Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-03
HOUSE
HOLD
llNT!'::S:

While 1t is an undisputable fact that
nearly all the old aXoms and adages that
regulated the daily conduct of our re-
spectacle forbears had their foundations in
truth born of experience, it is none the less
certain that blind, unquestioning obedience
to those ancient guides need be no longer a
matter of conscience. Times and conditions
have changed, and the sauce that suited the
goose Of fifty years ago most exceliently
well Is not of necessity applicable to every
gander Of today. Take, for example, those
time-honored saws:
EARLY to bed and early to rise
Makes man healthy, wealthy and wise"
Plough deep, while sluggards sleep,
And you shall have corn to sell and to
keep"
And THE early bird catches the vorno
1t is undoubtedly true that with the ma
1or1ty of people, and in the majority of
occupations, better work can be done in the
early part of the day than in its closing
hours. In the morning the mind is clear
the nerves steady, the muscles elastic the
heart courageous. But who am I that I
should say. Because 1 love the day new
born my work Is such that I can push it
to much better advantage then than later
and 1t Is no hardship for me to rise with
the lark and the milkman,' that my neigh
Dor must do the same?" His occupation may
opposite OF mine, and his inherited pro-
ciivfties all In the other direction. We are
not all built on the same plan. His best
work may all be done at the tail of the
day, and that far better than mine of the
early hours This one thing, however, is
certain: The hours for sleep should not be
curtailed. If necessity keeps one up at
night, arrangements should be made where
by the deficit may be made up in the morn
ing. The rules governing each household
should be elastic enough to fit the circum-
stances Of individual members.
It goes without saying, however, that
other things being equal, 1t is much easier
Tor the housekeeper Of the family to have a
uniform rising and breakfast hour, and this
early enough to avoid the rush of exigences
liable to crowd in later. This Is especially
true In the summer, when, as the sun
climbs higher ambitions begin to flag All
household duties are so much lighter If
taken In the cool Of the day. The baking
and ironing, the sweeping and cleaning are
only fun in the early morning hours, but
by noon they become an incubus Of dread
While the light continental breakfast of
coffee, rolls and possibly an egg grows in
favor among families where the members
all remain at home and can have a substan-
tial luncheon at noon, it cannot be wisely
adopted where there are growing children
or for school or men and women with hard
physical or mental exercise ahead of them
For such, substantial breakfast is a ne
cessity. "Suse's housekeeping's all right"
said a young fellow on New Mexican cat
tie ranch, whose sister had lately come out
from New York to keep house for him
IT'S a dandy thing to see a woman round
and the shack looks fierce with all the
pretty things that a woman knows how to
fix up, but when she thinks a fellow can
ride thirty or forty miles of a morning on
an egg and cup of coffee she don't know
what she's talking about"
Here again circumstances alter cases
What is all right and much to be preferred
IN one household is all wrong in another.
and each housekeeper has to solve her in
dividual problem.
Washing with the following fluid can be com
mended as not injurious to the clothes and
a great saving of hard labor: Put into a
big kettle one pound can Of lye one-half
ounce Of salts of tartar and one-half ounce
carbonate Of ammonia. Pour over them
one gallon Of boiling water, stir well and
bottle. Always shake before using. On
wash day morning fill your boiler a little
over three-fourths full of water, shave into
1t one-half cake good laundry soap and add
one cupful of the washing fluid. When
hot, put in your table linen. and let 1t come
to a good scald. Take out in tub, cover
with cold water and let stand while you
put in the next set of fine clothes Rub
each piece separately in the hands or on
the board. and 1t takes only a moment for
dirt and stains to disappear as by magic
Rinse, blue and hang out Any washing
fluid is dangerous in the hands Of careless,
incompetent help. for they usually act on
the plan that II a little is good, more is
better, and SO rot the fabric
While oranges are plentiful and cheap
try putting up orange marmalade after this
recipe and you will never use any other.
To every dozen oranges allow a half dozen
lemons. Wash thoroughly, slice thin and
remove all the seeds, putting them into a
bowl for future use. Pour over the sliced
oranges one gallon Of cold water, reservine
enough Of the water to cover the seeds
Soak all for thirty-six hours. Pour the
water off the seeds, and cook all for two
hours, allowing an equal weight of sugar
sticking to the bottom Of the saucepan and
pack in Jars. This marmalade is not so
bitter as much that is in the market, and
the seeds give out gelatine that makes
the syrup much richer.
A woman who for years has used the or
binary table oilcloth to cover her bathroom
and her summer cottage floors says 1t is
the cheapest and most satisfactory covering
she knows OF. She lays 1t with plenty Of
paper underneath to give 1t spring and
body. Contrary to ones first impression, 1t
wears remarkably well, and is much easier
wiped off and kept clean than the bare
floors. If one has never investigated table
oilcloths they will be surprised at the wide
range Of patterns and colors offered for
sale even in country stores. Two very
pretty ones were noted lately in desert
camp house. On the little dining room
was a small oak leaf pattern. green on a
brown ground, looking, when down, much
like the old-fashioned "three-ply." The
other was neat geometrio design In shades
Of brown.
Wind-burned faces, the result of exposure
to April winds, may be treated with a mix
ture of equal parts Of olive Oil and vaseiine
Soft linen cloths dipped in water in which
baking soda has been dissolved and laid
upon cheeks and foreheads will also prove
cooling and healing.
The semi-invalids who throng Toruuay
and thrive on hyper-feeding have much to
say in favor Of the way oatmeal is cooked
Milk is substituted for water In the cooking,
which is in double boiler to prevent
scorching. The result is a delicious and ex-
tremely nourishinG porridge.