The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-11
The Useful Playhouse.

New York Evening Post.
Shelters for children in our climate are
very valuable. The cheapest is. of course
tent and in July and August ii is very USE
full at midday and allows of much variety
and a broader scope in some childish
schemes which combine housekeeping with
the active play outside. But house real
house with windows and door that locks
and OF which the mistress can keep the key
who shall measure the bliss of such a pos
session?
Where this can be afforded invaluable les
sons may be taught while a girl is wholly
unconscious of doing more than gratifying
herself. To freely bring this adjunct to its
greatest usefulness requires tactful as
sistant-nurse, older sister, wise aunt or
loving mother. The care of the rooms 0here
should at least be two). the incentives to
order, 10 decoration, TO housewifeliness, to
unselfshness and hospitality all lie in this
germ. There should be table and chairs
a china closet, a shelf for books and at the
door bed for flowers. This for the sitting
room. There should be a small stove.
working table. a dresser. closet for cook
ing utensils and proper implements for
cooking, and at the door a little vegetable
garden. These for the kitchen.
For two or three sisters and brothers to
have INSTRUCTED" use of such house is an
immeasureable joy. To make the curtains
to hem the cloth, to raise the flowers and
train the vines, to boil the kettle and set
the table. and make the toast. and invite
mama and papa to tea. and wash up the
dishes and leave everything tidy after they
have declared they never drank such tea or
ate SUCH perfect toast al this, If things ex-
pand to such d degree that the boys have
lettuce and radishes and green peas and
even q have known SUCH Strawberries of
their own. TO enlarge the feast and the
young cook contrives to prepare all nicely
Aladdin lamp would be thrown away on
the establishment.
l chance To have had either personal ex-
perience or the pleasure of watching the
results Of the larger experiments of others
and am able earnestly TO commend this
form of summer school," They lose their
happy influences if the oversight becomes
apparent and too much teaching is made
visible. tactful suggestiveness makes
the children ask to be taught.
Il wish knew how to make tea" comes
very quickly in presence of a well-filed tea
caddy, a nice set of teacups and a fasci-
IF We only had white curtains for our
parlor. grows easily into the proposal to
terial for development. is the sure way to
make the successful occupancy of the do
main certain. I'VE did ii all ourselves is
a cry or triumph, and they all came out of
our own garden is delightful to the
small grower as gold medal to a famous
roSe-grower.
Possession is a great source of happiness
L knew one precious house." six feet
square, with two small windows and a door
with key large enough to be uncomforta-
ole IN the pockets of small white knicker-
bockers. that gave great delight. The gar
den tools were kept there. the bows and ar
rows, WheelbarrowS and express wagons
and the ownership was sacredly guarded:
no man on the place dared open that door
1t gave pleasure even after the brothers
who owned 1t found it troublesome for both
10 SIT down at once under its roof. This
rooI, by the way. was beautified by shells
brought from a seashore excursion. 1t was
peaked and had never been sealed. coat
OF rough plaster put smoothly over the
shingles held the shells firmly after they
had been pressed into the wet lime This
little house, with its droll decoration. still
stands. 1t has outlved its chief owner.