South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-10
When one Returns
to the TO1n House

The closing Of the country house
for the winter is a recognized test
Of housewifely efficiency. and a task
so important, in many ways. that.
from its requirements. system has
been evolved by one good house
keeper. who smiled wisely. when
questioned about it. and responded
with the recital of her own expert
ences.
As soon as we have decided upon
the date when we shall leave she
said the plumber is engaged to
come on the morning of our depart
ure That is the most important
matter in connection with a house
that is 10 be closed for a season, with
no caretaker in attendance. All other
details are merely incidental, in COM
parison with the Importance OF the
plumbing, which. II not properly
cared for. must be M. in the spring
with much unnecessary inconven-
'ience and expense. The date then De
ing fNed. the work of closing can be
gin quietly and without confusion.
fully a fortnight before hand. Muslin
curtains are taken down. Numbered
and put away in bureau drawer OF
the rooms TO which they belong.
This saves confusion and mistakes
in the spring Rugs are cleaned and
rolled on poles and the poles are
stood in the corner. Crates are
cleaned out and left in readiness for
cool days Of the spring season. II
the furnace has been used that also
unjust be cleaned repaired too. If
necessary The cellar must be clean
ed and put in perfect order. the gar
den tools occupying a place by
themselves, so that they may be at
hand when needed The pla-- $ from
the beds in the garden that are a
vaila bile for another season are left
on shelves. and labeled. so that there
may be no mistakes.
Wrap the Pictures.
The pictures are taken down and.
after the glass is washed. wrapped
in paper or cloth. tied with string
and laid glass downward on a table.
To stand them on the floor warps
the frames If left on the walls. they
may discolor the wall paper. The
books on the library shelves are
taken out. carefully busted. put
back with paper folded around each
one. and one book removed from
each shelf so that air may circulate.
This avoids the discoloration that
frequently appears on book bindings
caused by dampness. The bric-a
brac is all cleaned carefully. wrapp-
ed in paper and put away on the
shelf somewhere or possibly left
on the mantel The CRATE utensils
are wrapped in paper and tied up.
The aim is 10 have as little work 20
do as possible at house-Opening time
and as little confusion.
"Portiers are taken own. busted.
summed. and thrown over a line in
the garnet OF the storeroom. If they
are folded. it is sometimes difficult
TO remove the Creases. and throwing
them over clothes bars or over
line avoids future difficulty. Sofa
pillows are busted and by means Of
a loop of tape pinned 70 the corner
Of each one. suspended from hooks
i'm the clothes closet, the door being
left ajar for a circulation of air
Neither pillows nor anything having
weight should be thrown on a pie6
of furniture with springs. else the
upholsterer will need TO be called i'm
TO reset the -prings. The upholster-
ed furniture - busted and covered.
either with the linen covers, or. in
the event Of the covers having been
Numbered for the coming season.
with dust sheet that is easily re-
moved.
In the bedrooms. the first thing