Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-04-09
HOMEMAKERS COLUMN.
Oorrespondsncs On topics Of interest 70 tie ladee
ID solicited. address: Editor HoMlAAK1ne
nv,c,nths Ia Feed the Soul.

hyscinths to Feed the Soul.
Good housekeeping Is not necessarily
good homemaklng. Spotless floors,
furniture covered with drab linen, dust.
less but uncomfortable chairs, closed
shutters or drawn shades, keeping out
the cheerful, health.giving, % we'll ~
color dissolving rays Of the sun. Cheap,
thick dishes, the dainty best china sdorn-
Ing the shelves or the china closet, I'M
used, the serving Of food any old fashion
40 long a. It is eaten, the manners OF
greedy porkers when there 10 no ono but
the family to see, crude pictures, trashy
books, hair In curl papers, . waist and
skirt that do not pretend to hang to.
gether, the staying away from concert
or lecture, because the mending must DO
done or the house thoroughly swept, tho
neglect of calling on friends and neigh.
bOrs, because no time can be spared
from homework, all indicate that the
material 10 exalted above the spiritual
and that the housekeeper cannot, or will
not, distinguish between the essentials
and the non.essentlals. 1850 .,
l do not mean that one ought not to
keep ones floors polished, the furniture
undusted, or leave the mending undone
so as to find time to gossip with the
neighbors or read the ephemermai
best seller, but do maintain that Life
means more than food and drink, and
lodging. Real living means growth and
progress and attainment, and II petty
cares, and humdrum experiences take
up ali ones time and mind, how can the
mind grow and the soul attain? There
need not be gross neglect OF duty. but
one can put on q thinking cap and de-
eide which are the things Of vital i'm
portance. Better bare room, crust
and lily in simple vase, than room
cluttered with meaningless bric-a- brac,
delicacies to eat and an deliberately cut
glass bowl filed with q tumble of roses.
Better little dust, simple eating, palmer
clothing with calm nerves, q controlled
temper, and a larger interest In men
and affairs.
Keep the brasses polished, the win
dows shining, the rugs well.beaten; set
on the table good, homemade bread, a
well.filled pie with flaky crust, clear,
quivering jelly and other good things,
but be sure that this is not all that you
do. See that the cloth is Immaculate,
the dishes pretty, the food served dainti-
ly, the table manners refined, the CONVEX
sation cheerful and free from caustic
criticism and petty gossip. Attend the
occasional concert; have on hand always
a good book; visit with q neighbor or
friend once In a while; take walk, en-
JOY the beauty on every hand, OF bird,
and tree, and flower. Help your chill
dren in their studies, or at least, be In
terested. Indulge their desires for com.
panionship of their own age, even 1t they
do bang the piano and drag dirt upstairs.
Dress neatly and with some concessions,
at least, to the prevailing fashions. Be
interested in current events and civic
affairs. Practice goodwill toward all
and you will find growing In your home
bulb that will eventually bloom into
beautiful, fragrant hyacinth tina. will
soothe tired nerves, inspire to better liv.
ing and tune the soul with the Infinite.
What does 1t profit woman, II she
have shining range, a spotless Kitchen
floor, carpets that yet bold their pristine
freshness OF color, meals on time, yea!
what does 1t profit her, If she lose the
glory of the sunset, the uplift of good
book, the inspiration OF good music, the
fragrance Of flowers, the warmth OF
friendship? The body, the mortal, cor.
ruptible part, she has fed and clothed
and sheltered, but the soul, the I'M
mortal, incorruptible part, she has starv-
ed, left naked and houseless.
Oh woman! blinded by convention,
narrowed by the paltry cares Of house
keeping, pray for clearer vision to per.
ceive that hyacintbs are needed to feed
the soul. Read again the story Of Mary
and Martha so as to realize more clearly
that it was Mary, who ran to meet him,
whom Jesus loved, not Martha, who
stayed at home cleaning the house and
preparing a big dinner for him; and
while you have in hand your Bible re-
read that familiar verse OF the 18th
Chapter of Matthew, "Consider the
lilies of the field, they toll not neither
do they spin," but they carry the mes
sage Of uplift and beauty In the com.
mon fields of life. Even Solomon with
his riches could not be compared with
these.-Ex.