The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-12-02
sYsTEMIzING HOUSEKEEPING.
Things That Are Absolutely Neces-
sary should Always BE
Done First.

Housekeepers can hardly systematize
their work according TO hXed rules. A
system that would work admirably in
one house might, from natural causes,
such as difference in size or ages of
family, occupation, etc, be anything
but pleasant or practical in another;
hence each must become a law unto
herself" and every bousekeeper must
study out her own plan, after getting
all the help possible from the advice
and experience of others, which she
must modify and arrange to suit her
own individual circumstances.
There is one rule, however, that must
be rigidly obeyed IL one is to systema-
tie homework, and tLat is: Do first
the things that are absolutely necessa-
ry, and follow these by such as rank
next in Importance; then if, from UNI
!ooked-for Interruptions, some things
remain undone, it will be those that
can Just as well be done later in the
day, or such as win not affect The
health or comfort Of the family.
In formulating a system of house
hold management, one must be gov
erned, not by what some one else does,
thinks or has, but by ones own in
dividual circumstances and the needs
of ones own family; remembering
that every home is, to an extent, an in
dependent kingdom In which the wife
and mother rules a queen, and, by the
power of her position, may govern as
she wills; the only requisite being that
the have the firmness and resolution
TO plan and execute that which she is
convinced is the best for her home, ir-
respective of the manner of govern
ment in other homes.
Until a system is permanently es-
tablished, it may be necessary to ask
of every task: Is this absolutely nee
essary? Does the health or comfort
of the family depend upon it? If not,
let it, If possible, be dropped from :he
regular routine. 1t is surprising how
many things may in this way be
omitted. and the time and strength
thus saved can be used to better adj
vantage; but it requires careful, per-
sistent thought and planning, not for
one day only, but for weeks and
months, mayhap years.
Should there be baby in the house
(I other work crowds) ii Is not abso.
lutcly necessary that it have bath in
the morning. If its face and hands are
washed and it is comfortably clothed,
1t will be happy without its bath until
noon. When the dinner work is done,
and baby is bathed and dressed, it win
take longer nap than otherwise, Civ
ing the mother the opportunity for
the quiet she by that time so much
needs.
AS to the baby's daily outing, which
many writer's would have us believe
is an absolute necessity for baby's
welfare, it need not necessarily take
extra time, for baby can be pu: into its
cab and go to market with mother, IL
they live in town. or TO the garden, the
poultry yard or barn, If they live on o
farm; or, If these are not practicable,
he may be placed in carriage or chair
on the shaded porch or near the open
door or window, in mothers sight, as
she works, and be Just as healthy and
happy as though much time and
strength had been devoted to his air
Ing.
But with all the care and planning,
Interruptions will come. Sickness, &C.
cident, unexpected occurrences, will
break into the most carefully ar
ranged system. TO one who has her
work well in hand, ard who can, under
ordinary circumstances, manage it,
these Interruptions are not so hard,
and things swing back into the ac-
customed trend with less friction and
less of nerve force than in that home
where management gives place to
things just as they happen to come"
Mrs. Clara S. Everts, in Housekeeper.
Philippines the Place for Women.
No law in the Philippines is more
quaint than that which relates to the
property of married persons. 1t is
entirely in favor of the wife. Prop
erty of bride is never by any chance
settled on husband, and if he is poor
while she is well off, he can only be-
come at most an administrator of her
possessions. After death the prop