The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1935-07-12
Timely Hints
BY HELEN Nj. SMELTZER
@, Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.
WNU Service.
aEFFIc1ENcYl That's what you


little heaps Of things not yet picked up
from the bedroom floor. IF men ran
their offices as carelessly as you women
run your homesl" he continued. II
we utterly disregarded system the way
you housekeepers do. Oh heavens
what a mess 1t would be-"
"Oh hush up, you make me nervous
Esther showed back bright curls. I'm
tired of always hearing you rave about
masculine efficiency
Just like you-taklng offense when
try to give few helpful hints" Ben
retorted.
Esther surveyed the cluttered room.
She did try TO plan, but there was al
ways something coming up. One could
say, DISHES, s to S:15; beds, :15 to
$50; and SO on. It looked fine on
paper. But baby would choose 500 to
fuss. He couldn't read mothers sched-
ule of work Esther grew highly In.
dignant.
Forget 1t or you'll dud your shets."
She kept her voice bright-it was still
early in the day and she had lot to
do. She had to be cheerful Baby to
bathe, dress, feed, put to sleep; dishes
to wash and wipe; kitchen to mop
baby's washing; beds; clean up the
living room: lunch-the morning
seemed too short. Oh, well, no need for
lunch exactly at twelve today Bens
vacation took care Of that. He didn't
need to have a punctual meal these
two weeks. Esther tied her neat apron
hastily as The First started to wall
for his breakfast.
Twelve o'clock. Lunch ready2"
Bens booming voice woke the baby.
Little Ben had refused to stay on
schedule that morning and had started
his nap an hour late.
you quiet the baby. I'll be right
down to tx something" Esther called
from their bedroom.
What Nothing ready for lunch7
Why It's twelve o'clock" Ben sounded
peeyed.
mo hurry today, dear, you know"
Esther called You don't have to be
anywhere at one"
You womenln Ben exploded again.
Say listen here, Esther. This after
noon you and I are going to take an
hour off and III plan your work for
you, since you don't seem able to do II
yourself" Ben lost his temper com.
pletely and Esther knew that his golf
had been bad. But she grew very re-
sentful.
Lunch was quiet, sullen affair.
AT three. after little Ben went to
sleep-of schedule-Esther Joined her
husband on the terrace. She carried
pencil and paper. Her voice was soft
too soft, If Ben had stopped to no
tice. It put him of his guard.
See how easy It is, II you just stop
to planh he was saying. condescend-
ingly. Even a nit-wit could follow
this scheme and have time TO rest be-
sides"
Bsther's smile only became sweeter.
You rest now, DEAR she said In a
concerned voice. i must catch up on
some tag ends so that this schedule
can 20 into effect In the morning with
out a hitch. I'm sure you'n and that
things will run along as smoothly as
they do In your Office.
Bonnie woke at six, as usual, and
Esther fed him and put him Into his
klddy pen to play. She prepared break
fast and put her hat, coat and suit
case near the front door. The alarm
rang at seven. She heard Ben getting
up az she slipped out the door,
We'll, how did the time budget work
out, dear?" Esther, radiant, burst into
the kitchen at tWelve-thirty, three days
later. Ben was preparing canned soup.
The baby walled.
"Therel You've awakened the baby r.
Ben's eyes were pleading He was a
bit embarrassed.
Not of schedule, surelyw Esther
appeared Mortified. With gay laugh
she threw her arms around her un-
happy husband. Sorry I ran out on
you, Sweet" she cooed. But | got so
tired Of working so inediciently. |
knew the baby was safe, and az long as
you could run things so much more
efficiently
"Cut 1t, Esther" Ben said Il
couldn't work the darn thing even the
first day. I had Elsie come In to do
some Of the things, but even at that"
Some one called up, and there were
five minutes wasted" Esther said
"And Mrs. Roberts talked a half
hour over the fence while burned the
rubbish. Nosey." Ben confessed.
And there was always something
extra popping up, wasn't there, old
dearY Esther was really sorry for her
husband.
If you hadn't come today, I'd have
hired everything done,' he said.
Il was wondering II you would"
well, I was too stubborn, I guess, 9
Ben admitted. II just wanted to prove
to you that 1t could be done But II
couldn't"
Not with an infant around" Esther
sympathized, Fastening into the kitchen
just In time to keep the soup from
burning.