Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-05-25

Humble Art
of DISTINGUISHING


Il wonder why 40 so love u COOK
and yet hate the thought of washing
dishes?'
l believe can answer that question
for little Mrs. Woman and the great
army of her sisters who find them
selves similarly inclined. The love for
cooking is the creative force within
you, while the hatred for dishwashing
is generated by the difficulty of find
ing in that humble art any outlet for
the force.
Everyone is born with more or less
creative force. 1t may lie perfectly
dormant for years, or it may be evil
dent in every act. circumstances and
environment have much to do with
bringing out this latent ability, but if
it be there in sufficient quantity it
will make itself known, no matter
what the surroundings.
We will have to admit there isn't
much in the act of clearing away a
stack OF messy dishes to stir up any
latent creative ability in anyone, but
it is possible to lessen the drudgery
of this act. 1t isn't necessary to put
on ones thinking cap as seriously for
this operation as if one were about
to solve a problem in calculus, but
little gray matter judiciously applied
never did anything any harm, not even
the humble art of dishWashing. The
creative mind will not be content to
plod away, attending strictly to routine
in any proceeding. This is the mind
which will see better way, a newer
idea, or a shorter cut. This mind will
first see to it that all the necessary
conveniences are at hand. 1t will re-
alize that two of the greatest essen
tials for successful dishwashing are
the right kind Of dish cloths and
oceans of hot water.
The cheapest and best washing
cloths on the market, for the better
dishes, are those common, knitted at.
fairs, sold for bathroom use for five
cents each. They wear long time,
keep clean and white, and can be
boiled up with the other clothes every
wash day. Brown linen crash, made
into cloths tritie larger than the knit
ted ones, are best for pots and kettles,
and for drying towels the barred linen
is most universally liked. If Mrs. WO-
man is inclined to look abou. her for
small ways of saving pennies for her
bank account she will cut up and
hem all the flour sacks for drying
cloths. They are splendid for the
china.
Now about the hot water. Never
start to do up pile of dishes with
stingy little bit of hot water. If there
is no boiler to draw from, both the
dishpan and the tea kettle should be
filled to start with, and an extra stew
ing kettle filled to the brim will never
come amiss Fill all baking dishes,
pots and kettles with cold water and
stand them aside to soak. Pile plates
and platters in order, after scraping
off all grease and crumbs, and rinse
out all glasses and cups.
System will be of great value in dish
washing, as in every other department
of housekeeping. Wash the glassware
cups and saucers, and then attack the
fruit and vegetable dishes, as these
are the first really greasy things. Re-
new the dishwater often. Water is the
cheapest thin gon record, and you will
feel the grease and CRIME less if you
throw away your suds before it begins
to feel the least bit thick. Take fresh,
hot suds from the poth and pans al
ways. Never neglect to dry your dish
pan thoroughly, and, lastly, wash your
hands carefully when you have fin
ished. Use some fine white soap, keep
a lemon in the soap dish for removing
any lingering stain, and rub in some
good cold cream or toilet preparation
to keep the skin white and soft. A
few of these simple rules carefully
will lessen the drudgery of
more than you can know,
unless you have tried them.