The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-05-18
17E$y,oNsHS
sAY5s s a2|']l[]h'l:1I;IE;;R';tE's'Ts:
HOW TO BE HAPPY

OF mousse Keeping Seeileh IL DuTuen greater
than could bear. The first danger which
Ito quote Simon Tappertit threatened to
become an invader of my domestic peace
was my false idea of hospitality. | felt that
Twas bound by all sacred laws to offer the
stranger within my gates the best among
the flesh pots; therefore my school friends
and my new relations were invited to
numerous dainty luncheons and elaborate
dinners.
| worked so hard before my guests
arrived, painting menu cards, decorating
the table and coaching an incompetent
cook, that appeared dull and stupid when
they did come and was conscious all the
time that | was fast losing wi ateter wit
and originality | once possessed. \ special
occasion was generally followed by warn
ing 'from the powers of the kitchen, " who
declared themselves unable to remain
where so much extra work was demanded
of them
1t was after many tears and many
failures that | learned that life is more
than meat: and, accordingly, | saw the
wisdom of so simplifying my hospitality
that | could give my best and trust self to
the entertainment of my friends.
Now am lat home" one evening of
every week and after music, readings and
perhaps, cards for those so inclined, |
served coffee, chocolate and cake to my
guests For this purpose | keep a supply
of fruit cake in my store room! which |
supplement with fancy CONNECTIONS from
the caterer.
My maid is allowed to retire at her usual
hour, as | make the coffee and chocolate
myself with the aid of an alcohol kettle
So much of the happiness of the house
wife depends upon the well being of the
servant that consideration for the comfort
of the latter means increase of case to the
former
Too much conventionality kills hospit
alitv, as | have discovered since | inaugu
rated my informal gatherings. My friends
enjoy themselves more than in the days
when attempted the unattainable. My
servants remain with me longer, and | can
welcome my guests with fearless cordiality
instead of nervous Apprehension.
Simplifcation, then, was my first step
toward happiness
In furnishing my house l try not to
have anything too good to use. AS can
afford to keep but one servant, dispense
with elaborate draperes, brass and bric-a-
brac, the care of which means too much
work for one pair of hands. | do not
crowd my rooms with useless little tables
and delicately covered furniture, but rely
upon sunshine, easy chairs, an open fire
and few good pictures to make my home
charming
One mistake common to young home
makers-for time threatened to undo me.
Through imitation made all manner of
domestic insists. When calling on a
friend mentally compared her household
plenishings with my own, and wondered
how | could create, from my limited
resources, the things of beauty by which
she was surrounded
did not like to invite to my plain
house the friend who had married a mer
chant prince, because feared she would
miss the luXuries OF her costly environment.
| had no Persian rugs no Satsuma, no
Oriental hangings to show her, and the
fact both distressed and mortified me.
tried therefore, with limited income,
to follow in her footsteps | exchanged
the coy home, on the questionable street
for what the agent called a desirable
located flat.
gave up the happiness and comfort of
family for door openers and electric bells.
The fretfulness of the children, who suffered
from the substitution Of modern conven-
fence for fresh air and sunshine the COM
plants of the maid who could hardly turn
around in the tiny kitchen, and the effort
to live beyond my MEANS made me irrit
able and unhappy. At last could agree
with the clever woman who declared that
there was such Il thing as sacrificing good
living to bad frescoes.
There is a homely saying to this effect
'Cut your coat according to your cloth"
That is what now try to do. | copy no
one, but keep house with reference to my
income, and the tastes and needs OF my
husband, my children. The wonderful
methods which others pursue, and the
achievements of my neighbors no longer
make me enyious, or arouse emulation. In
acting well my part find satisfastion and
success
1t used to try me greatly to have the
shades of my mother in law and avoked,
who in their day were notable housewives.
| failed utterly until gave up trying to
adopt the ways and means of the past to
the necessities of the present. You cannot
successfully conduct modern home by
applying to it the methods of the past
generation. This ascertained distinctly
and fully.
After | lad grated into the home life
simpliiication and individuality, | adopted
bipI, I IL