The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-04-03
ideas for d5Wnmen.


House cleaning season! What a differ
ent significance these three words hold
for different mortals. For some they
stand for little more thai a term. A little
brushing and scrubbing done in a quiet,
systematic manner each day. With
others they stand for a species of do
nestle earthquake. With pandemonium
combined. A time of dust, discomfort
and disagreeable, says the Philadelphia
Press"
Yesterday I lunched at a quiet little
cafe in the centre of the city. AT a table
near me sat three young fellows whom
l recognized at once as the husband and
two brothers of a pretty little Spruce
street woman. It surprised me not a
little to find the men here. 1 knew that
all three were of tastes almost passion
ately domestic. And 1 knew moreover
that the house of little Mrs. x. was a
thing of beauty. Her cuisine very nearly
| perfection.
The husband explained the phenome-
non- housekeeping at home,'' he re-
marked laughingly. General unheaval
OF everything. Open windows, dust. No
place to sit down. Nothing to sit on.
Cold dinner. General misery. Last year
we stood it. Ate sandwiches three times
a day for two weeks. Caught cold from
the open windows. This year we bolted.
We've been taking our meals in restau-
rants since the thing commenced. and
we mean to do so until the house settles
down once more into the even tenor of
its usual way
Looking at the habit of housecleaning
in the nineteenth century light of good
common sense, isn't it astonishing how
many women still cling to the old
fashioned method of accomplishing this
work? Every third woman is found
at this period of the year subjecting the
inmates of her house to this ordeal.
Are you going to 'housecleanS' this
season, my friend? If SO, for the sake
of your family and your own nervous
system, do it in a sensible manner. Tenn
per your ardor with moderation. Don't
begin cleaning the entire house at once.
This out-of-date idea that nothing can
be put in order until everything is thrown
into confusion results in a torture of an
ingenuity almost Chinese.
Consider the health and comfort of
members of the family. Clean but one
room at a time and rather take a week
to do it than wear yourself out and
shatter the nerves of everyone with whom
you come in contact.
My dear child" I heard a wise matron
say to a young and foolish one, why
don't you limit your housekeeping to one
room at a time, and take a vacation in
between, to relieve the strain of nerves
and body?"
Il couldn't was the answer. eff I
upset the whole house at once it gives
me an excuse for not seeing anyone. But
If | clean one room only at once, people
will be sure to call while I am in the
midst of it. And if the vestibule and.
parlor are arranged they won't under
stand
You have an afternoon at home, do
you notg'
"of course. But you know there are
always people who won't come or that
afternoon and who will come at other
times. It is always that way
Then" was the answer, st would
certainly not receive them. They have
no claim upon you. The afternoons
ere for that very purpose. You re-
ceive your friends upon those days. You
do not receive them upon others.
whether you are hcusacleaning or sitting
IN an arm chair reading a novel, the prin-
ciple is precisely the same.
Take time. Take time! One always
feels like hurting this bit Of advice at the
housekeeper who goes at her spring reno
vations in the Old way. Take time! If the
dining room cannot be quietly and easily
cleaned in one day take two and do #
with comfort. Lay the table prettlly in
the kitchen or living room. Serve hot
meals as usual. Don't talk housekeeping
gossip to the men folks.,n
$50
Don't clean for six days in the week.
Take a couple of days holiday to refresh
mind and body. IL women would use
moderation at this time of the year we
shocl1 find fewer feminine faces with
that utterly TAGGED out' look. We
would hear more bright interesting sub
jects discussed in conversation and less
about polishing b~ric-a-brac and beat
ing the dining room carpet.
Think Of this, my dear friend, when
You begin the work within the next few
weeks. Put your ideas upon a basis
Of common sense Rear in mind that
a little bit Of s~loucny appearance can
bring into the family a large feeling
Of Decentralization. That a clever woman
can create a bright home-even in houses
cleaning season.
Until just now almost any one would
have been tempted to say that If there was
anything in the world that could not be
improved 1t was the thot-water bag SO
long in use and of such practical advan-
tage. But a far better device has been in
vented and e now in actual use in many
of the big hospitals. Not only is it valuable
in great institutions, but It is so simple
and portable that It can be used in every
home.
Instead Of q hotswater bag it is a
hot-water sscoil,s this coil being set on a
-r44Ilow 800 49, LLk