The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-13
4 IDEAS for GNn11en.


1t Is quite the fashion At the present
time for women who are mothers to
complain Of the want Of time for self
Improvement, and to bewaii the fact
that they are learning nothing. yet a
wise mother. with her ready pen, has
assured US that every true mother is
learning and developing every day as
she could not do though her best ener-
gies were spent in the best college in
the country.
Every mother has q life time In which
to learn from books but sshe has only a
few years for thesl lessons which. learned
ia the babyhood of her little ones, will
make her better and broader and wiser
all her life.
There Is first the new language for
her to learn, In which her voice takes
on new tones and modulations, and in
which, If her mind Is on q written book.
instead of the unwritten one from which
she should be learning. her tones will
have a sharp. querulous sound. rather
than the low, sweet, winning one she
should acquire, and her first lesson will
be imperfect. AS she progresses, there
are the new words, terms of endearment,
words Of tenderness and soothing, and
as this is not alone a language of words
and tones, the face grows sweeter and
kinder with a beautiful light that no
other lesson ever develepes. Again, If the
student Is not attentive, IN place OF the
proper expression will come one which
will betray Chow quscklyD that the high
aim Of the lesson has not been under
stocd.
She learns mechanism while mending
the broken toys. and develops an ingen-
uity which an apprenticeship at a trade
or a dozen trades could not give.
She gains a practical knowledge Of me-
dicine and surgery while ministering to
the little sick body or handling the
crushed finger or broken bone. at the same
time displaying a capacity for nursing
which makes the nurses training school
in her case superfiuous.
The mother who studies her lesson well
is sure to be a diplomat, managing with
more than the skill of a statesman, not
one, but several tyrants-smiling at and
petting one. cajoling another. placing the
law and the ~onsequen II violated, be-
fore another, treating all with a mixture
of frmness and kindness, n managing
all with such -consummate tact that they
scarcely ever know that they have yielded
to a will stronger than their own. What
book has ever been written that could
teach this lesson Alright?
She learns much of natural history that
the most voluminous work does not teach
How long a -grasshopper or a FREELY can
Tive in n t,oft1a< ave- "a = <1a7 ~ i,.rnr
If stimulated by a stick in the rear; how a
kitten enjoys the handling n pulling
of hands not always gentle, and how very
seldom these seemingly rough little hands
hurt it.
She becomes an authoress while anus
ing and instructing her small audience,
and in her stories. sermons, or whatever
she originates, she has the advantage of
those who write rather than fmprovise,
in that she can see as she progresses
whether the idea she wishes to convey
and the lesson she intends to impress ia
being favorabiy and p~roftably received.
She is thus able to so adapt herself that
she is sure of success. If these produc-
lions could only be given in writing
what a choice addition they would make
to the literature of the world.
And there is the great cultivation OF
her moral, nature. She never realizes
what sbsolute purity is until she sees
vt standing forth prominently from the
mysterious depths Of her baby,s eyes,
and her whole heart goes forth either
consciously or unconsciously in a prayer
to be fitted to guide and teach the little
being placed In her charge.
Her love for flsr own little ones broad
ems and eularges her heart, so that there
is room to take in and feel a subtle sym
pathy for all children, and helps her to
better Understand that divine love which
enwraps and shelters US all, and to. know
more fully and sympathize more broadly
with suffering and loss.
As the children grow older It will not
only be a pleasure. but a duty to take up
the course of reading or study, or other
methods cd sslf-improvement that may
have been denied her for a time. But
while the little ones claim our first at
tentiou, let us not be impatient OF the
lessons placed before as. It should be re-
membered that On our diligence in these
few brief years given US In this school,
depend our happiness and peace all
the remaining years of our lives, ard
what is Infinitely more important the
character of those given to our charge.
49,
The fad Of the moment In Paris IS the
ehoney BATH" which is recommended as
a kin feeder and is very popular with
women who are troubled with .ssalt-cel-
lers" in the region of the collar bone.
Ninon de PEuchs tried its virtues when
she was at the zenith of her power and
~abundantly satisfied with its re-
suits.
The honey bath of today is but a re-
vivai OF Ninon's old recipe. and there is
no reason why the faithful family tub
should not be used and slender damsefs
disaort themselves after the fashion of
the French belle.
Rain water is the proper foundation for
the honey bath, but II that is not obtain |
able an excellent substitute is a table
spoonful Of ammonia to an ordinary bath
of thirty gallons Of water. Into this throw
a handful Of salt, two tablespoonfuls |
OF bicarbonate of soda. and three pounds |
of honey.
The bath must be tepid and the "fn- |
gradients well mixed" as the cookery
book has 1t. This bath should be taken |
on retiring, and the bather ought to let |
her skin feed at least fifteen mute
Sarah Bernhardt's seeming gift Of per- |
Nn4xraf Arx4t =. ~-al 4