Middletown transcript., 1898-10-22
DoMEsr1CAT1NG THE BOYS.
ANNIE HAMILTON.

ANNIE HAMILTON.
II is to be hoped that, with the ex
plosion OF SO many old notions in thes'
broader, later times, the foolish idei
that any share Of domestic work car
make a man less manly has exploded
. too. It is high time it did, anyway.
have seen one of the very manifest
strongest men I ever knew take his
loaf of sponge cake out of the oven
and display its beauties with delighted
pride. While it is true enough that
baking and brewing. sweeping and
mendiDg and all the rest of the
thousand and one things pertaining to
housekeeping are virtually womau's
work, for which she is especially fitted
| by nature and education, iG is not a
whit less true that man may share
them, when the need comes, without
losing s'caste" or in any way sacrific-
| ing his masculine dignity. Indeed, he
will add to his dignity instead, and the
recording angel will lay it up against
bis name in good marks. When the
weary housemother is ending long
day at the dish.tub, over the supper
cups and plates, what housefather is
there under the SIN who will not feel
more dlgnitied and respected with the
dish towel in his hand than with the
newspaper?
But one of the difficulties oftenest
in the way of these little offices of
helpfulness in the home is the sense OF
helpless ineapacity on the part of the
man of the house. He doesn't know
how. His spirit is more THAI willing,
but how weak his flesh is! And right
thee comes in my tex. Why not
teach our boys as we'll as our girls to
| do some of the commones parts of
housework? Why not make them in
dependent, too, SO that when the time
comes, as it is so likely to come to them
all, they need not draw back in b pc
less, helpless, dismay at the prospect,
bit roll up their shirt.sleeves and step
into the breach manfullyP The
mothers and sisters and wives upon
whom they depend for their daily,
hourly comfort may sometimes fail
them for longer or shorter time, and
must the domestic machinery stop thtn
with disheartening jolt? A few SIM
pie lessons, years befose, followed by a
bit Of useful practice now and then,
may keep tue wheels moving easily
and smoothly now and save so much
worrimeat and discomfort. The power
to do and do well, certain essential,
simple home duties will be real invest
eG wealth to the boy or the man we
call ours some day. He wilt thank us
heartily enough then, never fear. Let
us teach him TO use his needle neatly;
never mind about The thimble, which
he is sure to scorn. There will be but
tons coming off at untilnely seasons.
and rips and patches and darns clam
oring for attention when we are away
off out Of the longest needleful's reach.
Why shouldn't he attend to them him
self, not clumsily, but well?
Let us teach him to sweep and dust
and keep his own room, at least, in
good order, making his ped smoothly
and "tidying upo every day. When he
il off at college he will not want his
room at perpetual ''Sixes and sevens,"
and the ability to keep it locking home
like and pleasantly neat and in order
will be source of real pride to him,
and who knows that it will not in
fuence him, too, in his habits of studyp
D. it will pay to send your Zig boy out
into the world with some of this know
ledge that their sisters claim by birth
right
Cooking, too. Surely that should
demand place in the ''new education"
for our sons as we'll as daughters. Let
US give it due Importance. Teach the
boys to handle the mixing-spoon and
the saleratus spoon deftly, and to make
some Of the table 'sstandbys," the
bread and gingerbread and the apple-
sauce and rice puddings. Teach
them how to broiI steak and cook the
vegetables acceptably, to scramble the
breakfast eggs and make the tea at
night without boiling and spelling it.
All these things cannot possibly come
amiss, and some day when you are sick
and helpless, your boy will get dinner
for you, to bis own satisfaction and
yours.
Where the girls are all boys in the
family this little education in domestic |
love may be especially desirable and
useful, but it is always wise. Another |
thing, too, is sure: The boy who is not
ashamed, but rather proud to help his
mother sweep or wash dishes or cook, |
is the boy who will make the best hus-
bald and the noblest man.
The Home Influence.
'tCharity begins at home," says the |
old adage, and we might add, 80 does |