Ethics of household economy

Contents

PAGE

Introduction - - - - 7

I. General Remarks - - - 13

Introduction

In sending this little volume into the byways, I cherish the hope that it may help some newly made wife, or some tired mother, to accomplish the task of home-making with more ease and cheerfulness; to take courage by the advice of one who has passed through many of the same trials. This counsel was once given: ''Do not attempt writing for others to read, except you thoroughly understand your subject." The author of these pages takes to herself that advice.

There are numberless cook books and books on ''Etiquette" and "Social Functions," but I have failed to find one dealing with the little things as an entirety of every-day life. It is the small things, not only in the kitchen, but all through the house, that consume the resources at hand, and if not judiciously managed bring us unhappiness.

It is comparatively easy to regulate the af- 7

8 INTRODUCTION

fairs of a household, if the income is sufficient to meet the needs of a growing family, and a maid or two can be employed year after year. But when the wife must be both mother and maid; must plan for the wants of two, three, or more members; feed, clothe, and educate them, aspires to bring them up in some refinement, and the income is from six to fifteen hundred dollars per year, then come the moments of discouragement and often dissatisfaction.

It is with the experience of many of these circumstances, and the hope that there is a way to lighten the burdens of my sisters in this struggle, that these pages are written.

The readers will please bear in mind that this is a work on true economy — to show how to keep within one's means, to get the best results. Not only to economize for our table, but for every room, nook, and corner of the house, inside and out.

The husband must have a share in this economy, as well as the wife. They should be copartners. The majority of families live on less than fifteen hundred dollars per annum. If it is their good fortune to live well

INTRODUCTION 9

and intelligently on that amount or less, it is to their credit and the world's benefit.

Many of our best men are men not adapted to money-making, so called. But they are capable of bringing in a sufficient sum, which, if handled with care and study, and with the combined help of the wife, may rear a family in respectability, and educate them. In a majority of cases these children and students excel those whose parents or guardians supply them with hundreds and frequently thousands of dollars to put them through their college course.

In order to get the best results from the economy of money, one must also economize his or her time and strength. The wasted time would be better spent reading some good book or paper.

It has been the aim of the writer to make the reading of this little book entertaining as well as instructive. If you will study its pages as you do your cook book, you will not need to use the best years of your life experimenting on the every-day duties of the home.

Chapter I Ethics

OF

HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY

CHAPTER I

The keeping of a home is an art, a science. It should be classed as a legitimate and important business, and a wife should so consider it. A housewife, or homekeeper, should be awarded the same honor and courtesy that a school teacher or a woman of any other vocation receives.

A woman was once heard to say of another, "Oh, she's only a machine; she keeps house — any one can keep house." The writer claims, however, that while any person may work at it, still it takes brains to care for a house as it should be.

The home with its ''thousand and one" 13 duties to be performed, the rearing of a family with wisdom and economy, the training of these boys and girls, the preparation of the proper kinds of food for making sound bodies and bright minds, so that in their turn they may make intelligent parents and good citizens — this task requires no common machine, but a well-balanced mother.

If the earning of money is important, the spending of it should be considered of equal importance. Teach the boys and girls how to spend money to get the greatest good out of it. Then, when they are men and women, they will know better its real and true value. Pay for what you get as you get it. It is cheaper and you will be better served.

The installment plan is not a good way to furnish a home. ''Do not go beyond your means," is advice you have often heard. "Experience teaches that an article is more highly prized if paid for. If you cannot pay for a good article, then wait until you have saved enough money for it. Go to several places, look around, and take the best your money wdll buy. By so doing you will often better yourself, and at the price you can afford to pay. Study well before you purchase. Do not imagine you must have something for your house, or the children must dress better than is consistent with your circumstances, because some neighbor or friend has so and so. That proves nothing in your case. You and your family are a little world all by yourselves in this respect. Be independent and you will be respected by everybody.

