Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-06-24
HOMEMAKERS COLUMN.


ia soHcited. Address: Editor HoMEhAKERs'
COLUMN. Oxford Democrat. south Paris. Ne.
iiousekeeplng-wise and Otherwise.
That there Ia economy In system 10
proven beyond a doubt. In glancing
over the average mans Office, one is I'M
pressed with the order and complete
ness of the working outfit. System here
ia everything; it speaks from the stack
of envelopes, from the blotting pid, the
stamp box, the set Of rules attached to
each desk, the clip holding letters to be
apsvered, each marked with blue PEN
Gil for the department for which 1t is In
tended. There Is no mental DEPRESSION
and consequent loss OF time, from having
TO stop in the thick OF work to look up q
straw document, for within easy reach Is
a card index and Q cabinet file. The
workers thoughts hold steadily to the
subject in mind until finished. There Ia
no LAYING of work aside for chat with
fellow clerk, game of cards, or an
afternoon matinee. 1t such we're 10 nap.
pen, woe betide the business, 1t would
soon hasten to the b0w-wows.
As In the Office, so 1t is In every liue OF
work in which men are engaged. The
first requisite for perfect accomplish
ment Is q complete set of too's; the sec
ond is to have them within easy reach.
Once a task is begun, II is finished be-
fore another one Is taken up. One al q
time ia the rule.
Not so with the average woman, sys
.em has little place in her vocabulary.
"Sufficient unto the day is the evil there.
~" seems her favored slogan. Instead
IF being syslemized her energy usual!
iuns riot With resultant disorder.
OF her VOL king tools, one may be found
here, another there, u long search ensues
for a third, and often poor substitute
| \ used, instead M wonder that there
IRE so many housekeeping failures, so
many int ficient housewOrkers, 80 many
| fishes with savory promise in the COM
pounding thereof, only to appear later
,pon the table unpalatable messes; and
not only that, but representing loss OF
ime and money az we'll. So many tasks
neppp. then laid aside or discontinued
altogether, and others taken up instead
| The average woman's distractions are
many and various.
"It seems that can never accomplish
,nything," complained young home
maker. am upstairs and down, pick
ing up and turning over things, l never
can find what l am looking for; ana
| there's the beds to make, dishes to wash'
and windows to clean, / never know
what to do first"
She lacked a system, every woman be-
ginning life in her own home should take
| TO her heart an old motto: "Have place
| for everything and keep everything In It's
place:" and 1t is we'll to add, have GER
lain time for every household task, be 1t
washing, ironing, sweeping or baking.
One need not be system fiend to effect
a smooth continuity of the household
work, for one Is likely many times to Dc
interrupted to bind up q little finger, to
wipe away the tears, and comfort child
as only mother can; but one may plan
to dispatch the work to the best advan'
tage.
Have certain hours for each daily task
md adhere to them. Take each one IN
succession and see that 1t Is thoroughly
finished before commencing the next
one, II the attic is to be cleaned on
certain day, clean the attic on that day,
and let kitchen and cellar 60 until you
are through; clean from the top OF the
house downward, not from the bottom
up.
Have a shelf or closet, respectively
for the table linen, bed linen and wool
ems: keep china, silver and glass, each In
Its allotted place. A basket 10 conven
lieut for garments that need mending
Hat boxes, shoe and laundry bags, all
lend their quota in keeping system 10
the ordering of the home.
Have the kitchen we'll arranged, with
every article In familiar and convenient
place, so that when roast Is to be pre-
pared for the oven, salad or cake TO o.
10 ade, no time is lost in collecting all the
implements needed; and take each steI
of preparation in the order directed, Sc
as 10 insure successful termination o.
the undertaking.
Keep q family account book and
house record. Don't have addresses
here and receipts stuffed there, probably
in an old teapot. Business men use up
to.date filing systems in their offices
use them in the home and be quick, re
liable, and accurate. A blllhook handy
for receipts, large envelopes for clippings
each labeled as to contents, and verti
cal letter file, are all worry saving de-
vices, and 60 toward making housekeep
ing a work of pleasure, If not zone GLAD
sweet song"
Keep strict account OF all expenses
each under its proper heading; there il
la satisfaction in seeing at . momenrt
lglance ''just where the money goes"
Remember that "Order IL Heavens
first law and all these helps make
Ipreat whole in the conservation OF time
and force, which is made great subject
in these days wherever wise men and
women meet to discuss the bettermeu'
of their sisters, aud improvements in the
met hods of housekeeping,-Ex.