net necessary to be a profession
what force to strike the keys in order to keep
the instrument In good condition. OF course,
1t Will not be improved by humping the
case, or by striking the keys with any hard
substance. Neither does this remark apply
to schools and institutions where PLAYING il
taught, and the instrument is used confirm.
ously Tor ten or twelve hours every day. Ia
the other case the felt portions will wear ont
sooner than If 1t was used in a private
family. "'o
The matter of tuning should not be neg
lected. and should never be intrusted TO any
pie tuners very often work irreparable in
Jury to the most perfect and costly instru-
ments: During the first year, new piano
should be tuned every three or four months
at least. After that it will only be necessary
70 nave II tuned at longer intervals.
!, Dampness Is the most dangerous enemy
the piano has to contend against. and for
gniS reason the climate must be Considered.
Ii the instrument is placed in a damn rom
Of lett open In draught of air, the result
viii DC that the strings, tuning pins, and the
rust. and the cloth used in the Construction
u the keys and action become swollen. II
s positively painful to play on such a piano.
HAVE A GOOD FIRE.
NO Intelligent woman would think of sit.
ing down to sew with a needle devoid Of a
point, or attempting to write without pen or
'encil, yet many one will ruin temper and
ood by attempting to cook with a poor fire.
'ometlmes, lt Is true, economy must BIZ close |
studied, where the stove has done dut, for |
lanv years, and the way is not clearly shown |
optain new one with modern improve |
1ents. Bnt many housewife will spend |
ouch more care and labor in the preparation |
1 some elaborate dish, and then spoil the |
,hole by attempting to cook 1t with an in.
ifferent IRE. Although more or less cooks |
urn tneir tood, the greatest evil seems to |
rise from too slew fee, so that from the |
ven s,a emerge soggy pie crust, heavy cakes /
n ,i partially cooked r0asts A weli-beaten |
b uaenet Is spoiled because, the fire being low,
e c UUos aoes not wait for the frying pan to
hst ~ thoroughly heated. trusting to duck"
n nts WI WI come out all right" The dough-
ro1pbt sag ak t lat because the fat had not been
ne WASTED y IN stirring pudding becamse il
Vii ma sk .e me milk SO long e. come 10
nd corn '"s staeS snia sSOt added the
dany woman spends all OF Satnr n Do tnEa
oOa h with d ner baking, which might eaoiy
baa me- n two with
re.-G0od Housek eeping. sooo steady