The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-16
some Household Essentials.
New York Times

Mrs. Mary j. Lincoln, the welI-known
authority on household economies, deliv-
cred a lecture last week at Chautauaua on
furnishing a model home which was full
OF valuable suggestions. The family
planned for. was not the usual pair of
doves just home from a wedding trip, but
the average family OF fve-father. mother.
daughter OF seventeen. boy OF twelve, and
baby OF one year, the joint possessors OF
an income OF $1,000 a year. Deep window
seats. with spaces beneath for the baby's
toys, work, etc., were suggested for the
one room which must be parlor and sit
ting room, and some more m~ust-haves
were: Painted or washable papered walls
In sleeping rooms. bath room and Kitchen:
perfectly tight-itting window screens in
every window: window shades that har-
monize both with the exterior and interior.
pic,ure moldihss. clothes hooks at the
right height: shelves with no waste space
beneath them; door and cupboard mold
fngS that have no dust-catching grooves:
spaces for beds where the occupant need
not be exposed TO a draught and with
room TO get IN and out on either side;
chimneys and freplaceS so arranged that
the family can gather round them without
being In the way IL one wishes to open Il
door; windows and doors so arranged that
when open there can be a perfect flushing
OF air. doors planned to swing in the most
convenient direction-all these, and many
more tnlnSS winch may seem or minor i'm
portance 10 an architect. and are not often
found in hired houses, will be suggested to
one who Is planning a permanent home
with special reference TO each member Of
the family.
In the kitchen Mrs. Lincoln ranks ven
tiiatton first. and urges less money spent
On the bay window for the parlor and
more 10 put an extra door or ventilating
register in the kitchen. The next most i'm
portant thing is the sink. and OF this Mrs.
Lincoln says: "One great source OF mol
luted air in a kitchen Is an imperfectly
drained sink From thirty to sixty min
utes at a time three times a day nearly
every day in the year the housekeeper
works near or over her sink. Taken sep-
arately these nalf hours may seem of no
account. but when we think of them col
lectiyeiy IL Is seen to be a matter of vital
Importance that everything be done to
make the air about the sink pure and
sweet. and to lessen the labor of the one
h works there. The waste pipe and
drain should be properly trapped and Sit
uated. and a strainer used 10 collect all
solid refuse. Frequent flushing with boil
Ing soda water and clean water whenever
any dirty water has been poured down.
with care in using IL so that no greasy
water can collect behind IL, and a sink
may be as clean as any part of the room.
In the sleeping room the housekeeper is
advised to think more of the quality of
the mattress. the ease OF the spring. than
the polish Of the woodwork. Use cotton
sheets-woolen blankets even If thin and
~eheap-rather than pu1s and comfortables.
and have the spreads Of light material
rather than heavy Marseilles. Finally
these point were emphasized: Select your
furnishings not from the standpoint of
style or rivalry of your neighbor. but with
reference 10 your own house. your occu-
patton. and your family needs. Let them
be for service. not for storage: for en-
joyment, not for exhibition. and such as
will contribute TO your comfort. but lessen
your labor.