Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-10-12
Saint Maru's Beacon
RY MARY ANARLE RANToN.

Isn't it enough to spoil and make
waste the first beautiful spring days
by housecleaning without convert
ing October into pandemonium as
well 2" A masculine comment, Of
course, but rot a wholly unreason-
able one.
Men certainly do suffer from the
ravages of the housecleaning season
land women too" hear someone
remark. yes, but are satisfying their
consciences in the work; they are
doing their dusty duty and hus-
bands and brothers are just plain
miserable. And men, not having
the housekeeper's eye, cannot see
that in the end they would be much
more miserable with dust and dis
order all the year through than
with special seasons devoted to mis-
cry.
But after all-the point of view TO
be considered in this historic IN
dertaking is the feminine one. Ev-
cry true housewife is willing TO sac
rifice much of herself TO the perfec-
ton OF her home. Many English
and continental wives are willing 70
give health aud beauty as well as
time to household duties; in Ameri-
ca a woman uses her brain and saves
her beauty.
She accepts the fact that house
cleaning must be done in the Spring
in detail, and in the fall in slight
er or more supplementary way, and
next she sets about to find how to
do it in the most deft and simple
fashion. An American girl travel
ing in Holland remarked that THE
women seemed to scrub for the mere
love of it,.
Well, the wise American house
keeper, as | have observed her,
doesn't love scrubbing the least lit
tie bit. 1t is unpleasant means for
an excellent end; whenever she can
accomplish that end by pleasanter
means she does.
AS a rule this supplementary sea-
son of housekeeping means wash
ing wood work, cleaning closets and
window frames, freshing, without
taking up, carpets, renovating por-
there's, polishing and Frightening all
metals-in fact, just generally max
ing the house fresh, wholesome and
cheerful for long indoor season.
To be satisfactory it should be
done swiftly, hygienically and quiet
ly. Whether the head of the house
is a helper in the work or merely
superintends it The absence OF con-
fusion and unsightliuess add great
ly to her comfort. +.
The best plan is to first sweep the
carpet thoroughly, then while the
dust is settling to dust the wood
work and windows, and to wipe the
carpet and curtains last. II there
are closets and wardrobes to be
cleaned they should of course be
done first of all.
To do away with the scrub brush
and smell of soapsuds, add to q pail
of nearly hot water q tablespoonful
of borax; let it dissolve and wipe
the wood thoroughly, drying it i'm.
mediately with soft dry cloth. The
wood when dry will be found spot.
less and have q pleasing luster, NOT
the dried out gray look of scrubbed
woOd.
To freshen carpets, wipe swiftly
with borax water, teaspoonful OIL
borax to basin of hot (not boiling
water. Do not soak the carpet and
let it dry as swiftly as possible.
This process will not only destroy
moths and microbes in the carpet
but leave it with all the color fresh,
ness of newness.
Woolen curtains can be treated in
the same way, and also upholstered
furniture. This method OF cleaning
is not only easy and quick, but dis.
tinctly sanitary and artistic. Men
will approve Of it because it lessons
the time of their discomfort; and
women because it saves time and
strength and gives a greater value
of beauty and health to the house
Using brain Tor Drawn leaves the
supplementary housecleaning sea
son with but temporary sting, soor
forgotten in the added luxury OF thu
trashy haautifiod homo