The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-26
GRAND OPERA SINGERS
EFFICIENT HOUSEKEEPING

To think of a grand opera singer
and modern efficiency methods OF
housekeeping In the same breath is
almost more than the average person
can manage. offhand. 1t seems amaz
ing that artistic temperament and
good sound business system could be
combined in one woman. Yet Nine
Melante Kurt of the Metropolitan
opera house In New York. Ia not only
q superb Brunhilde. but a good book
keeper and fiiekeeper in her own
home.
Upon being ushered into Madame
Hurts apartment on Riverside Drive,
an impression OF orderliness and oiled
wheels Is at once manifest In one
corner OF the big double studio is a
grand piano; at the opposite corner a
desk bespeaking the busy woman who
knows just where everything Is and
can put her hand on 1t at once. On
. bookcase near by 10 = set of bust
neaslike filing cases, and within. along
with the music, In . perfectly-kept set
OF account books. So even her living
room testifies to her com bination of
the artist and the level-headed bust
ness woman.
Yes. I have adopted into my house
the helpful systematic methods of the
modern Office laughed Madame
Kurt. when questioned a. to her
housekeeping. Il found that was
like many women who keep bills in
their individual envelopes, knocking
about the pigeon holes OF their desks;
who keep receip0 not At all. and 20
are often confronted with duplicate
bills which they cannot prove are
paid; who keep answered letters and
una nswered ones In the same COM
partmsnts and have to search through
many piles OF papers to find the one
they want.
II am interested In my housskSep-
ing and want TO keep the reins in my
own hands. although / have brought
with % many rehearsals and per-
formances, / found II would have to
BE- reduced to . system. 80 bought
several filing cases. account books.
and other office supplies, and adopt
ed the modern business methods 20
far 40 could.
II keep here a file of unpaid bills.
alpha betically arranged. In another
case are the receipts. similarly dis
letters. one for business contracts and
that have been answered. and one for
those that are TO be answered.
THE books are kept methodicaliy.
Ny maid keeps q daybook showing all
her expenditures for the house. and
this 10 submitted to me every night
and entered In my own books. Re-
oeipts arc entered on one side Of the
ledger and expenses on the other. and
keep my balances quite AZ a good
bookkssper should,
Il think that al women should
l~-> A6Sv vrhAWA thA~ akanA al
times with regard to the money they
handle, Why should women 80 blind
" ahead and order fsod, run up 40
counts. spend smell change without
keeping any record Of 4. and - never
know lust how they sRe coming out
with their fundsf 4 womAnb home.
her clothes, her inoideatai2, are just
- much 6uoiuon matters - arc her
husband's office work or manutaotuS-
ing concerns. and she should b A.
definite and accurate ~ he in her
entrusted with. or which she may
earn herself,
II suppose my natural sense OF
thrift Il responsible for my having
seized upon these modern ways. to-
gether With the effort to reduce my
household psObiem aud nay theater
work to the simplest and less bur-
densoms routine. find housekeeP-
ing interests restful after the arduous
and intense work which the opera
demandA and ! eajcy going out into
myssh new and then. Men need never
BE- afraid that the wider professional
and business actiWtiss ef wemen will
I'm sure ths instina1 fsr honasmakine
y back Of ey4ry woman In Rrefessionxl