The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-15
Wor1aam's Page Of The Tiin1es-Dispatch
Home Makers and
Keepers and Their
Characteristics

There is q great deal of talk IN the
magazines and books and papers OF
to-day about women who arc home
makers and home-kecpers and women
who arc not.
Now, if there is ono class of women
who. as 4 class, arc born and not
made. # is the homc-making. i,omc-
keeping class. TO say this docs no,
imply that there is no virtue or efficacy
in training Or teaching women the
practical accomplishments that they
viii have need of when t'lci- home
making period is inausuratcd. But
when they have hccn trained AM.
taught. Il they lhavc not a natura,
Sttt. there Will he ~ much differences
in results as wns expressed by one
woman TO another, when she was asked
IL size had heard a famous singer. "Ah,
no" she said, Il lid not want to hear
nor. Her voice is all made
Perhaps such a critic might BIO
equally dissatisfied with the homa
which WAS managed by q housc-keeper
who was "all made that is, by one
whose knowledge and work in the
nome was confined altogether to tech
ntcal learning. and not in the least
founded upon womanly inclinations and
instincts.
SOME women can make n home any
whore and under any circumstances.
that is. they can difruse around then,
the atmosphere OF home, its intimacios
and It's close companionships. its
pleasures and It's wholesome restraints.
However humble tho environment II
matters not. for a home altar may be
erected wherever its worship goes on.
aud maybe for the rsfrcshme OF
the poorest as well as the richest, all
classes of humanity alike being free
1 of It's nrivilrceS who sock Thorn In tho
right spirit. 8
:. man who was a great observer I
Of men and morals. once said hat
the trucst index TO n woman's character
was her dress in which. whether she
wished or not, she must be sincere.
Other observers have. al various times.
classified a woman characteristics by
handwriting. by lines On the palm and
by the zodiacal signs which arc sun
posed to have Il tempcranncntal tndu-
cncc. more or less intimate, accord
ing TO tic month and the date OF a
birthday.
But, moro than in any other way, It
would seem that tho making of q
woman's home indicates the typo of
woman she Is. Her tastes arc eN-
pressed in its wall %hangings and fur
nisnings. and sometimes loudly and
crudeiy expressed. Her intuitions take
shape in the antique mahogany or tho
white holly. or the palmer and less
expensive woods which peoplc who
shun oXtraya gance affect. 4
He or She who reads character by
the art OF the home-makerts selection
in furniture, will be pretty apt 10
arrive. But. be that as It may, tho
main point TO be decided, is whether
the h~ome-keeper is a genuine or an
artificial product. whether within the
walls of n house there Is the touch
and the influence that make for hap
I ninpS. ~ fornluJIt- nni convention.
Perhaps the materials which the
Aome-nakcr mas at her right of dis
posal are scanty and BY no means at
trac:ivc. Perhaps her space may ha
limited ami her opportunities crampcd.
Perhaps her soul may revolt at tho
wall hnngings which an obdura,e land
lord refuses TO change. But. II she
is q woman who Is really II home
genius. she will overcome or smooth
away all such difficulties. Her home
wIil he bright with neatness and order.
AMI alive with that hospitality which
talies into its circle AN outsider as u
nartolSer OF all the circle can give of
Rocn feeling AMI good fellowship. Her
noart will he In the welcome she gives,
and its cordiality will make ample
amends for whatever shortcomings
may otherwise reveal themselves
through lack OF wealth and luxury.
Whatever may he said of other
classes and types of woman. the home
making class has its distinct and rec
ognizcd place as a power for good,
n centre from which peace and order
and happiness :adiatc for tho better
ment OF community and individual life,
Mtrc and more even the busiest
women arc beginning to realize THIS
truth, women whose professional or
mechanical or clerical work keeps them
closely coupled during many hours
ont OF the tw~cnty-four which make
- =, - Marc and marc lit tic Cr0uDS
OF such women. drawn together DN
common interests and tastes and de-
sires, arc making for themselves homes
where. when freed from the restraints
and harassments which besct them
outside. they can interposc n barrier
that gives them an cfectual sense OF
freedom and Independence, Vital FAC
tors In the building w Of u home that
shall not help ;he builders alone, but
all others with whom they come IN
contact and to whom they furnish y
lesson I'm courage, self-rclinncc end
contcntment. UETTN EEFtN t't.f,f'
Living Itnom aud Its IiNnbic Look.
IA living room naturally has q GER
tain livable look and air Of honhclike-
ness. and this in Il way dstcrmihcs Tue
s,ylc 81 table which should be used
IN this room. No unstable gift affairs
arc allowed no limitations OF dainty in
lay. instead, mahogany, oak and other
choice woods are used. and Also wicker
ami willow. These should. of course,
he in styles TO harmonizc with tho rest
of tho furniture. BE sure 10 choose
/ tables that are built on GOOD simple
lines and that have Il beautiful finish,
not the hard, shiny and chcap-iookins
surface.
The old-fashioned centre table with
It's carefully arranged sift-hooks which
no one ever read ana its fancy lamp
on an ornate mat. Is on; % date. To-
day. il VIC have a large table in the
centre Of the room, II is FOR use and
comfort. and the whole family natural