The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-19

GCYsTEM is not a talentl' penned
the words a quarter of a cen
tury ago. Today I turn back
20 them and the talk built
upon them with a heart saddened as by
personal grief. I can begin this paper
with nothing better suited to the case
Of four-nfths OF the housewives who
are my present audience. Listen! and
judge for yourself if this be not true.
The notable housewife who would be
ashamed IL admit that she does not
look narrowly after paper and Irvine.
bits of cold meat and scraps Of butter
who does not calculate wisely concern
ing coal candle-ends and crusts-cOn-
fesses. without a blush. that she takes
no thought Of the gold-dust, known
among us as minutes and seconds, that
are Sitting through her fingers. BY and
by she is as truly impoverished as Il
she had thrown away the treasure 10y
the nugget. Then comes the lament.
II not the repentance. unto life. She
IS run to death with work, but 20 save
her life she doesn't see how II Is to be
helped. She never could economic the.
She has no genius for arranging her
business to advantage"
System Is Everything.
went on to say what have repeated
with vigorous emphasis-energy having
gathered vehcmence under the pressure
Of twenty-five years Of added experience
"System-by which l mean a sag2ci-
Gus and economical apportionment of
the duty To the hour and the minute;
an avoidance Of needless waste of work
ing hours, a courageous putting forth
OF the hand 10 the pillow, instead OF
talking ove- the labors to be performed
while the cool morning moments are
flying-system, then, is not a TALENT
/ recall as If il were yesterday the
circumstances under which the sem
fences were written. A neighbor-as
city blocks settle neighborliness-had
brought her fancy work over and sat
herself dOWr in my easiest chair 10
spend the morning"
I know you don't visit in the fore
noon. and don't want company then,
but l thought 1 would run in and talk
a few matters over. And IL won't nurt
you TO get out OF the nut now and
then. You are in danger Of becoming
a mere human machine
A Fool to Her Fo'7.
made no reply beyond a civil smile.
Il is the one and only way Of meeting
unintentional impertinence possible TO
a Rentlewoman-and the most approved
method Of answering a TOOL according
10 her folly.
For two hours l hearkened 10 details
OF housewifely and domestic difficulties
"a doIorous recital that returned oft
and again 10 the impossibility of crowd
ing all that is expected of wife and
mother who is also housekeeper into
the day. or week. or month appointed
unto woman for work.
MANS work is from sun TO sun;
WOmans work is never done,
she quoted, in rising 70 take her tardy
leave. My husband says It Is bad
management on my part, and tires me
out by talking Of business principles
introduced into the household You
know as we'll as I do that such talk is
boshI Maybe you systematic people,
who 90 everything by rule and measure,
may be able to accomplish something
in that line. 1 haven't a bit Of system
in nv makeup. 1 wasn't built that
wayv' With which morsel of slang she
went her way TO be at home when the
children came from school for lunch
con
Use Business Principles.
In the fragment of my precious fore
noon that remained after she had
niboIed AT it for two hours. I wrote
what I have selected as the starting
noint of our Capitalization today.
believe. and hold for certain. that it
arNA mn
principles. That so few women
recognize and act upon this as car
dlnaI truth Is one reason why our work
is never done" Ny opinion is that
man wrote the couplet. and that there
is sarcasm at the bottom OF It,
To begin with. take account Of your
duties and the time you viii have 70
give to each. That something must
be crowded out" is as certain IN your
daily tale of labors as il is in your
business. The unexpected Is
likely TO fall into mis- lot as into yours.
He leaves a margin for il, and so must
you. For example. you know that three
meals are 10 be prepared and served
tomorrow. Before you close your eyes
tonight arrange in your mind what shall
compose these meals: what materials
are in the larder that may be used
for this purpose; what you must buy 10
supplement the supply on hand. and
what you can AFFORD for the outlay.
You had company yesterday. and. man
age as you will. an extra mouth does
make q, variation in the food bills.
Reckon what your guests cost you and
make up the difference by contriving
a simpler menu for the next meal. II
do not counsel meanness in showing
one way in which the bills may be
"evened" at the weeks END. The canny
rather enjoys the task OF
keeping up her reputation as a good
provider by dainty devices. best known
to Frenchwomen, but which we are
learning TO practice. Yesterdays roast
is capable OF metamorphoses the less
ingenious caterer does not dream of. A
spoonful Of gravy; a cuPful of cooked
vegetables half dozen eggs and a