The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1906-12-14
LIES DAILY ROUND.
MULTlFARloUS DUTIES OF THE
HoUsEKEEpER.
Much Of Work Required Is a Labor of
Love, But Should Be LIghtened
Whenever Possible-ReIiabie
Washing Fluid.

In these days of specialization the
housekeeper is about the only one left
und1sputed Jack of All Trades"
Every boy and girl leaving school has
1t drummed into them that they must
choose one thing and make the most
of 1t, if they would reach the top.
Every maid coming from the other
side, green as the turf she has left,
scorns general housework, acting on
the advice of her friends and the en-
ployment agencies, and stands boldly
out for specialization as cook, wait
ress or laundress.
There are women, brilliant, ad-
vanced ones, who are boldly advocat-
ing the revolt of mother" claiming
that she can do more for her own and
the world at large if relieved from
the thousand and one petty avocations
that go to make up the grand sum
total in the daily round. These stand
for central nursery, central kitch-
en-, central inf1rmary, central laun-
dry, and so on to the end of the chap
ter of housewifely avocations. While
there is much to commend in this
much exploited new departure, the
most of us have the home instinct so
well developed that in spite of weari-
ness of flesh, we still prefer to stand
for our own fire upon the hearth, our
own table where love goes into the
making of each dish, our own nursery
where we can cuddle our own babies,
and. above all, the care of our own
when sickness comes. There are
many things that may be done outside
the home with advantage to all con-
cerned. Among these the heavy laun-
dry work, where strength is limited
and help cannot be procured, stands
first. In most large cities now there
are central laundries that take fam
lily washes for IS cents a dozen, min
Cling all the plain pieces, such as
tablecloths, pillow cases, sheets and
towels, returning the others rough
dry, but starched ready for ironing.
Managing in this way all the large
pieces can be done outside the house,
leaving the little particular things to
wash at home.
This is really a very fascinating part
of Homework, and when brains are
put into it becomes a fine art, like
embroidery or millinery.
A reliable washing fluid is a great
lightener of labor Here is the recipe
for one that has been used in the
same home for 80 years. Used &C.
cording to directions it is warranted
not to injure the most delicate fabric.
Dissolve one pound concentrated
potash in six quarts warm soft water.
When cool add one-half ounce salts Of
tartar. and one-half ounce crude dry
ammonia. Put into jug or large
bottle and cork tightly. This will
keep any length of time. When ready
to wash, put on the boiler with suds
made of any good laundry soap, allow
ing to every three pals of water a
half cup of the washing fluid. Put in
the clothes that are least soiled, boil
ten minutes, take out and wash
through fresh water in the usual way,
rubbing any soiled spots that may re-
main. They will come out like magic.
Meantime be boiling the second batch
of clothing. Rinse in clear water,
then in blue, and when dry the clothes
will be found snowy white. If pre-
ferred the clothes may be soaked over
night in a warm suds with quarter
teacup of the fluid added to each tub,
but this is not necessary.