Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-01-29
IN THE DINING ROOM
A Part of the House Where ChccrGulnesi
ShOuId Abide.

Though cheerfulness or the pleasant
words, looks, and acts that constitute
such a state of being, should pervadc
every apartment of the house, its pres.
ence is particularly desirab BILE in the
dining-room. The place where all
members of the family should assemble
three times day to supply the wear
and tear of life, should, above all other
places in the house, be pleasant one.
Perhaps the household can come to.
gether only at such times then the
necessity for pleasant surroundings be.
comes still more obvious. We may not
live to eat but we must eat to live; and
there are substantial reasons for having
our stated periods for replenishing the
inner man characterized by relaxation
and general good cheer. No where will
the touch of usewifely skill be
palmer shown than in the dining-room.
1t has been said that housewives COM
petence could be measured by the
brightness and cleanliness of her hearth
and its belongings. This may or may
not be true, but will not her dining
room and its appurtenances furnish a
correct criterion by which to judge her?
This part of the house should be so con-
structed as to be sunny in winter and
cool and shaded during the heated term.
Its furniture should be comfortable and
cosy, suggestive of the bright side Of
life Even the pictures on the walls
can be made promotive of good diges-
ton, by carefully selecting only such
as represent quiet, peaceful scenes.
Among the guests at an elegant dinner
was an old lady whose husband had
fallen in the late war. A large picture
Of dreadful battle field hung just
where she was forced to look upon it
while at the table. Its vivid portrayal
80 affected her susceptible nerves as to
cause sudden illness, and she had to be
taken home. Let the general aspect of
the dining room be such as to repel sad
ness and gloom by awakening happy,
joyful frame Of mind.
The functionary exercise of any or
gan of the human system abstracts
energy and force from other organs,
thereby weakening them for the time
being. Thus If the brain be hard at
work, force Is concentrated there, and
other organs are unfit for hard service.
The digestive organs are no exception;
they can not properly perform the du-
ties required of them If other parts OF
the system are severely taxed at the
same time. II follows, that all per-
| picking cares, business, laborious argu-
ments, thrilling adventures, or any
thing requiring much concentration OF
thought or energy, should be banished
from the dining.room at meal time.
IA merry heart doeth good like medi'
cine" In no place will it do more good
than around the dining-room table,
Let each member of the family make a
| specially of saving bright thoughts,
bits of humor, harmless jokes, etc,
with which to enliven the circle at the
dining-table.
Every housewife should studiously
seek to make her dining accommoda'
tions restful and refreshing to mind
and body, espec ally for those members
of her household whose vocations bring
them in contact with the noisy world.
Let 1t be place to which they will
gladly come, and from which they will
be 10th to go, place where they may
receive new strength and new courage
The Housekeeper