The Forrest City times., 1905-01-13
CAUSE OF CROWDED HOMES
The Accumulation of Things Is a Prolific Source of Woman's
 Worry.

One of the greatest sources of worry to the women in the home is the accumulation of things-things ancient and modern; and this process dates from the very day of the wedding. and often before. when the brides mother and the groom's mother vie with each other to see which can heap highest musty heirlooms upon the do
 nestle caravan in which the courageous young couple start out across life's country, says the Canadian Magazine.
 If wise, the two occupants will travel light" and 1t is not always their own fault, for foolish friends follow their de- parting wagon, flinging things after them, which are just as useless as the proverbia! old boots. making of that which should be free and happy weary and tiresome journey. To begin with, many of the wedding presents are tawdry or unprofitable possessions, and it would go out of fashion, excepting for the pretty sentiment which surrounds the gifts. For how can a woman hope for an artistic home when it's interior belongings are selected by hundred different people? The first and the great mistake is the big, showy ceremony pro- claiming the union of hearts. or rather the supposed union of hearts, for the real IS seldom accompanied ty the noise of drums, the flash of fireworks or the rec ord in the society columns of numerous and costly" presents. Think. too, of the money squandered on the big wed- ding sum which would go far toward paying for comfortable home or de- fraying the current expenses of the first year. There is no doubt that the fear of not being able to support wife up to the present-day demands of the ordi- nary woman keeps many young man from taking the step
 Instead of being willing to start where their mothers did many girls seem to think they should start at a point reached by their parents, after years of struggle and deprivation. The accumu- lation of things going on daily in the house should be fought against with all the force of character the young house. wife can muster; for, after the habit of hoarding up things is once formed. the 1 only cure for it is to move from house | to house. By this means she learns by experience to discard everything that is not absolutely necessary. Old friends, old wine and some old books may be good, but don't I beseech you. treasure old clothes, dilapidated furniture, or old broken china. Go through your ward. robe once month and throw out every particle of wearing apparel that you are not perfectly sure of needing again Let the ragman in your lane or the heather outside the pale have the benefit of the doubt; but. above all, don't leave them hanging around for the undeserv- ing moths to devour. Quaint furniture doubtless pleases the eye when viewed q another persons house or in the an tiQue shop window, hut it gets on your nerves when you yourself are responsi- ble for the care of 1t. The same with china. Of course, if it is the only proof you can bring to convince fashionable callers that your sreat-grandmothe was lady, by all means keep the old china in glass case in the drawing room. But if your own conduct is unas- sailable and your manners good. bring forth the pretty wares and use them on the daily table, where they will give constant pleasure; otherwise they may but serve as bone of contention in the hands of ungrateful children when you are dead and gone