The morning times., 1895-12-29
Women Who Are
Good Housekeepers
THOSE WHO DIRECT AND THOSE
Nh0 ASSIST.
The Best of All Is House
keeper With a Well-Ap-
pointed House.

81 should Just like to know what is eN-
tected OF the homekeeper,' said young
wiIe recently, with Iout and Il oeclueoiy
injured air. II have been taught maj d
homekeeper need not necessarily De the
housekceper and niaid-of-ali-wofk, YET We
get all the blame if anything goes wrohs
in any department of the Housekeeping.
The grievance in question was the d1s-
coyery ON the part OF the husband CT u very
serious loss and waste that was being car
ried ON by the servants, for which the care
less little wife was very Justly blamed.
And in many cases the same result may De
expected when the young homekeeper starts
out with the idea that tie actual mousse
keeping duties do not belong 10 her sphere.
A good housekeeper is always good
housekeeper, no matter what position OF
wealth and influence she may hold. GOOD
housekeepers often hold widely different
views Oh what is comprised III their duties.
Two distinct sorts OF housekeepers eAlst-
those who simply direct ana those who
oversee and assist. The former usually De-
long to the wealthy portion OF the COM
munity, and should never be found among
those who are obliged TO economize. These
are usually women who never enter their
kitchens and pantries, and who foollshiy
pride themselves upon their Ignorance
OF all things pertaining TO cookery ana
housekeeping. They claim TO know when IL
Is properly done, but can give no constructions
for accomplishing the desired results. Such
women employ competent servants and pay
them very high wages. They give general
directions as TO their general duties, and
expect them to carry them out without
further reminders.
EXTRAyAGANT HoUSEKEEPERS.
a great many such housekeepers en-
trust the marketing and the ordering TO
the cook, who frequently buys Inferior
groceries ard approprlates the money
saved by not getting the best quahty
of goods. Other housckeepers OF this
class plan their bills OF fare, give orders
to their butcher and grocer, and direct
the servants as to what cooking, sweeping,
cleaning, etc, are TO be done.
Theeconomicalhuusek sekceper must rise ecarly
10 the morning and reach the dining-room
In time to give the table a glance Deiore
the other members of the family assemble.
She sees that the cloth is neatly spread,
the food arranged in au attractive manner
aDd everything in its right place. She
presides at the head of the board, keep
ing on the watch for the wants OF those
Dresent. directing the waitress when neces-
sary with q glance OF low spoken words.
The meal over she makes an inspection OF
the pantries and larder, learns from the
cook what groceries are needed, and 1inds
what provisions VIII be required for the
the contents of closets and refrigerators, and
plans how the left-overs may be disposed
OF to the best advantage. Frequently she
herself prepares a savory dish. She ascer-
tains for herself that the stock-pot and bread
box are scalded regularly and kept sweet
and clean, that the cellar is neat, that the
closet shelves are in order, the tins bright,
the kettles free from grease or dust that
there is no accumulation of scraps, that the
Siffal flp garbage D,lN
emptied, andeverything in order downstairs
She does her communicating, and gives orders
for the luncheon, dinner, or tea. avoiding
elaborate cooking on the days devoted TO
washing and ironing.
PERSONAL SUPERVISION.
When this part OF the Housekeeping has
received attention the mistress examines the
rest Of the house A few nome nts IN the
hitting room Will show her if IL has been
perfectly busted. A visit to the bedrooms
each day will cause them to be kept in the
proper condition. She Will see that they
are properly aired, that there is fresh water
IN the pitchers, that the bowls and soap
dishes have been washed, that the beds are
smoothly made, that fresh towels are kept
on the racks, that the windows and mirrors
are spotless, and the carpets and furniture
free from lint and dust.
On sweeping day the housekeeper must
make tour of the track of the broom to see
that il has done its work properly, es-
pecially in the cracks and corners. She
must see that the windows are not allowed
TO become cloudy, or the blinds streaked
with dust and rain and that the curtains
are pinned up ont of the dusts way. Her
Jurisdiction must be even beyond the house
and she must watch that the porches, or the
steps and pavements are not dirty, nor the
yard strewed with odds and ends, The
family sewing also lies within the province
OF the housekeeper, as do the supervision
OF the washing and ironing, the cleaning of
the house. the polishing of the silver and
brasses, and dtheputting ava OF the woolens.
Her speciality is everything connected with
her kingdonl-the home.
All these duties may seem TO leave little
time for anything else, especially If she
has added to them the care, and the mental
and moral aiming of little ones in the
home. But the really good bousekeeper
and homemaker Will soon learn to reduce
the domestic mana cement to regular sys-
TEN. The personal supervision over
everything that pertains to the housekeep.
ing will, sooner than anything else, make
careful and conscientious. and thoroughly
"helpfuf' servants, and leisure will soon
be found for all these duties, and much
pleasure and recreation besides. If these
duties seem trivial, let 1t be remembered
that woman's first and highest duty is to
I'LL her home sphere perfectly, and the out
side duties and recreations will be all
the more thoroughly enjoyed when the
bomekeeper has the satisfactory knowl-
edge that the domestic machinery is run
ming smoothly because of her personal
supervision.