The Washington herald., 1907-08-30
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIEW

Every glrl who has not had the ineSti-
mable advantage Of a domestic training
under capable maternal eyes should get
experience in some way before undertak-
ing the care OF a home for which some
mans hard-eaTned money must pay The
waste of inexperience IS appalling, waste
OF money, strength, and time, and there ls|
no real pleasure in a badly-cared-for|
home.
Many brides have to do the housework
in their new homes, but If they are
sufficiently fortunate to be able to hire
a domestic they are at a disadvantage
which will soon make itself felt There
may be workers who viii not shirk when
they have the chance, but they are so
few that the hope OF getting such
treasure is small. An ignorant, careless
housewife can spoil a maid in no time
and to- such housekeepers we are in
debted for a class whose wages demand
better return than We are accustomed
TO receiving.
There has TO be a guiding hand in every
enterprise, otherwise it would not be-
necessary TO hire competent superin-
tendents. In the homes OF the rich per-
feet Housekeeping is obtained by paying
a good salary to some woman who not
only knows how work should be done, out
possesses the ability TO manage those who
are supposed to do it. I see instances Of
this executive ability in simple homes
where one maid does the work, keeps
things neat and attractive, and has some
- y
presiding genius Of such homes that there
is something wrong when a woman never
gets through with her tasks, and 1 am
beginning TO believe it.
Housekeeping is complicated. however
much we try TO simplify it, Sweeping.
busting. picking up, bed-making. cook
ing. and washing dishes are daily occur
renees. Once a week comes the laundry
work, and cleaning is about as often.
But planning Will make these tasks fit
into the working hours Of the day and
leave a margin for rest There is a
happy medium between excessive neat
ness and carelessness, q medium that cOlt-
forms with health and attractiveness, but
does not allow for unnecessary work
Women who find il never work themselves /
TO the point of illness, but do not neglect
the important tasks TO waste time in use
less ones.
One hour in the morning is worth three
or four later in the day. One is rested
then, and after facing work for hours
there is a distaste for it that is positively
wearing. If you do not believe it, Just
4yrr 3 T,a
unmade on sultry summer morning.
I have never seen a laggard who could /
earn her salt. The girl who remains in
bed till time to cook the breakfast when |
the hour for the morning meal is late, will /
lose a great deal One hour before break |
fast viii accomplish considerable and |
ease the work OF the later day. When the |
living rooms have been busted ard ar
ranged before breakfast the work goes on /
more smoothly. Occasionally it is well to /
leave a bed open and exposed to the air /
Tor the greater part of the day, but the /
habit of leaving chamber work till one |
begins to tire is bad System and thor /
are great aids to good house
keeping.
A young girl. just out Of college, was
put to work in a good-sized apartment /
and told to 90 her prettiest ] did not /
see the result Of her training till she /
had become proficient, but l know that I
she does the work-all Of il, even to her /
own ironing-and enjoys It. The heavy 4
washing is beyond her strength, Of 1
course. but the rest Of the work is more /
than the average girl cares to undertake. /
She regards il in the same light as dress
Ing or going to bed, and finds a certain |
amount of pleasure in it. Incidentally she /
is earning as much money as she would /
End in working for strangers. and her /
father is a good paymaster. The girl is 1
IN fair way to settle well in life. for /
she is popular with a set abounding with 4
men of means, and when she has a home 4
Of her own she will know how Il ought i
to be run and will be able to direct those
who do the work. which is more than /
many housekeepers can do.
BETTY BRADEEN. /