13 



thing I can see for tliein to do is to nrge the men to take an interest 

 in snch things and get them to fix them. Ventilation is not so 

 much a problem in farm houses as liow to curtail the same." 



8j)end the spring days out of doors. — " To-day, when I swept, I 

 gathered up trinkets, dusted them and put them together in one 

 basket. One trip removed them from the room when formerly five 

 or six were made. A woman told me that she would not fill all the 

 lovel}' days of spring with house cleaning and hard work. A beau- 

 tiful orchard came up close to the house and a door opened from 

 the house upon it. She used to plan to keep the days, wdien the 

 blossoms and birds filled the place, as free as possible, so that she 

 might spend much of her time there. I have often compared her 

 with the women who work and worry during that lovely season and 

 scarcely hear a bird or see a blossom." 



Confusion and worry add steps. — " We have a very large house, 

 and, like many other old houses, it was built a part at a time. The 

 cellar opens from the dining room, quite a distance from the kitchen. 

 The pantry also opens from the dining room, consequently there is 

 much chance in my work to take extra steps. It is wdien every- 

 thing is in confusion and the worker is disturbed and nervous that 

 she takes two steps where one would answer the purpose." 



Talie one day^s hiirdens / let to-morrow'' s wait. — " My kitchen 

 table is covered wdth table oil cloth rather than zinc and several lit- 

 tle round w^ooden mats always in reach for hot dishes. I consider a 

 dish drainer one of the necessities. I have a large wooden one by 

 the sink with two slats running lengthwise through the middle for 

 the dishes to rest on after washing. It is a drop affair and fastened 

 to the wall w4th hook and staple. Lastly, let me add the earnest 

 advice to dispense with washboard and get a Western washer (I am 

 not advertising) and have some male member of the household to 

 assist for one hour on washday morning. I would manage to change 

 work if I could not secure this help in any other way. It is not 

 hard work for a man, but unsuitable for a busy housekeepei-. A 

 cheerful spirit is a great panacea for all ills. The same amount of 

 work when the spirits flag, drags like a ball and chain, and woman's 

 work appears the everlasting round of daily duties, never ending. 



509 



