New Britain herald., 1923-01-29
Are You Indifferent! Have You Chip on Shoulder?- Mrs. Platt Gives Timely Advice.

Of the dirl Reserves of New Britain
 There were a large number Of girls
 and mothers present to hear Mrs.
 Plati speak on Home Makers, and
 Home Breakers"
 Her speech in part follows.
 There are very few people in the
 world who do not have a chance to
 help make the spirit of a home; even
 the boarder and tho maid in, the
 kitchen has a biz hand in the mat
 ter. Each member Of the household
 counts as either breaker or maker
 of the true home spirit. This is not
 only tho case in home where father
 and mother and children live to-
 sether. but in a boarding house or in
 a community life such as the Y. W.
 c. A. dormitory or the summer camp.
 More than this. every normal girl
 hopes some time to have home Of
 her own. What sort Of n place will
 it be? You are getting ready for 1t
 now. and on your habits and, actions during these days depends the nature of the home you are going to make in later years.
 What do I'mean by home-break. ' describing a few of them:
 "The girl who >nags. whose first word when anybody comes into the house 1t. Why didn't you do my er- rand?: do wipe your feet; don't make such noise. etc. You all know her and how you like to get out of her way.
 "Thc indifferent girl She expects others to be interested in her affairs. but is much too busy to be interested in theirs. She is careless about her dress and appearance at home. though she is liable to spend hours over her hair and clothes if she is going out where others will see her.
 'The girl with the chip on her shoulder: She is apt to carry about an injured air, and her feelings are so near the surface that no one can touch her without hurting them. Wouldn't you. rather have someone downright angry with you than to have her going around with martyr air and grievance?
 The girl who is the untidy, care- less girl: She develops into bad
  many homes do you suppose have gone to ruin through inefficiency? Poor and insufficient food drives many a man away from home and brings out the worst traits in the children. |
 "The thoughtless girl: She never remembers the comfort. preferences and preJudices of others; she says | whatever comes into her mind, and | if it hurts anyone else, exclaims, Why [ you musn't be hurt at that, that is only my way
 There is one piece of advice | should like to give to any of you who | never thought of it before and would like to make change in your habits Remember. do not be careless; do not be fussy. Try that recipe and see how it works
 What dol mean by home makers? If anyone is to be true home maker she must have some high ideals and |, try every day to live up to them. The face of the home-maker is mirror for the other members of the family. The real home-maker may be the very youngest members of the family. Study your own home circle and try to find out who it is who has the most . to do with making or breaking the Z home spirit What part have-you in it? I
 The real home-maker Is willing to :, accept responsibility, Every member f of the home, even children: but es- pecially young people and their elders should be willing to carsy some re- sponsibility: Dust a room; care for the fire: make the beds; water the plants; see that the door is shut. If I all these things are left to mother it isn't fair; nor it is fair that she should be blamed always if it is not a real home.
 Economy is necessary for real See how far a little can t go. There must be knowledge of the e purchasing power of money, how to t keep accounts and make the house. t hold budget. The difference between V B poor person and one who is well-otf Is simply that the well-to-do lives in- I side of her income with safe margin a and something to put by, and the n poor person lives up to the very limit u of her income and is very likely to c borrow. sl .::'Increased efficiency: The science tl of home making is one to which we t, ire just awakening in America. One ti must study how to save steps and VI abor, how to make the biggest use of f, materials, how to develop the possi- W ,iities,
 "Gcod cooking and housekeeping: |, Take pride and joy in learning to do I he work in the very best way possi- ,le. Try to have neatness and order without stiffness. Instead of looking ,pon the household work as drudgery s, make an interesting study of how to ., To it in the best and quickest way. n, "A sunny face and happy laugh: V, ,oes farther than almost anything h, lse if one wants to be good home- h, maker. h, "Comradship with father. mother, tb sisters and husband. with d, he girl who lives in the next room. or he girl who can be good chums with n Ter own family is sure to be a home- bs maker. n Are these ideals high enough? sa 'wo more are necessary: A high is, ieaI of love and marriage and the co ower of Jesus Christ in the home. id you ever notice in the Bible His r with homes? Every home hould recognize Him as the center.
 Which are you going to be, a ome-maker or a home-breaker? But ere is another question still more to