Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-05-13

added to wash days burden by being
obliged to empty from six to ten heavy
pals of water at the end of the task
And the tubs may form a storing place
for the wringers and board, and may
If necessary, with broad cover, form
kitchen table when out of use.
A carpet stretcher costs quarter OF
half dollar; for want of it shall a woman
lie fiat on the floor and try not to weigh
a pound while she loosens her finger
nails trying to stretch the carpet in
place? And this towards the close of a
long trying day of housekeeping, when
every nerve and bone is aching? But
she does this.
A single oil stove with iron heater
will cost IS. For want of it shall the
house be kept twenty or thirty degrees
hotter than Sol makes it, while the
wife ard mother slaves beside the
fierce heat of the kitchen stove all the
long summer day Tor makes one hun
dred trips across two rooms in chang
ing her irons) and sinks exhausted and
fainting at night, overcome by un-
necessary burdens, when the necessary
ones alone would task her strength?
Yet she does this, you know she does;
and she and her husband are to blame.
for in most eases she need not. AS to
unnecessary ironing, that topic is a
genuine farm proudct, viz, a ''chest-
nut, y yet half the ironing done is alb
solutely unnecessary; in certain lights
one might almost say, II crime.
A pantry long and narrow at one end
OF the house, with the broad work
shell at the farther end; kitchen at
the other end OF the house: the dining
room between, and the stove at the
farthest end of the kitchen; would any
man Of common sense build house
thus: And would any woman with an
atom of respect for herself or ner
length of life do the work in it? But
| know woman who for forty-five
years has done the work in just such a
house; and for thirty of those years
and long after the farm was paid for
and money in the bank-she had not
even cistern, but caught rain water
in summer and melted ice in winter for
washing; an intelligent woman and the
wife of an unusually intelligent farmer,
too. How much unnecessary drudgery
in that home? A mile, say, of un-
necessary walking daily for the ordin-
ary work; as much more on ironing
days; an average Of twelve rods daily
for the well water, half way across the
yard; two hours work weekly in winter
preparing water for the wash, and a
half hour in summer, carrying water
in and out. All this sheer waste of
strength, lily spared.
But you say, helplessly: "But what
is one to do when the house is planned
so?" Plan it over. The summer wages
of that longed for girl, well-expended,
might transform any such house; and
ways can even be devised to mitigate
every item of drudgery without much
expense. A stove at one side the
dining room door, just within the
kitchen: pantry, with opening into
dining room also at the other side Tor
generous cupboards if the pantry be
lacking), with the dining table reason.
ably near the same door, will bring all
the work of preparing meals within q
radius Of six feet, at most. STANDS and
cupboards for kitchen can be- made o.
shoe boxes. and the wife would better
leave out some bit OF drudgery while
she constructed some such help thar
to do the same hopeless things ovel
and over through eyer recurring day
and months and years. This, of course
If the husband cannot or will not do i
for her.
| Cooperation, labor-savers and shrew(
planning must be our triple relianc'
(alliance?) for the relief OF farm -hous'
drudgery. No other resources ar
open to us; nor is there such seriou
need OF others in most homes wer,
these we'll sed.-E'arm Journal