Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-10
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The successful housekeeper Is of necessity
a walking compendium of useful knowl-
edge Jack of all trades, a Handy Andy
a pcker-up of unconsidered trifies, "mul-
tum in parvo" and an angel of light and an
avenging spirit. She needs be wise as
Solomon, as patient as Job. far-sighted
as Moses, as full of good work as Dorcas
and Martha, and as attentive a hostess as
Mary. She must be practicing chemist,
nurse, doctor, teacher. and this without GER
tificate or diploma. She must handle the
needle deftly, know how to wash and iron,
or at least to direct others. must cook and
serve, bake and brew, make and mend. She
must be ION" to all the tricks of the trade.
know how to discriminate between the good
and the bad, whether 1t be groceries, meats
dry goods or servants and keep a keen eye
out for market prices. And yet anybody is
deemed equal to getting married and set
ting up establishment.
Small wonder that so many women go
to pieces under the strain, and greater won
der that so many more rise triumphantly to
the occasion, well deserving the description
in the Jewish Talmud: "A good wife is
heavens noblest gift. He who lives in an
unmarried state knows no joys, none of
the blessings of home, and is without sup
port. The man who stands at the deathbed
of his wife feels like those who saw the
Temple of Jerusalem reduced to ashes, for
the wife Is the temple in which each man
finds repose and quiet. where he rests after
the labors of the day. and where he can
give expression to his feelings, Joyful and
mournful. God has given to women more
ability of judging correctly than man.
That Servant Problem.-Just now the
housewife returning from her summers
outing Is in nine cases out of ten wrestling
with the servant problem. Happy, thrice
happy, she who has a true and tried family
helper to lean upon, one who has the inter
ests of the family at heart. But She alas
is the exception, not the rule. With the
present strained relations existing between
mistress and maid it Is too often hand
against hand, and who shall prevail? In
many cities and villages there is growing
tendency for maids to sleep at home COM
Ing In the morning and leaving as soon as
the dinner work Is over at night. When
they can be depended upon to get around
in time for breakfast in the morning this
is frequently an acceptable Arrangement on
both sides, the girl being at liberty to see
her own friends In the evening and the
housewife enjoying the quiet and freedom
have no families of their own they fire.
quently club together, rent one or two
rooms, furnish them with their own belong
ings thus feeling that they have home of
their very own to go to when the days
work Is over. The Swedes are particularly
fond Of this arrangement and take great
pains to fit up their rooms comfortably and
prett1ly They make a special point of
IdNIHS comfortable peas, While the German
girls, under the same arrangements man
age even to get their own feather beds.
This movement, originated by the maids
themselves, is step toward the hourly
service" toward which housekeepers are
looking with longing eyes.
IT, as has been outlined by a number of
progressive women's organizations as their
next winters work, maids can be properly
trained. then go out of their own volition
or be sent out by some central bureau TO
perform such skilled service as may be need
ed, receiving remuneration by the hour.
the problem of how to get both routine and
extra work done, In many families who
prefer to be alone some of the time will
have been satisfactorily solved.
Lamps and their care-with lengthen-
ing evenings, satisfactory lighting becomes
once more daily function to be looked
after. Even in houses lighted by cleo
tricity or gas, the lamp has an establishes
place on the library table or in the dining
is always in condition to fulfill the expec-
tations that center round it. 1t is not es-
sent1al to enlarge upon the discomforts
caused by lamps impror erly cared for,
Smelly reeking with Oil on the outside,
and shedding but a dim and irreligious
light. We have all suffered under the in
Fiction, and know whereof we speak
Good lamps are cheap, and there is no
excuse for using one that has outlived it's
usefulness.
See that you have good lamp that does
not leak, a burner that works all right and
oil of the best, high test. This should be
kept in a close can. whc~e dust cannot
reach 1t.
Cleanliness is an absolute essential if a
clear, steady light is expected. The fonts
of the lamp and all parts of the tub that
hold the wicks should be kept clean.
Where the lamp Is used every night, the
metal holders and burners require boiling
every three four weeks. in water to
which has been added a teaspoonful each
of salt and soda, for heated metal gives
out an extremely disagreeable odor
small brush s.ould be used to keep
the holes clear. and me turner and all
parts Of the lamp free from dust and bits
of wick. Scissors should be seldom used
in trimming.
It is better to :ub off the wicks with
little soft paper. The wick must never
crowd the tube. If too tight. pull ut two
or three of the threads 1engthwise.
The wicks soon become clogged with
parafhn in the oil, and If not in frequent
use will need to be taken out occasionally
washed, boiled and dried. If soaked in
and dried they will give a clearer
light All lamps in constant use should
be filled and wiped or daily. Do not leave