New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-27
HOME AND SOCIETY.
cREsrs AND COATS OF ARMS.
VOTING HousEKEEPERs FIRST DUTY-TTIE
,n1r GIRL OF socIErY-rHE REIGN OF THE

BY, direction with ducal strawberry leaf. sur
sr,t,nC we,!-known crest. which hung in the
,s.roon Of one Of the largest harness-makers in
the country
,-,, who was showing her the establishment, DE
lungs to Mr.. - OF chicago; II Is 10 De packed ana
-, 10 him to-day.
np,t how is 1t tina: he uses the Duke OF IS
-. ~ arms2' questioned the lady. somewhat
-,ous 70 trace the consangunlty between the
rr.s,erner and one Of the proudest houses in Eng
land.
..,d he thought that a pretty You see.
4, xeep a lot 70 choose from" he went on. conf
.ntialy. calling her attention 10 a long velvet
.ne, whercon glit;ered in silver and gold good.y
10y o. heraidic devices. And when my
,oners have no crest OF their own. just tell them
:, choose and take their pick"
"And suppose the next generation will discover
.oue missing link. manufacture one. which is
,tu easier and call themselves Offshoots of some
famous house" solloquized his amused auditor.
nJust So" responded the astute tradesman. land
rsaneraIy recommend them to have a genealogical
Tree made and put in few extra branches"
"But the strawberry leaves. and the coronets-
vhv do ;hey add those?" persisted his customer.
.Whv ley think we all lords and dukes
over here IL we've got money; and just coat-of
arms amt satisfying enough for some people" con-
Young housekeepers rarely realize the immense
amount Of labor and worry that they may
themselves by a systematic arrangement of the
various departments Of their household Its interior
workings may be nkened TO those of a more or less
complicated machine. which, If kept in good repair.
and properly managed. will move steadily and
tremendously ard without friction, but which. If
,selected or carelessly manipulated. Will run
nosly. with frequent Jars and disastrous stops
II Is only after many hardly earned premiums paid
10 experience that many women learn with
smazernent that they might have saved them
selves and others years of discomfort by simply
nursuing a conscientious system. BY following the
accompanying rules In a small family where there
are not many servants. adding or changing
oordng 10 circumstances. beginner will soon
and herself on the right path TO peace and nfort
In the first place. after determinng the number Of
servants 10 be kept. the hours for meals. etc.
write them all down in a housekeeping book.
which by the way. every housekeeper should keep
for memoranda and receipts independent of the gen
eral account book. together with set OF rules in
which the duties Of each servant should be clearly
defined. A copy Of the part relating to her own
srecial duties should be given to each domestic.
This in Itself Will end Of friction obviatng
The usual lively discussion Of me work and
bern. The meals should be served punctually;
and ~ effect this there should be at least good
Trustworthy clock hung in a conspicuous place. by
which other timepieces may be regulated. There
should also be set days for ever. thing in the way
Of cleaning and mending and laundry work.
Equally important is the necessity of method in
the arrangement Of house. In the kitchen there
should be a particular place for each pan pot and
kettle so that even in the dark might put her
hand on what Is needed. In the housemaid's closet
all her paraphernalia should have special nails;
and even in the family closets it saves time If
every garment is always hung on the same hook.
and not put on and then on another
/, goes without saying that there is also special
need OF system in the care Of money and in the
management Of expenses If woman has the care
of family. she should keep separate list OF per-
sona and household expenses; and these hsts should
be carefully added up and examined at least once
week All receipts should be docketed ana nieo'
and II Is a good plan to keep unpaid bills on a
steel file 10 mark the difference. Where there Is
barge family and the mistress Of the house has
many outside calls her time, she will find at
great hep to make out menu for her table, In
GLIDING breakfast lunch and dinner for a month
ahead her experience teaching her about how much
will be left over from joint etc, and how It
should be carried over and utilized next day. And
q word here to the economical about the pot-au-
feu Save all scraps Of beef and all bones; break
The latter with a hatchet, and let all simmer in
soup kettle on one corner Of the range. A really
kood strong soup can be served two or three times
4 week without buying one extra pound Of meat.
"I..s all very well for the coming woman"
marked a girl OF twenty-five. II dare say the
babies who are in their cradles will be educated 10
be Of some use IN the world but what want 10
know Is What is 10 become OF the superfiuous
women Of the day, a sisterhood Of which am a
shining member? ] have no vocation; l am tired
70 death Of society II try TO do things about the
house I am generally 'rowed by papa and the
BOYS while mamma says II is much less trouble
70 attend 10 that sort of thing herself The family
evidently consider that not success. be
cause have failed 70 capture an eligible party,
and my brothers are beginning 70 twit me tokingly
with being an old maid Mamma signs and looks
anxious, and I know she is thinking that II any
thing Happened 70 papa would not have enough
% live on and that If do not marry I will be de-
pendent on the boys. This uncomfortable state OF
affairs has come on gradually. When was a little
girl happy the day was long, and when
grew up and came out / was feted and made
much OF. Pretty clothes were given TO me without
STINT and It never occurred to that could ever
be IN any sense de trop. But now l am beginning
to feel that l am decidedly superfiuous element
Z cannot dig; 10 beg I am ashamed l cannot
teach the orphan boy TO read. or the orphan girl
10 sew because IL isn't in me; cannot keep
house. because mamma will not let me. and do
not care for society. SO what am to do? II
had been given an occupation Ike the boys and
could feel myself independent. should be happy.
W. a. ~ - dIn lu4e anu AHiSc4"D'S' am
marry, which is not likely. DO not see what is
to become Of me-"
THIS is no exaggerated situation there are hun
asds Of sensitive girls who keenly feel their unsat-
sfactory position in families. which to all outward
are in comfortable. If not opulent cir
eunstances but who. II the breadwinner should IAN
men, would have little or capital 10 fall back
upon I; has frequently said that this is a |
"omans age and 80. in measure. II s-that H. IL |
; undoubtedly age wherein women OF exceptional
intelligence ability may successfully battle with !
'he word But there are many unsatisfactory prob
ems stu unSolve0 Of which the average superfuous
woman is one OF the most perplexng.
Inc wheel OF fortune is more or less a misnomer, /
tut there IS regularity in its revolutions. Much
more may 1t be ikened 10 the orbits OF some comes
whose errauc courses cannot be accurately caIcn- I
LI... I'M th... alr1.le L.