Home Economies 1845 



When he have eliminated all unnecessary work let us be willing 

 to share what remains to be done. Did jou ever know a family 

 martyr ? One of those persons who is always complaining of the 

 many things she has to do, says her life is "^ all drudgery " and 

 so on, and on, and on, but let anyone offer help and it is promptly 

 refused. She can " do it quicker than you," she '^ has one way 

 of doing work " and other excuses are given in her refusal. Such 

 people seem to revel in the belief that they are abused, yet resent 

 the idea that things might be made easier for them. I have no 

 patience with self-inllicted martyrdom. What does it matter if 

 the work is not done exactly one way, as compared with gaining 

 time for needed rest, especially so if nervous complaining is done 

 away with. 



Is it essential that every kitchen towel be ironed ? Clothes are 

 never so sweet smelling as when newly taken from the line, and 

 many of them, if neatly folded, will do service just as well as 

 though time and work had been spent to iron them. After all, 

 the great endeavor should be to make the things we use serve us 

 and not rule us. 



Woman's work in the home is just as much an economic factor 

 to be considered as is any other kind of work. We may not think 

 of it in terms of dollars and cents, and it is well we do not, for 

 the ability to acquire money falls far below the ability to make 

 and keep a home. When I say " home," I do not mean a place 

 to stay, with the house always in order, but a home in the truest 

 sense of the word. Housekeeping is not home-making. Did you 

 ever visit one of these housekeepers ? You are met at the door, 

 welcomed, and are then shown into the best parlor, after which 

 the hostess excuses herself and goes into the kitchen. You sit 

 in all the different chairs, being careful not to wrinkle the tidies ; 

 you look at the photograph album, study the pictures and wish 

 someone would come. Finally supper is ready. The hostess is 

 too tired to eat, so spends her time telling how little there is to 

 offer you, that the bread is not so good as common, and she does 

 not know what is the matter with the cake. You keep telling 

 how lovely and delicious everything is and then you go home. 

 Her ^hief aim had been to provide physical comfort and the social 

 element had been entirely overlooked, while you had come for a 

 visit, not a meal. We each believe our home to be the best place 



