Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-07
THE TABLE, THE b0UD0R HOME DECORATIONS AND HYGIENE.

"What a beautiful home you have?" He
| replied: eyes, but there is hardly spark
| of comfort in it. NV wife mas passion for
| art, and everything is SO done up with e1-
| elusive regard for what is consistent with
| tone, harmony of color and picturesque pro-
| priety, that comfort is a dream only of de-
| luded souls. With two sets OF lace curtains
| at the windows, in addition to shades, the
gas has to be lighted at midday-to say
nothing of keeping out the blessed sunlight.
Draperies, throws, ribbons and fol-de-rols
| generally are in such profusion as to cor
rode the soul OF man and make life hardly
| worth living. Great Caesar, why can
women be so foolish?" he GROSSLY ended.
No man ever was, or ever will be, made
| happier by ''throws" or "tides" or afghans
| for effect, not use, and women should real
| ize that fact.
Then there is the missionary sentimental
ism becoming more and more prevalent.
Women are now being inspired with great
thoughts and burning desires for the ad-
vancement and enlightenment of pagans
and savages. Little girls are being con-
stantiy urged to spend their play time and
save their pennies for the heather. Poor
little souls how they are blackmailed out OF
their good times and the enjoyment OF their
little pin money to throw them away IN the
mistaken and useless effort of converting
the heather. The last thing in this line
heard of is an organization to mako
things" for the Sandwich Islanders who
would doubtless be much happier In their
native sphere without them.
Nonsensical Advice for Women.
Another phase of the weakly sentimental
order comes up regularly in directions to
wives One writer says they should always
dress in white in the morning, and the
children should appear at the breakfast table
neatly attired, fresh and beautiful. A very
desirable thing, no doubt, but will some
body please calculate at what time in the
morning 8 woman who does her own work
would have to get up to neatly array her
self in white morning gown, wash and
dress three or four children, get the break
fast ready and the house in order, that her
husband may be pleased? And the majority
of women do their own work.
In cheap magazine-ostensibly for the
benefit of the miilion-is found the rule
prescribed, that where fresh fruit is on the
table finger bowls must be used. The in
fraction of this ruleis, to be sure, lamentable,
but when the millions of people who live
happily, comfortably and cheertully with
out finger bowl in the house are consid-
cred, the deep mourning over such short
coming may be somewhat mitigated. Still,
after reading that, some women will doubt
less think they have been living in sin and
under the bonds of iniquity in allowing
their families to eat peaches or grapes at the
table without finger bowls.
Another of the Namby-PamDyisms.
The Delsartean fad is another phase Of
the sentimental. Women must do thus and
so to exercise their muscles They must
wriggle so and so to unlimber their nerves.
They must walk so and so to get the proper
swagger, when really what they most need
is, very likely, what has been prescribed to
cure the Queen of Sweden of nervous pros
tration-to do the chamber work every day,
and work in the garden in the summer.
Her physicians say that the muscles OF the
chest and arms are healthily exercised by
making the beds-throwing the bed clothes,
turning the mattresses, and SO on. The
lower part of the body is appropriately ex-
ercised by the required work in walking
around the beds, and In doing the dusting,
while the mind is occupied by the changes
incident to the variety of the occupation.
Such mode of physical culture would
hardly suit the esthetic women of this
country. 1t would SAVIOR too much of house.
work. Gymnasiums and Delsartean cul-
ture, with high prices attached, are more
highly esteemed. But considering the
strained condition of the domestic labor
market at present, this Queens remedy
might be turned to very useful account by
those who now groan under servitude and
moan over their miseries as to hired help.
Another thing noted in the weakly senti-
mental line is the advice given that it is
better to love God than to go out to an en-
tertainment with a Young man alone. This
recalls the shepherd advertisement for "a
governess who loves Jesus, and will eat
with the children" This subject is SO wide
it will need another chapter.
BESSIE BRAMBLA