The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-12-24
over-Careful housekeeping.

When a child of twelve years visit
ed at the house of lady who prided
herself upon her housekeeping, and
whose neighbors justly gave her credit
for a great degree Of proficiency in
that department of life, says writer
lin the Housewife. My remembrance
Of that visit always brings chill, and
turn my thoughts as quickly as pos
sible into another channel, even
though l am now middle-aged. II
q chair in any room was left aWry IL
was Immediately set straight; If a
window shade was raised or lowered
above or below the regulation line.
it was at once put in place. If by any
carelessness dirt or litter, however
small in quantity. or harmless in IFS
nature, was to be seen anywhere with
III the limits of that household the
broom, always at hand. was brought
into use, to the shame of the individual
guilty of such carelessness.
The husband was, unfortunately,
not in sympathy with the strict re-
gime in vogue, so he had his full
share of trouble, for in my presence
he bore scolding and snubbing so pa
tiently that my child heart pitied him,
and l remember that more than once,
In my simplicity, l tried to be kind
to him, to atone for this lack of appre-
citation and privilege in his own house
hold Since that time l have known
of other households of like character
where no dirt accumulates-nO free
! dom in the use even Of chairs is en-
cOuraged. because disorder enSues: no
flies linger pleasantly buzzins in the
sunshine, for no sunshine is welcomed
or tolerated for reasons we'll known,
and the house-fly soon learns wisdom
and departs for parts less despotic;
no children are welcome, except ac-
companied by watchful mammas or
| faithful attendants, who will nervous
ton or familiarity with people or OBJ
! jects on the part of these little folks.
who soon wish to leave such an atncs
phere and enter that of some loving
housekeeper, who will kindly allow
them all reasonable privilege, and who
will enjoy the spontaneous outburst
Of childhood innocence; no freedom is
tolerated that encroaches upon the set
regulations Of 1.-The good housekeeper."
| Now, would like to inquire if it is
not better to live in a comfortable
manner, making all around feel at
tot,
amount of dirt, actual dirt. is some
times apparent? Is it not better to
relax the hold than to keep in the grip
the entire family, and all guests who
are so hardy as to venture within the
lines? Is it good housekeeping" to
make your home model OF neatness,
exactness and regularity, at the ex-
pense of personal enjoyment and COM
fort? Is not the so-called good house
keepers" many times misnamed? Not
that we advocate untidiness. disorder
! and Indifference concerning the details
| OF home life, upon which so largely
depend our comfort and happiness; but
/ is it not better to take medium ground
and strive to be a caretaker without
! letting our right hand know what our
left hand doeth?
| Is it not more polite and safer to
thoughtfulness on the part Of our
/ guests than to painfully remind them
j by our haste to make amends or re-
store order in their presence: 1t is
wise to train our children to ways of
order and care-taking, but II we in
judiciously mag" them we snail fail
in our object. and possibly estrange
them from the home life.
| o mistaken wife and mother, such
habit in your busy life would be n
grand investment and return you
hundred-fold. Many a husband and
father has wandered into some gilded
saloon just to while away few mo-
ments, until the habit has grown upon
him, and his home has lost it's charm
he seeks it only as duty and rest
ing place. Young wives and house
keepers, even those who have no do
nestle help, we counsel you to give
your husbands all Of your society that
their business relations allow, The
dishes can wait-so can the broom and
the duster-but your husbands affec-
ton and devotion will surely wane and
wither If you do not foster and cherish
as a tender plant. Without love and
contentment, Of what avail are the
commendable qualities of good house
keeping? With love and contentment
they are all important factors. LIE.
us then, one and all. old and young,
strive to avoid the breakers OF over
careful housekeeping"
To Wash Lace Curtains.
First brush them with turkey
wing, such as many have for busting
purposes. Make good strong soap
| c,,I ri