The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-07-15
Advice for Girls.
From Kate Fields. washington.

embrolder, paint, and make beautiful fancy
work Can you speak French or German
fuently? Doyou read all the latest novels
and keep track of all the latest ''fads ?''
"Why, certainly, where do you think we
have been educated ?"
Can you sweep room, and dust and
arrange the furniture tastily? Can you
cook ? Ifyouc cannot, what kind of home
do you expect to have when you have full
charge of one yourself? You may never
expect to do such work, but if you do not
know how to do it yourself and are not
able to do it, your servant, if you ever have
one, will soon find it out and then will
come your struggle.
Ii you do not know how to do these
things in the name Of common sense, Of
the man you propose to marry, of the
friends who may visit you, of an innocent
posterity, don't rest until you have learned
the business of almost every woman's life,
which is to keep house well and economi-
caly. The woman who cannot turn her
servants out of doors and do their work
better than the best of them, has no right
to marry unless she has money enough in
her own right to employ skilled house
keeper to carry out her orders.
What is more pitiable than bride whose
servant has left her and who does not know
how to take up the work of her house ?
Young housekeepers with all their new
furniture and dainty ornaments and brio a
brac have need to know how to care for
them. Many homes have been almost
ruined by the wife not knowing how to
cook food properly. l do not wish to have
anyone think that eating is the chief con-
Germ in home. But some one has said
that the best way to ''touch mans heart
is through his stomach Men are quite
apt to wish to take their dinners down
town, or they will shave to meet man"
about supper time, or find out excuses to
keep them away, if the home is not in
viting
Mothers so often make the mistake of
shielding (?) their daughters from work
and care, thinking it will be time enough
for them to learn when they are in their
own homes. This is such mistake, for
when they are in their own homes and all
alone, it is too much for them to undertake
all at once. How much better it is for
them to take up first one part of the work
and then another, while they are with their
mother, and have her to direct them and
show them which is the easiest and best
way to do the work There are so many
ways to do the same thing and often
the hardest way is chosen, when, had they
been guided by loving hand, it would
have been much easier for them. 1t is
well to have them take up some particular
work and for time have full responsibility
for it. Forinstance, bread making. Have
your daughter for certain length of time,
take full charge of keeping the family sup
piled with bread This is not such a sim
pie thing as it may seem, for with bread
making should go everything that can be
made of bread dough, such as different
kinds of biscuits, rolls, puddings, bread,
cake, dumplings, etc.
By the time girl has had full charge
of that work for say two months, she will
understand it thoroughly, and will have a
good foundation upon which to build.
The main articles of food should be un-
derstood first, and then the delicacies can
be taken up easily. Then for another
length Of time she should have the care Of
the dining-room or parlors and so on until
she has had experience and practice in
every line of house work 1t is not every
one who can sweep and arrange a room
tastily. 1t may be clean, but has not a
pleasing effect to those entering the room.
A young housekeeper was regretting
that she had never been taught order.
Her house was clean but it did not look as
if it were, for it was never in order. There
would be pile of things here and pile
there. The dresser drawers were never
shut properly, if they happened to shut
straight it was well, but if they stuck out
a little way it was not noticed. Order is
something that is very important in house
keeping. If a house is in order, even if it
Is not elegantly furnished, it has pleasing
effect 1t is more important now that girls
should be taught everything pertaining to
housekeeping than it was in our grand
mothers time. Then an old and compe-
tent servant was usually given daughter
at marriage and it was not necessary for
her to have the care of those things. IL
is not so now. Everyone must know for
herself and be capable Of taking up the
work whenever it is necessary if she would
not have her life made miserable, There
is no greater accomplishment than to be
"queep of your kitchen" Music, art,
French aud all other so called accomplish
ments are good for nothing if you have not
a pleasant home. But have them harmon
ised with your home making and your
household win be happy.
The 'sonly Lemonade"