Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-08-02
CHEERFULNESS.

Awomsn has not made successful hoD,,
unless il is a cheerful place. She NAV -
| the best housekeeper in town. Tho -
cook, the most dexterous hand at f,no,.
work; but she is not real home mal,o.
il you don't feel happy in her homo /,
you don't recognize an air OF briphtnsss
and gladness as soon as she greets Won
A home can't be cheerful unless II "a.
pleasant place to live in. 1t mustn't re-
mind You all the while that someone |.
worn out taking care of II. II the chairy
are hidden away in pinafores, and the
pretty carpet covered with a crash b;h
and the chandelier draped, and each tbing
In the spot TO which it has been appar,
entity nailed, q room won't impress the
merriest guest as cheerful
A room to make you welcome must loci,
as though the family liked to live in IL. II
must look simple enough not to sugres,
work and pretty enough to suggest TASTE.
and 1t must seem easy TO keep in order
and just enough in order TO prove II is no.
neglected. There must be light, and II
possible an open fire and cushions near #
and books at youh and wherever you sit,
and book-shelves low enough to reach and
little tables handy for work basket or
book or lamp. In other words room
must have a pleasant expression to win
liking, which is true of people as well.
Where woman does her own house
work home must be as simple as is con-
sistent.with the expression OF her love for
-.
nishing her rooms she must consider lust
two points OF view; What will be effect
lively durable and what viii be easy to
keep clean.
First OF all she must do away with her
carpets. Bare floors and rugs are health
full, economical and artistic. They bury
fathoms deep that most terrible fetish
of house cleaning. They add variety Of
beauty to a room, and any one can b.
cleaned separately In case of accident.
Their hygienie value Is inealculable
There are no corners to make safe hiding
for microbes, no holding of dust for
season. Every time ii is swept IL is clean
sli over. There Is an immediate protest
from many women to the effect that bare
hN'RAS NV tot tiLth hfobtAF ~ kttp
know there is such a tradition, and if
floors were.oiled daily and waxed weekly,
every busy housekeeper would be iusti-
fed in refusing them.
But they are very little trouble indeed,
IL one just. knows exactly how to take
care of them. Once a week, in a room
that is much used, they should be moppcd
xrt ~ toe
with half a cup of borax dissolved in it,
The borax water will remove all soil with
out touching the hand TO the mop-for
you should have one that wrings itself at
the side OF the pail--and leave the floor
hygienically clean, destroying both moths
and microbes. Then, with another mop Of
soft old flannel, oil the floor; put just a
little oil ON the cloth so that no rubbing
in Is necessary. When a floor is not used
constantly ii will only need the bora1
wash once a month with the oiling once a
week.
A bare floor should also be busted with
a mop between times, just as you would
run a carpet sweeper about for a few min
utes of morning. The same solution
will clean all woodwork and furniture
without injuring the lustre or changing
the color. II is ideal for white fittings
and entirely does away with the fatigue
ing use OF = scrubbing brush. p
II the open fire is possible in this cheer
ful room, the brass andirons, fender and
tongs can all be cleaned in the same
economical easy way. Dip all the brssses
in tub Of borax water and CASTLE suds,
the water having just been boiled; dry
with flannel and rub for a minute with
channels skin. Have dark Madras cur
tains that don't have to be washed, and
hardwood leather furniture that doesn't
have to be brushed, and ferns and palms
instead oftlot OF eurios TO lift and dust,
1t is reallyicheaper and easier to have
house, especially the living-room, cheer
full and pretty and comfortable than to
have 1t stiff and plain and full OF work.
Most housekeepers work more than they
rest in their sitting-rooms, while they,
most OF all, should have the joy OF what
they create. Misdirected conscience Is
what is the trouble. Women should use
their conscience for themselves as well as
their families.