Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-12-20
over-Carefu1 Housekeeping.

When child of twelve years ] visit
ed at the house OF a lady who prided
herself upon her housekeeping, and
whose neighbors justly gave her credit
for great degree of proficiency in
that department of life, says a writer
in the Housewife. My remembrance
of that visit always brings a chill, and
/ turn my thoughts as quickly as pos
sible into another channel, even
though l am now middle-aged. If
chair in any room was left awry it
was Immediately set straight; if
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 lis
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 remember that more than once,
in my simplicity, 1 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
oP al A. - oh
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 well known,
and the house-fy soon learns wisdom
and departs for parts less despotic;
no children are welcome, except &C
companied by watehful mammas or
faithful attendants, who will nervous
ly restrain every attempt at investiga-
ton or familiarity with people or OBJ
jects on the part of these little folks,
who soon wish to leave such an atmos-
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 ''the good housekeeper."
Now, l would like to inquire if it is
not better to live in a comfortable
manner, making all around feel at
home, even if disorder and a certain
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 a 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
ignore the careleSsness and lack of
thoughtfulness on the part of our
guests than to painfully remind them
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 If we in.
judiciously mag" them we shall fail
in our object, and possibly estrange
them from the home life.
o mistaken wife and mother, such
a habit in your busy life would be
grand investment and return you
hundred-fold. Many a husband and
father has wandered into some gilded
saloon just to while away a few mo-
ments, until the habit has grown upon
him, and his home has lost its 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. Let
us then, one and all, old and young,
strive to avoid lie breakers of ''over-
careful housekeeping"