Buy with care, so that you will not buy over and over, things which should last a long time. Then, after you purchase a good article, take proper care of it. You will, by so doing, prove yourself a true helpmate for your husband, and in a short time your house will be well furnished.

Look well to your personal appearance. Keep yourself neatly dressed. (Husbands might apply a little of this advice to themselves, for we have seen untidy looking husbands.) Do not wear a long skirt or a ragged waist at your work. Old dresses, if repaired and kept clean, and the skirt and waist held properly together, will make a woman look neat and respectable. Care should be taken in wearing wrappers, for they give one an unkempt appearance. Indeed, a loose-flowing gown is suitable only for sickness or one's own bed-chamber.

On the other hand, do not overdress for kitchen work. Dress in a manner suitable for the work to be done. I once knew a maid who always put on a white apron, even to getting a clean one, when she wiped off the front porch. The pride-bump was large on her head.

Be sure to comb the hair before leaving your bedroom. If there are children to dress, mother cannot always stop to do the hair for the day. But brushing it out and rolling it up neatly, before putting on the dress, makes mama more presentable, and puts a cheerful glow around the breakfast table.

We are presuming that she is maid of all work, otherwise time would not be so precious. It will only be possible to keep a maid when there is real sickness, or perhaps hire a woman by the day once a week, or occasionally, where the income is small, provided that out of this sum one wishes a bank account at the end of the year. I would advise saving a little each year, unless sickness or some unforeseen circumstance has taken an unusual amount. The young wife is, generally speaking, ambitious and. willing to take her share of work and responsibility; but everything is so new and perplexing that she often errs. She needs encouragement and advice from some older head.

These pages give a part of the experience of thirty-three years in a family of six members. In my young married days I would have given much to have had my sainted mother with me, to tell me what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. Blunders were frequently made; but the thought came to me one day, 'What woman has done, woman can do." So I resolved to watch and learn.

It would be unreasonable to suppose that one set of rules would fit all classes and conditions of housekeepers. We must take one general guide and plan our ways and means to suit the occasion and circumstances. Or, in other words, use the common sense with which most women are endowed.

Keep your eyes open and observe how

Others do. If their plan is an improvement over yours, adopt it. Much may be learned in this way. Have system about your household affairs. Plan to do first that which needs your care most; then the next in order. Eternal vigilance is the price of a well-kept home. Do not think it too much trouble to attend carefully to the little things. They count much in making up the sum total of economy — and the satisfaction of "well done" compensates us.

No girl should take upon herself the responsibility of marriage; but when a woman promises to take a man for her husband, ''for better, for worse," she should not shrink her part of the business. Uphill work? Yes, many times. But ''every cloud has its silver lining." The little ones will soon be able to lend a hand. They should be allowed "to help," even if they prove a hindrance.

Papa, too, though tired and perplexed, from the office or day's work, will relieve mother for a while and amuse baby. Then when the little ones are snug in bed, rest wall come to the weary parents. Some one says, "Papa is too tired to take baby." Too tired? How about the mother, who has served as many hours as he — sometimes nearly double — and often has aches and pains he can never know? I know of very few such husbands, I am glad to say. Agreed— they are a minority.

At the same time, one should be cautious lest she impose upon a good-natured husband. How fortunate is that woman who has a domestic husband! Less manly? Not one iota less manly, in helping care for his own. By the term ''domestic" in this sense, is meant one who loves home more than his club.

Husbands are sometimes driven to acts of dishonesty in business transactions, owing to a lack of the right force at home. Wives are not always to blame for these conditions. But many times, if the domestic affairs were conducted in a more business-like manner, results would be changed very perceptibly. A great incentive to a husband and father is to have an industrious and contented wife and daughters.

When the income is not much more than enough to make ends meet, the husband should pass his wages over to the wife, unless she is incapable or they have agreed otherwise.

Most wives understand the needs of their families better than the husbands. When it is possible, however, a father an-d mother should be mutually interested in the welfare of their family, and should consult together as to the best plans to use the income.

