The Washington times., 1894-04-01

when they feel called upon to part with her
they out OF kindness OF heart recommend
her. and omit to mention the fault that she
leaves them for. No housewife should ever
give recommendation when she does not
approve of the girl she is discharging. At
least II she can recommend in some parttcu-
lars she should qualify it, and either give her
reasons why or her willingness to state them
on application. II is quite time there was
some place to go where Recommendation"
would mean all it says. As it is now, the em-
ployment offices arc full Of incompetents
highly recommended, and the most they-the
agents-care about it is to find places and
earn their commission.
There is no use in denying it, the cooking
schools do not quite cover the ground OF pre-
iiminary drill which each good housemaid
should have. The average cooking school
devotes mole time to concocting fancy dishes
than to daily fare. Nor do the public school
cooking classes do much more than interest
the children in the processes. The best thing
they do is to dignity domestic duties and lift
housework up to the level of fine art. worth
n girls while
There should be in every large city free
domestic training schools, just as there are
free klndergartens, and girls who take the
course should not only know how to do
few dishes, as pupils in music sing lew
songs, but they should apply their knowledge
to other dishes and to the many things
to be done about house. The majority OF
families employ but one servant. Puplis
in the free domestic schools should be trained
for general housework, since cooperative
housekeeping has not yet come down to dwell
with men. Housekeeping is q woman's pusi-
ness, and the making of home is the highest
of all womanly gifts. The care OF a small
house. before the little ones have come to
claim womans time, is often the time OF
ideal bnustaanipy She liCaa her DusiQeSS.
and is not above any of its demands. There
is wide field waiting for the coming woman
to occupy on this domestic side of life. II Is
a system that Is wanted, and the general ele-
walton of the dignity and honor OF house.
work and home-making.
A few years training has done wonders for
the professional nurse. No one Low would
think OF employing nurse who ''iust took
up with the business, in preference to
trained one. if the latter could be had, in
case of serious illness. When we have schools
for domestic training, supposed cooks, who
know nothing of the business, will find it to
their advantage to go there to learn at least
brains might well employ her bright energies
in helping TO solve this domestic question. It
is as important as the suffrage question or
any other question. If any Of my readers has
anything TO say upon this point should like
to hear from them.
A most interesting series of experiences
might be written on this subject. One can
but wonder that women have not revolted
long before this. to declare for freedom in
their own kitchens.
When King Solomon wrote, "a continual
dripping will wear away stone," he no
doubt referred TO that "nagging" wife
of his who made his life burden.
Solomon the rich was no doubt a good
provider. but no matter what some women
have provided. there is still always one
more thing to be desired. If, when they ask
for it, it is not Immediately forthcoming their
spirits fall to zero and the air about the house
is chilly, if not quite frozen. and the husband
who has been unfortunate enough to have
fallen short OF expectations is made to feel it
in a hundred ways. Ten to one he grabs his
hat and in desperation fees from home to the
corner grocery, to the saloon, If not to the
arms of the devil himself. who for the
time masquerades as another and more
sympathetic woman. The man who is habit
ually "nagged' at home is Just the one to fail
a victim TO sympathy" looked or spoken by
a bright-eyed little she, cute enough to take
in the situation and unprincipled enough to
do it.
OF course men are supposed to he strong
enough to stand anything. In reality they
are nothing of the sort. OF all creatures in
the world. besides a cat, they most delight in
being made comfortable. and the one who can
make her home seem restful place to her
husband is the most likely to keep him there.
He goes home tired and perplexed with
business cares and with ''that note to pay
tomorrow and still not glimmer Of an idea
OF where the money TO do it with is coming
from. He wants TO rest. and he does SO want
,Nln .rltf fan and Nnt har htcta
of domestic mishaps hurled upon him the
minute he pulls the latch-key out of the
door and walks in to dinner.
Few men ever give a detailed history of
their days work, even to the most sympa-
thetic of wives. They do not care to LET the
one being who believes in them see how near
to defeat they sometimes come, Wives might
practice little of this kind of reticenee to their
own advantage. Why not conceal some oftheir
worries that have been so pricklish. putting
them behind and out of sight and as much
out of mind during dinner and the evening
hour? Most husbands would be less inclined
TO take up their hats and walk A bright
little woman once told me that she never
asked for thing twice, never but once after
she was married; and what stopped her short
was this incident:
She wanted new parlor rug. and she
wanted it badly, but when her husband said:
IL will get it some time" she had replied en-
phatically: II want it now or not at alll''
He went off and borrowed the money. And
from that circumstance a series of getting
behind began. which lasted until there was
more than one hole in the rug-which is still
unpaid for. although Peter and Paul have ex-
changed accounts many times since Some
how. something is overlastingly coming up
to keep that debt alivei
The right kind of husband-and there are
Q million OF them-always attends to his wife's
desires to the extent of his ability
as soon as possible after they are made known.
Stick d pin in therei When he cannot do
that. it has u very depressing, not to say dis
heartening effect to be constantly nagged
about it.
woman's kingdom is the home. Some
who would adorn it have never come into
their heritage. but a queenly woman.
who has come into her possessions. first of all
things learns TO know the limits of her Just
expectations and the extent of her husbands |
capacities. Like skilful general, she plans |
to suit her surroundings. II she |
cannot DO that it is more than likely that |
who ought to be frank has not |
been, and maybe once in while he deserves |
a little nagging. AUNT EMILY.
Where Monks and Nuns Are Plentiful.
TFrom the London Guardian.l
The religious statistics of Belgium for 1890. |