The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-01-30
THINGS CLUTTER ROOMS.
A Plea for Fewer of Them Simplifying
 Housekeeping.

Housekeeping. What is this worth to us, anyway" suddenly exclaimed girl to her sister. as they were issuing from the drawing room door in solemn procession, each carrying as many vases, statuettes, trays, miniatures and other small arti- cles as her hands and arms could ac-
 comnedate.
 The sister looked around so suddenly and with such anazernent as to imperil her precious freight. Are you crazy?"
 she asked. simply
 Before replying the girl deposited her wares with great care on the hall tables and bookcases and started on the re- turn journey for new load. Whats the use of all these things?" she persisted. Every week, when the rooms are swept-nearly every day this earting process goes on. What are We breaking our backs for? Don't quote George Herbert to me, please, Who sweeps a room, and all that. I'll admit the sweeping; but why all this carting?'
 Why, our things would be broken if
 Martha moved them
 Risk it! It wouldn't break usi' in lterrupted the rebel.
 And besides, she wouldn't have time
 You'd probably like to employ a special parlormaid'' This with marked satire
 If we could afford her, yes! But. since we can't, we should have fewer things. All this stuff complicates life outrageously. We say we are 50 busy. A quoi bon?''
 But we must have things!" And the !advocate of the traditional began to look distressed, as she spread Renaissance table square over the back of a chair. We could have about one-fourth as many things and the house would look better said the young iconoclast.
 Some were given to us. some are heirlooms, and I'm sure they're all pretty said the other. They're not all pretty; that's cer- tain! Especially those that were given to us. We could weed them out. select carefully and put pack about one-tl1ird of them, to the great advantage of our household perspective. It isn't the drawing room alone; the dining room is worse, and our own rooms are museums all but mine. I break judiciously ev- cry now and then; but, even so I have too many"
 Well, then, that's all very we'll for lyou; you don't care for the things. But l the rest of us do care for them, and I don't see why we shouldn't. Pretty looking place it would be without orna- ments!'
 Well, I don't know!" The rebellious sister dropped disconsolately into a |chair, dejected looking duster hanging from her hand like soiled flag of truce I'm only sure of one thing, and that is that In some way we ought to make life simpler.''
 'Oh, I see,' scornfully, you've been reading The Simple Life.'''
 No, I haven't read it yet, but I'm go- ing to. Such a title alone would com- mend it to me! And know how it be- gins-something about the miseries of modern wedding and how all the fuss and feathers detract from the dignity and sanctity of marriage. And yet we are, bound as it were, in a web of wretched little customs; no time to im- prove our minds, to cultivate our friend- ships or to think over the meaning of lifei'
 I'm sure you're great deal better off for not thinking too much about the meaning of life" remarked the more practical sister. Tt is a pity, though, that one has to be so busy over differ ent kinds of things. The calls upon ones time and strength are past all reason, I'll acknowledge"
 And all the more so,'' assented the other, since the women you hire are not willing to do more than half what they're paid for. Time was when a ser want would serve and leave you com paratively free to attend to your own business. Now you've got to do half her work and your own too, and yet pay her.
 Well, I wouldn't trust any one to do this" persisted the careful one, as she resumed her dusting.
 q would, Or I'd leave them iii the room while it was swept and dust them off afterward. I'd find some way to avoid this-this senseless cartingi" The last word was uttered with vicious emphasis, as the speaker set down the last article with a dangerous vehemence.
 The real remedy" she went on, more quietly, would be to abolish the broom,