Both parents should aim to be cheerful about the house. It is quite as important that the husband come home with some degree of pleasantness, as that ''the wife should m.eet her husband with a smiling face." She probably has had quite as much to annoy and perplex her, as he. Be careful, then, in appearing before the children with "ruffled" tempers.

This may seem a strange subject for economy; nevertheless it fits under that head. Study to economize on your temper. You will gain in health, in spirits, in love, and, last but not least, in the management of your children. The examples found in this little book to illustrate certain phases of life are not isolated cases. Those who may read these pages are doubtless familiar with parallel conditions. Live and learn.

I have purposely left unitemized the sitting-room or library, and parlor, for the reason that if the other parts of the house are run on an economical and systematical basis, these rooms will receive tlie same care and attention. If any part of the house miist be neglected, let it be the parlor or front, for the time being. Plain language will be used in dealing with the various subjects, else the object will not be gained.

There is no way to escape the facts, that if the income is small and there is no honest avenue to its increase, then the strictest economy mnst be practiced, if satisfactory results are to he obtained. And it need not bring unhappiness. If you cannot see your way clear to make the ends meet, go to some older experienced person, who you know has better knowledge than you, and she will be glad to assist you with advice.

If you are truly anxious to learn, the way will dawn upon you little by Uttle. In climbing the Alps, Napoleon and his army did not take a straight rush to the top.

The author of this Httle book is well aware that women with plenty of money at their disposal, do not need the advice contained therein. But even they might peruse with profit.

It is to you, the middle class, that the world is looking for the "plain living and high thinking" of its ancestors, which produced the grandest and truest citizenship.

Chapter II The Dwelling Place

CHAPTER II

THE DWELLING PLACE

In order to live well and comfortably on an income of, say, from six to fifteen hundred dollars per year, one must not pay for rent over from six to twenty dollars per month. Secure the best house in the best location you can possibly find for the money you can afford to pay. When the income increases, better yourself accordingly. Bear in mind that while you owe your neighbors a certain amount of respect and cordiahty, your home is your little "heaven on earth." It matters not to them how much your income may be.

After securing the house, if possible have a fence to circuit the whole yard. Never mind the fad of ''no fence." Our experience has been that there are times when the children are like young colts; they need to be fenced in for their own good. But if a fence in front of the house is impracticable, by all means have a good one around the back yard. Then, when you choose, the children may play there unmolested. Here is where the father may get recreation if he will,

Make a few flower and vegetable beds. Instead of wasting time, try the earth tonic; you will get rosy cheeks and a good appetite. The children will soon be interested in these few beds of green. It is surprising what can be grown in a small yard for pleasure and for use on the family table, if one sets about it with a determination to win.

Many times it wall keep the children out of mischief to help weed these beds and clear the yard of rubbish. Then, too, how much brighter and healthier will be the surroundings! ''No time," says John? It is wonderful how much time there is. "Where there is a will there is a way."

We will now return to the house, which is to be home for a tim.e. Stay there as long as circumstances will permit. Moving is expensive. Inside that house you owe yourself, your husband, your children, as well as your friends who m.ay enter, a study in object-lessons; in other words, a well-kept, orderly house.

We must now look to the details or little things that go to make up the interior of the home. With proper training each member of a family will look upon each article of

THE DWELLING PLACE 2/

furniture as grand, because it belongs to us, for we have paid our hard-earned money for it. Hence, we must take good care of this chair, that curtain; for there is another piece of furniture w^e wish to add to our collection as soon as we have saved enough. Tedious to wait for it? You are mistaken. It is a delight to look forward, as our children look forward to Christmas or a birthday. This life would be an empty dream if it were not for the joy and anticipation of the future.

The windows should be provided with screens, as also should outside doors. It is the landlord's place to provide them. If he does not, then get the adjustable screens; they are inexpensive. Or get the best black mosquito netting, put it the whole length of your bedroom windows and on one kitchen window. By setting the shades down about two inches, the windows may be lowered from the top or raised at the bottom, thereby causing a free circulation of air. Fresh air is, or should be, the important feature in our homes.

