Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-11-05
Myth Of the
Young Wife

defense, that there's anything at Gil
In the Joke about the brides ignorance
of household matters. I've been mar
ried only u couple OF weeks. but I've
seen enough to- convince me. why,
the first day I went into the kitchen
without being called, my wife drove
me out Just AZ naturally as I've seen
my mother drive my father out. But
before ! did get out | had grabbed
couple OF hot home made donghnu's.
the first I'VE eaten In years. and they
were somethin' scrumptiOus.
And say. all this truck about the
bride ordering half dozen OK iiVers
or a sirloin OF chicken or yard ana
half Of pork roast Is the worst kind
of rot. When tho butchers boy
brought the goods she looked II over
carefully and then she weighed 1t.
Tell Mr.. SpRrerib.' she said to the
boy. that there Ia no trimming on "A
leg of lamb. and this IL three ounces
short with the bone weighed In
: The boy opened his eyes pretty
wide and then he got rcd and began
TO fish around in the basket. Finally
he brought out another slip for five
cents less. 1 guess there was mis-
take he mumbled.
When he had gone my wife looked
serious. He's gotten hold OF bill
pad. she said. and IL adding few
cents to the bill OF each customer. |
hate TO complain. but ! will II sus'
i'm, of ,,Sinc npain I'm he
won't try to use 1t on me. bat It's
shame that he should cheat the other
customers and ruin a mans business,
That was the way Il wen. all day.
Nothing came in without being sx-
amined None of the ten cents
whole lot men and none OF the two
big buckets quarter men worked
any Of their goods OF on her. She
looked into everything. But the limit
came when the groceries arrived. She
kent the boy until she had gone over
, the bill and checked of the items.
Then she looked the things over. One
Of them was u package OF seeded
raisins, and she opened that at the
top and at tho bottom. Then sic
gave it back to the boy. Take that
back, she said. Some one has been
eating the raisins out of the bottom or
it,. lie took it. and half an hour later.
the grocer. whom suspect OF being
named Meyer. came around to inquire
and protest That Is all right. she
said. Only the other day ! saw your
son eating seeded raisins out OF the
bottom of a package. and thought
that IL he did 1t once he might do II
again
THE boy had been too darned lazy
to eat the raisins with the seeds In
them. and so he had been stealing
them out Of the package and closing
IL up again. told her didn't think
there was so much need Of sharp
watching. but she only answered:
Try to run the house without 1t. You
don't earn enough money TO allow me
to waste anything. and so ] have TO
make every cent count for its fuil
value, or else we'll have TO do without
lots CT things.
And do YOU know how l spent the
last two Or three days Of my vacation
and honeymoon? Peeling peaches and
corning crab apples Yes. sir. Togeth-
or with plEns and grapes we put UP
- dozen quart bottles, besides dozen
lars of piccaliiii. That was something
different from the way mother used
to do At preserving time she drove
US all. father included. out OF the
{ house and let us eat windfalls from
the orchard trees. 1t was time OF
| terrible storm and strain for her and
us. The results were good though.
when il was over But my wife just
put big kitchen apron on me and
made me help: not try 10 direct
! things. mind you. OF Ofrer any sugses-
! tons. bit do wha; she told me 10 do.
What do you think Of that 70: the
new woman. the precinct of our mod
ern ineffective civilization, that thes"
bum political economists and others
are talking their heads OF about!
It's my one best guess that most WON
en- are pretty mach alike IL they get
half 4 show and have half teaspoon
! ful Of brains.
I As for CoOkfnR-WcIl. III IN easy
, Yet she learned II all AT school. the
same as thousands Of o;he: girls. and
she claims the average gil can have
, the same success II she isn't lazy ana
is willing 10 sidestcp the deiica;essen
store habit That's the rock on which
q good many housewives are wrecked,
, The man who falls a victim 60 1t soon
will have an annual meal ticket al ih"
Tree lunch counter. and he viii g"
incrc when he wants substantial
, food
Say. Smith" broke In the bo"k
keeper. III listens 10 me as your
wife Wa one Of these old fashioned
slaves TO TIE cook stove"
You've 20, another guess coming.