Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-28
The Useful Grandmother

All grandmotherS could be divided into !
two classes-the useful and the useless. |
Usually the useless grandmothers are so
not because they want to be so, but because
fate, in the guise OF loving and would-be
considerate relatives, makes them SO.
Every woman likes to be as active as her
strength will let her be. She likes to |
keep her mind and fingers employed as
long as she has sight and nimble fingers.
But there are many younger persons who
think that because woman has reached !
old age she should be useless, idle, and. |
therefore, generally unhappy. Grand |
mother is not allowed to dust her room
or to choose her own clothes or to bulge |
out of sight of her adoring family, all for |
fear she may tire herself. There is really |.
no reason why almost every old woman |
should not be happily useful, and so a |
blessing to herself and her family, in
stead of the burden she is sometimes
made.
The old-fashioned grandmothers who
knit have source of much contentment
at their beck and call. But even these
knitting grandmothers are sometimes
made to appear foolishly useless. They
are allowed to knit dozens and dozens Of
mittens that no one ever. wears, or awk
ward, thick stockings that are just as lit
tie wanted as the mittens.
There are so many really useful things
that even a stiff1fngered woman can knit
that there is no excuse for useless knitted
wear. For instance, find out just how
many pairs Of mittens can be used. and
just what size and style they should be.
Perhaps a pair of loose, thiek white
wooden ones will save the laundEess red
nqf
mittens can be worn by the maid who
sweeps the porcheS and walks on cold
winter days. If the children in the fam
lily wear wooden snittens have them knit
ted SO that the children will like them.
Buy a sample pair or book Of directions
telling how to make the sort liked, and
let the grandmother model her knitting on
these. There are always poor folk to
make Tittens for, and the grandmother
who knits might make mittens for these
poor folk her contribution TO the fam
ily Christmas expenditure.
Shawls and scarfs for the heads and
shoulders of servants who run in and
out of doors d dozen times a day would
save many colds. IL these are made of
soft white wool it can be washed clean
and SO kept in good condition for several
Neats. Wash cloths and dish cloths, too,
can be knitted. Old string can be knit
ted on big needles for cleaning cloths,
and so real economy can be effected.
The grandmother whose strength Is
limited might have charge of the family
first aid cabinet. Thus she would have
. an interesting responsibility, and the
mother would be spared good many
worries, knowing that all bruised or cut
fingers and bumped heads would be anti
septically and neatly bandaged.
The grandmother with a love for flow
could MI M q
her shoulders of arranging the cut flow
ers and caring for the plants In the
house where she lives. When an old
woman does take such a responsibility,
1t. not treated like a child who needs
watching and correcting every day.
The grandmother could also work in
the garden. 1t could be her task each
fall TO collect seeds and label them and
put them away for the next year. 1t
could be her task, too. to look after the
drying of herbs and the storing and sep
arating Of bulbs.
IL the grandmother enjoys doing house,
work. let her do it. Don't be afraid that
the neighbors will think you work your
mother or mother-in law too hard. House
work is remedy for many ills Of body
and mind. Assign her certain tasks. just
! as you yourself take certain other tasks
Don't interfere with her work any more
IMAM you expect ner TO interfere Win
yours.
No matter what II is. let the grand
mother have definite occupation. Other
wise don't expect her to be the happy.
cheerful, helpful sort of grandmother that
every one likes to have I'm the house.
| delightful and dainty jabot is of
sheerest white linen. the edges embroid-
cred in square scallops.
Most hats have a soft. vague look and
some decided outstanding finish, which
makes them chic.
The youthful high waist line women are
loath to forego. and it has been retained
by many designers.
The all-tulle hat OF black is quite the
! thing. the transparent crown leaving the
couture plainly to be seen.
| Ratines are being worn more than ever
and women are actually planning suits
OF ratine for the fan.