The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-05-11
The iioar< of The Day.
EsTEILE

The uoar~ of The DAY.
. \ woman ehterrd the editoria
room Of The Intimate Friend. Sh,
I had an intelligent face aud was ap
/ parently Il well to-do housewife. Sh,
: looked healthy, but Just now seemed
To be suffering from some unusual
exhaustion, rs if she had recentl,
passed through an especially trying
experience. Her eyes were sunken
and had look of fever in them.
They showed the need of sleep.
She walked unsteadily to the desk
In the corner of the room. At that
desk sat the lady who conducted the
"Cosy Council Corner" the domest-
ic department of the periodical.
Il have recently begun taking
The Intimate Friend" said the yisi-
tor family. 1t was an effort for her
to speak.
The editor smiled at this evidence
of a sane spirit. She pulled a chair
around, and the visitor sat down
with weary sigh.
81 take the paper for the sake of
your Department." the subscriber
continued, land | have caiiel to
speak to you about Il mistake that |
think has been made"
Il cannot comprehend how any
mistake could possibly be made ia
this department." the editor replied.
Her face, her voice and her manner
had all become very severe. "What
do you refer to-"
1.-The wrong edit on has been sent
to me-the edition printed for some
other section. know you have an
enormous circulation, and such n
mistake mi ght easily be made"
The editor smiled again, and was
millified.
"Yes," she said, ''our circulation
extends to all parts Of the civilized
world. But we have no special edi-
tions for different localities. Every
copy is like every other copy"
1t is very strange. | am sure there
is a mistake somewhere, and it has
given me a great deal of trouble.
I'll tell you how it is. ! do my own
work, and have always managed well
enough. was satisfied, and SD was
my husband, and SO were the chill
dren. Well, read what YOU said
about housework, and | began to
think hadn't been working in al
together the right way. | thought
ought to 60 more according to a
fixed system, as you said"
THAT is unquestionably the only
right way to work. Intelligent sys-
tenn is everything; and with every
detail of each days work explained
as have explained it in the Cosy
Council Corner any capable house-
wife ought to be able to order her
home in an absolutely perfect man
ner."
That is what thought. ] like
to do the best ! can. So gave up
my old ways and began on the intel
ligent system you described. ! set
out to do everything you laid down
for every days work, except the
hours music practice. | couldn't
do that, for ] haven't anything to
play on, and couldn't play on it if
had; bat | undertook everything
else, Just as you said. | followed
your instructions about cooking, and
dishwashing, and sweeping, and dustt
ing and caring for the lamps, and
securing everything, and waxing ev-
erything, and decorating everything,
and improving my mind, and keep
ing up my social duties, and burn
ishing up all my accomplishments,
and-and all that. / studied French
while was brushing my hair, and
decorated bureau scarf while was
mending Johnny's trousers. can't
tell you how enjoyed sitting down
to read for half an hour, as you say
every woman ought to do every Jay."
There is nothing more necessary
than thai! 1t keeps the mind bright
and active"
"Yes, and it rests body so. And
that fifteen-minute nap in the mid
die of the day, that you say every
woman ought to take"
":She must take it. 1t is neces-
sity!'
lit was in my case; for if | hadn {
had that shouldn't have had any
sleep at all. ! worked right along
from sunrise to sunrise, not taking
time to ~ TO bed"
IF you will kindly state your
difficulty" said the editor in freez-
ing tone, "this is my busy time"
Il have stated it. This is the
third day since | began on the intel
llgent system. | kaven't had time
for wink of sleep except those fif-
teen-minute maps"
The editor rang the bell for the
office boy to show the visitor out.
''And the first days work isn't
done yet. So thought You mnst
be sending me the wrong edition of
The Intimate Friend-the edition
printed for some of those Arctic
countries where the day is six months
long, and where the women have a
sixmonths' night 10 sleep and rest
up in after their days work."
James e. Purdy in Kate Fields
Washington.