Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-03-16
Oear Aunt Madse:

, CeuF HUaF Anu19cs
While we are waiting for the reply of the sys
tematic housekeepers to "Esther's" appeal,
would like to answer one question she asks
No. Esther" you are not the only one who
finds lint (caterpillars one woman calls ~ In
the "shady places. and the accumulation Of
work that looks so Encouraging, think 1t helps
out to know we have companions In our short
comiugs.
have not forgotten the comfort I got from
| the confession of one (coult 1t have been Aunt
Madge?l that she sometimes forgot to put soda
| in the biscuit". And could even smi'e at the
Jumps of half.bsked dough. the like of which i
had struggled out to the pig for fear the family
or neighbors would see and wonder at them.
have read the experience OF some of these
systematic housekeepers, and II looked so easy
on paper that would resolve to 20 and do like.
wise, and would even make out sort OF pro-
gramme, allotting certain kinds OF work TO each
| day. and certain amount of time for each duty
| In the day. but with all the things that are
always happening to upset the "best-laid plaas"
have never been able to live and work by rule.
though will admit. system" does h,l out,
| even il you follow 1t affair of
So. Esther" do please take time and come
| often, even II everything is not In applet pie
| order, and when we have our reunion we viii
see how many of the sisters will confess that
they. too, know how caterpillar look.
| ls there room for just few lines more: If
not. use the shears sl you please, but do want
to say to the sister who suffers with rhe umatism
Aunt Madge's remedy of camphorated oil
tusing the spirits of camphorl applied warm,
not hot, as ii will catch IRE. is the best remedy
have ever used. and have used IL long time.
Also another thing have found beneficial
After thoroughly rubbing In the oil. lay piece
OF cotton on the stove until 1t is brown and hot
then apply to the afflicted part. Ii is real com
| forting. Cloths wrung from no; water and
applied are better than the no, water bottle TO
ease the pain. IL very severe use perforated
tin potato masher (kept expressly for the pur.
pose) to wiring hot baths with, lifting them with
/ an OH fork. 1t saves the hands anu can he
wrung much hotter.
And now ii may make the sister feel little
more hopeful as 1t did me. to know that pos
sihly the pain Is not in the lungs, but caused by
the contraction of the muscles of the side and
ehest-muscuIar rheumatism, socalled.
BIZ A.
1t is my opinion Aunt Madge was the
very woman who forgot the soda, and II
that were her only "sin of omission" she
would be very fortunate. But j am glad
II ''B. J. A" could smile when smuggling
her "fallen" foe to the pig, because she
knew had had a similar experience.
Many years ago when there was more
time in the days than there is now, made
scrap books, and in one is a story of q
minister's wife who began housekeeping
without any practical knowledge of cook
| ing.
! There was a convenient ditch back oil
| the parsonage, and in that she used te
deposit the food which had failed to b.
eatable. But it was rather trying TO see
the neighbors' hens and ducks choking
and struggling with the soggy Jumps Of
dough.
'B. j. A." perhaps we are helping SOME
housekeepers with hint OF what to dc
with failures in cooking, and they car
choose between pigs and bitches.
am glad you mentioned campboratet
oil. have never used any medicine fol
rheumatism, and have never used any OF
except plain olive oil, but should think til,
other would be better for rheumatism
Hope "A FRIEND may find help from
some OF the suggestions.