Norwich bulletin., 1911-01-13

The regular meeting of Anne Brew
ster Tanning chapter D. A. R., was
held at the home of Mrs. G. II. Jen-
nings, Wednesday afternoon, Mrs. Jen-
nings being assisted in entertaining
by Mrs Carl Jennings. The regent,
Miss Martha Brewster. presided at
the meeting. Mrs. A. NJ. Brown, Mrs.
John H. Tracy and Mrs. F. c. Whiting
were appointed alternates to,fthe Ma
tional congress, the regent being the
delegate. 1t was voted to have a Wash
ington birthday whist and dance, as
in previous years.
Interesting Paper.
The paper for this meeting was by
Miss Martha Brewster, it's subject be-
ing Grandmother's Housekeeping and
Mine.
Grandmother's home was usually
large house, very seldom less than ten
rooms, usually scantily furnished. I'M
less grandfather was the oldest son or
endowed with a large portion of this
worlds goods. IL the master of the
house was cabinet maker, so much
the better, for a large share of the
furniture was usually home made.
The house was built around large
chimney, ten or twelve feet square,
with a fireplace opening into each
room. The largest fireplace was in
the kitchen, and woula take log five
chair or SO, settle, spinning wheel,
loom, and board laid on two horses
for a table. Some shelves in a corner
held all the dishes. and some pewter
probably brought from England
Perhaps grandmother's most priced
article of furniture was the loom, for
with this she practically dressed the
family. She wove into cloth the wool
from their own sheep and colored it
with home made dyes. Flax was grown
and treated ysgrandmother in much
the same way, and woven into cloth for
sheets, pillow cases and table linen.
Preparing the Meals.
Besides all this there were the meals
for the large families. They had no
stove, but a crane hanging on the
fire held pots to boil or stew the roast
ed in the Goals. Meat was sometimes
roasted on a spit, something like two
tall andirons with serrated sides, on
which iron rods holding the meat or
fowl could rest and be turned to roast
equally. The roast or fowl would
probably have to be prepared by
Grandmother herself the roast cut
from the carcass and the fowl killed
and plueked. The meal for the cakes
would doubtless have been through the
pestle under her hands. Besides get
ting one days meals, she cured and
dried meats and fruits in their season,
.ogether with herbs, which she used to
cure the family ills In leisure mo-
ments she knitted, made rugs and did
the finest embroidery.
Not College Bred.
Grandmother was not highly educat-
ed-thefe was no need of that as long
as she was a houslzeeper.
Then and Now.
Then the contrast was shown be-
tween the housekeeping in olden times
and this-A house of five or six small
rooms, all on one floor If this house
or home is situated at the top of a
tall building, an elevator conveys the
housekeeper to her home. The fur
nishings of the kitchen differ some
what from grandmother's First, there
is no fire or stove, perhaps a gas or
electric range. The meat comes all
prepared to cook, and the flour also.
When the dishes are washed, there
are hot and cold water faucets. The
dishes are of china, mostly imported,
and while there may be a few pieces
of pewter ON the sideboard or plate
rail- they are priced as ornaments. In
case of lack of time, a meal can be or
dered from q hotel or restaurant, on
the telephone, and one can visit with
would have been considered witchcraft
in grandmother's time.
The furnishing Of modern rooms was
described, and the various ways of
hearing music, sermons or the latest
comic opera, as by the monograph and
other Ike instruments.
Cleaning nowadays is done by vac
uum cleaner, and clothing prepared
by people employed for that purpose.
The Modern Housewife.
The housekeeper of today break
fasts in bed on tropical fruits, some
crackers and a cup of coffee. Then
dresses, goes shopping. takes a light
lunch, attends a club meetihg, where
she reads an address on The Way to
Train Children, having had some ex-
perience as several of her friends
have pet dogs. Goes to a bridge par
ty, home to dinner and then to ball
or opera. All this travelling is not done
as in the days of grandmother, by
horseback or stage coach. A motor
car is not a luxury, but a necessity.
Grandmothers house was lighted
by the ingenuity and the dexterity OF
her fingers. TIL modern house is
lighted by the magic art called cleo
tricity.
A Social Hour.
The two hostesses served refresh
ments after the reading Of this inter-
esting paper.