Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-20
HOUSE
HOLD
lINTS

Happy, thrice happy, the woman for
whom the servant girl question holds no
terrorist
Unless one Is exceptionally favored In
finding competent willing, good-tempered,
cleanly reliable help, to be able to do ones
own Homework Is a privilege to be enjoyed,
not an evil to be deprecated. Every house.
keeper has at some time experienced the
no-account servant has at last gathered up
her belongings and studded off to inf1ict her
reign Of terror on some other home. With
what an abandon of Joy she proceeds to
| dig out" after the last incumbent; to let
the light Of day into dingy corners and
smelly" cubbyholes; to fling into the ash
barrel the sodden, greasy dish cloths, the
grimy malodorous cleaning cloths and dust
ers, the big, bursted-out slippers and tat
tered aprons left in the retreat. What re-
lief to scrub out the kettle cupboard, scour
off the accumulated grease and smoke on
pots and frying pans clear up the pantry
shelves polish the dull faucets and boiler
and clean out the ashy debris of weeks that
clogs the kitchen range. But, Oh the back
ache that follows this squirt of heroic
cleansing, intensified by the realization that
dinner is still to, get, to serve, to clear
away, the children to wash and put to bed
and only one pair of hands to DO 1t ALL
Then 1t Is that one realizes that after all
there are two sides to the help questions;
that Mary Jane gets tired, and the daily
routine Is but ceaseless "demnition grind
to her, to be shuffled off in the easiest DOS
sible way.
The average housekeeper expects too
much of her help. She does not realize the
fact that II Bridget or Chloe were mentally
capable of other things they would not be
willing to remain In some ones else kitch-
en-. Theoretically, homework is quite as
honorable as any other calling Is a health
full occupation and one In which an indi-
viduaPs best efforts may go with advan-
tage Practically. as Bridget realizes there
Is a little stigma attached to It, the hours
are longer than In any other calling. and
though the wages are exceedingly good. too
good for very poor work oftentimes the
girl finds herself in the anomalous position
of being In family, yet not one of the
family. Until that happy day comes. oh !
tried and worried housekeeper. when the
vexed question Of household service shall
adjust itself upon business basis. when
good wages shall command good work and
skilled labor demand and receive its right
full recognition, be patient. Simplify your
daily living and your expectations. Insist
upon cleanliness. but be considerate ma
tient and long-suffering in minor matters
So shall you make the best Of a bad mat
ter until time shall bring surcease OF ami.
ETY. in this regard.
The stringency OF the help" market has
served one excellent purpose, at least. in
the growing tendency to allow both the
boys and girls OF the household some ree1l-
lar share in the daily work of the home
Many mothers now require the boys to
make their own beds, wipe the dishes when
necessary or set the table, while the girls
are assigned little housewifely tasks with
In the limit Of their strength
The long summer vacation is good time
to initiate the children into some skilled
service and then hold them responsible Tor
that special thing. Teach them how to set
the table properly, keep the silver bright
the salts: vinegar and oil bottles clean and
filed. Show the girls how to make and
dress pretty salad-they will enjoy that
fartmore than the deadly routine OF wash
Ing dishes. which pals upon even an older
person. Make Homework attractive to
them and half the battle is won. Don't
keep them at work until they get too tired
and let z 1Yaioioua amount Of praise re-
Among the simple, dainty summer dishes