Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-20
GOOD-NATURED START
MAKES ALL THE DAY THE BET.
TER FOR IT.

Written for The Star.
In q household that runs smoothly one
member of the family has to have the cour-
age to be the first one up. In the average
home, for some inexplicable reason, each
person waits for the other one to get out OF
bed, with the result that every one Is dress
ing together, and a common mirror or
wash basin is always most in demand when
some one else Is using 1t.
AS consequence there Is a general con-
fusion, q great rush to the breakfast table
and a final hustle to leave the house, usual
ly with the remark, I'm always late for
business" or why don't ever have my
breakfast on timer? or that most exas-
perating of all EXPLANATIONS, Its money,
money, all the time!' following gentle re-
quest for the weekly allowance or tho
wherewfthai to pay the groceTs DILL And
the breadwiuner, be 1t man or woman, goes
of to business with a scowl and O lament
that such a thing as work was ever in
vented.
Upon the one who stays at home devolves
the duty of setting this frequent morning
tangle straight, and the first step is for the
housewife to he up at least fifteen minutes
before 1t Is time for the others to arise.
This gives her q chance to start things go
ing in the kitchen and to call the family.
so that each one will be partially awakened
and waiting for his or her turn to dress
Aggravating delays In dressing usually
are caused by some garment being minus q
button, a buttonhole being broken, or the
failure to find some article of attire which
was sent to the laundry and has not yet
found its way back to the owners bureau
This is another small but important task
which the housewife must attend to IL she
wishes to have the family start Off happily
In the morning. AT the end of every week
all buttons should be sewed on, the stock
fngs mended and folded, the shirts from the
1irxy bod 10
they do not need attention, and then care
fully put away in their respective bureau
drawers. Nothing is quite so helpful in the
morning or at any time, for that matter
as to find ones clothes In their customary
place and ready to put on.
The housewife needs also to keep the
racks well filed with clean towels, for it
taxes time when a persons eyes are half
shut with water and hands are dripping
wet TO hunt around in search of wiper
with which to dry them And this is more
likely than not to happen liz fresh towels
are not hung In place immediately the soil
ed ones are taken down to be laundered.
That the breakfast should be on the table
the moment the family is ready to sit down
is most essential, and it should be piping
hot, too. The man or woman who starts
on to work on warm, nourlshing break
fast generally leaves the house with a
smile, and unless the meal has been swal-
lowed In three or four mouthfuIs the smile
will not come off" all day.
Ready and Hot.
Heavy food should never be sent to the
family breakfast table, and hashes of all
sorts should be reserved for luncheon.
Dogs, freshly brewed hot cup of tea or
coffee, hot crisp roll and a bit OF fruit If
possible, are ample for any one who works
in an office all day. On the other hand,
the person who is outdoors a great deal
should be served full-fedged meal
The stay-at-homes should appear at the
breakfast table with-a well-groomed look,
even though 1t is early in the morning. 1t
helps those who go out as breadwinners to
nave the rest of the family interested
enough to be on hand for CHEEKY Good
morning and TO have trim, wide-awake
appearance.
FINALLY, there are very few persons whose
disposition will endure much conversation
before the middle of the morning or noon
ard she Is wise woman who is chary of
her words at an early hour of the day
Men especially have the whole plan of the
days work mapped out in their minds be-
lore leaving the house in the morning and
IL Is most distracting to be pestered with a
thousano-and-one unimportant questions
mat nave no bearing on the business of the
day.