The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-10
Small Comforts.

Whether It is better to be happy or TO
be comfortable is matter which is
usually decided by our temperaments.
There are people whose happiness does
not consist in comfort or depend on II, and
Their are people whose comfort In no
wise depends on their happiness. But while
IL is clearly right to scorn material adj
vantages If they cost US our peace or
mind, we must acknowledge it is only
The part Of common sense TO take personal
comfort when il is to be had without
such cost.
Yet there are people who feel a positive
pleasure in making themselves uncom-
Portable. They deny themselves aggres-
sively. They sit, from choice in the cold
est corner Of the room; they select the
driest bit Of cake or bread; they decline
all the small pleasures Of life with an
air Of virtuous resignat ton, as If they were
entitled 10 praise for their small sacrifc-
es. Yet those who know them best have
scant respect for their self-denial. In
speaking Of one Of these self-elected asce-
tics. her sister remarked, With quizzical
glaLCe:
"You know, my dear. Kate always viii
be a martyr"
Does it appear wise to despise the small
solaces and refresh nents Of life when they
come naturally I'm our way? Is II not bet
ter judgment 10 accept whateyar or cheer
may be iegitimateiy oursl While there IS
so much suffering IN life which we lave
to bear and which II Is right We should
endure uncomplainingly. it seems as II
we might go further than this We may
say we ought 10 take special pains to cu'-
tivate habit OF finding delight and salts
faction in little pieasantnesses. and 10 con-
trive ways of giving ourselves case in
little things. The warmth of room,
the rest of a footstcol. the help OF some
invention for doing piece Of work, are
right TO take and wise to plan for and
take pains TO secure.
So. looking 10 her winters comfort as
well as her winters OBLIGATION. the pru-
dent housewife will see that hooks and
shelves are in easy, handy positions. and
in plentiful number. She viii see that
drawers pull out without sticking, and
that windows may be raised and lowered
without straining her muscles. She Will
| insist that her shutters shut tightly with
out too great effort, and stay open with
out slamming Her utensils for all sorts
of work will he Of the hest kind, abundant,
| and in convenient spots for instant use.
And this same prudent housewife VIII
think OF little methods Of helping herself
| and giving occasional rest TO her body,
| and thereby quietness TO her soul. She
will keep a memorandum sheet, with its
| lists of wants for kitchen, dining-room,
| sewing-room, and parlOr She regards her
| memory too highly to burden it with a
thousand trifes. from a corkscrew TO a
| sruoi Of silk.
She has places for everything, because
| hy so doing she krOws just where TO find
| them without spending time I'm the search.
! She takes time TO enjoy every triiiing
qualification that comes in her path.
| Her creed teaches her that the pleasan:
| things of Hfe were pat there for this pur-
i pose. and that she is unthankful who
! turns persistently away from the lovely
| everyday small pleasures God has scat
! tered so profusely along ne road.