Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1916-07-21
THE SAFETY VALVE.

luncheon were ulSCuSSlHS tAN
as to whether the women Oh the tu'
ture would be quite without domes'ic
instincts, that all these soclaI IT,
formers and domestic scientists are NOT
going to take away Housekeeping
from the housekeeper and put II III
the hands of specialists.
at looks as if they would" declar'
ed a woman in gray. 81 don't suppose
the housekeeper of the future VIII
care say that her spoons are her own
They will belong to the trained POLISH
or of silver, who will come in at reg
Liar intervals, tell her how to use hes
silver wisely and explain just no"
much of the precious metal is lost IN
leaning. Other specialists will look
after her rugs, her hangings ana ner
clocks. So there will be nothing Tor
her to do but use her possessions Win
discretion"
"Fiddlesticksl" exclaimed the Wo-
man next to the hostess. There new
CT will be time when a housekeeper
will not fuss around her house, doing
things in her own way and ACCORDING
to her own sweet will"
Really said Muriel, "it would De a
dangerous thing for ME to lose my So
called domestic occupations, for they
are my safety valves for all the emo
fionalism produced by lectures mus
icales. and political meetings"
"a pleasant way to look upon your
emotional experiences" said another
woman. "Do you mean that you Ike
to counterfeit the effect Of musicale
with broom OF buster"
"Yes,," declared Muriel, II always
feel toward music that I would not
love thee, love, so much. loved J not
my buster more.''
"It has just the opposite effect on
me-" sighed the woman in gray. when
/ come home from some delightful
symphony concert and am obliged to
go into the kitchen and make Il prime
pudding, / feel terribly let down"
at ali depends upon The pudding
declared another woman. IF It was a
success / should feel that 1 was still
among the clouds and the SYM
phonies."
did you ever try stepladder as an
outlet for pent-up esmotioRs" asked
Nuriel ct was always a great relief
to me after returning from some morn,
M lecture or recital to shake off my
society cfstEes, put on an old house
dress and climb 10 the top of my step
Il oder and wipe~Qff the pictures or
the molding. / am always signing for
a house into which dust cannot gain
but really without the ey'
erlasting chase life would lose half its
spice"
Half its vinegar, you mean,' de-
cIared a rebelllous housekeeper. 4
don't care to pass my life climbing
ladders in search of dirt. That isn't
what we are given brains and souls
for"
"Bu. l sometimes think" protested
MurieI, that trying for PERFECTION in
any line even tho it be only in the
dtst chasigkliGse,,J deyefups, tse brain
nd .d.9yeIplines the soul quiteSas much
as do more socalled intellectual and
spiritual pursuits. Only hodsekeeper
can experience that inner peace and
harmony which come from know.
ledge that her house. is in order and
her lamps trimmed
Nobody these days uses the kind
cf lamps that have to be trimmed,
said the rebellieus housekeeper. But,
Cf course if you put housekeeping on
ouch high grounds-on the stepladder,
IS it were-perhaps there is something
10 be said for it. Still, when | think
~ all the women who have been oblig'
ed to wear out their lives in useless
urudgery, forever chasing and never
banishing dirt, mending things that
were not worth rHending. making
Tread that could be bought cheaper
and better at the bakers, l feel that
we need reform in Housekeeping anu
that it is time the specialist and the
reformer came to the housekeeper's
aid"
well; when I Think declared Muir
iel exeitedly, "of the many women
who have been-sayed from nervous
breakdowns by their bread and theiI
brooms and how many have found an
outlet for their feelings in their jelly
making and preserving, l feel thank
ful for the noble art of housekeeping
and for what Charles Lamb has called
the sweet charities of home"
Dear me, Muriel," Protested the
rebel. Il think you use your stepiaddel
too much. 1t is is hard to get you of
1t, so that you may come down to q
sensible earthly view of life"
"Hurrah for the stepladder!" criee
Muriel, waving her napkin, Ions live
- h.,op, opd khe 6uSfar and all the