To keep the house cool in hot weather: If you are allowed to select the window shades, green in color is very satisfactory, and opaqiTe in quality by all means. The green is restful to the eyes, and when you wish to exclude the daylight you have shades which will do so. Air the house thoroughly morning and evening. As the sun advances, close the windows and draw the shades where it strikes, and follow it through the day. Then, when it is well around and the window panes have cooled off, open the window. If you do this, you will find when night comes on, the house will be much more comfortable.

Have screens at the cellar windows, also the attic, if you are fortunate enough to possess one. Screens are very necessary, as without them the house will be overrun with flies, which make useless work. A mudscraper, also a broom at the back door, so that the children may clean their shoes, help to keep the interior of the house clean.

Look forward to some time owning your home, if it be but a cottage.

A few cedar posts set solidly into the ground, with wire chicken netting stretched taut, and fastened securely, is not expensive and makes a good fence for cities and small towns. If covered with morning glories, sweet peas and other vines, it makes a beautiful surrounding for the backyard.

Chapter III Chapter III

Next to the sleeping-rooms, the kitchen is the most important room in the house. It should be light and well ventilated, as to have it otherwise would compel the unavoidable odors to penetrate other parts of the house.

If possible, have a hardwood floor (white maple is the best) with a good floor-finish. It can then be easily wiped off and kept clean, saving the scrubbing which a plain floor needs so often. If this cannot be had, then have your pine floor painted. A mop, if kept clean, will wipe the floor off nearly as well as getting on the knees and using a cloth; it saves your strength and time. In cold weather lay old pieces of carpet on the floor, in front of the stove, sink, and table. It will prevent cold feet, and the floor will not need cleaning as often. Each day these strips can be taken out and shaken free of dust. Occasionally wash them. 31

To make work easy is to do it well each day. Do not deceive yourself by saying, "That will do for this time," but keep things clean as you go. Have a place for everything, and keep everything in its place. Exact the same amount of care from each member of the family. You will find this way just as easy as throwing things ''helterskelter," and each will be happier.

Have you a gas range? Then the work is much easier. If you have a coal or wood range, and should be so unfortunate as to have a crack in the seam in the oven or elsewhere, take an equal quantity of wood ashes and common salt, wet with cold water to the consistency of soft dough, and fill the opening. If it dries and falls out, replenish. If there is a faint leak around the gas pipe where it joins the stove, fill it with a little scraping of common soap.

Once a week is often enough to give the kitchen stove a thorough blacking. At other times take a newspaper, crumple it in the hand, and give the stove a vigorous rubbing. A cloth wet in kerosene oil and rubbed on the nickel plate on your stove will help keep it bright. Kerosene will also keep the bathtub free from stains.

The sink should next receive attention. First, can any one inform us why, almost invariably, the sink shelf is placed (when there is but one) on the left side of the sink, making it wrong-handed to one who faces it? The side they are placed makes it necessary for us to cross our hands in order to lay the dish on the shelf, or an awkward move to place it in our right hand. This question arises among housekeepers frequently. In facing the sink, the shelf should be at our left side. So when you build your new house, look to it, if you would have things convenient.

A plumber was once heard to say, ''Never use linen for dishcloths, it sheds lint so badly. Once a month get a can of lye, open the top, set it over the perforated holes in the sink, pour a teakettle of boiling water into it. If you do this, your pipes will never clog." It was not told as a secret, so I give it for what it may be worth to you. Cheesecloth makes the best dishcloths and also dishtowels. Two salt bags sewed together make an excellent dishcloth. When you make a new one, take the old for kettles and tinware. Flour sacks, hemmed, make good dishtowels. With these you can get along very well with two or three linen glass-towels — in fact, without any linen at all, if you are careful to have the cotton ones clean for each dish-washing.

A graduated tin cup with a handle, also a graduated quart measure, are very convenient articles to add to your list of kitchen utensils. From the hardware store get a fruit-can opener, a wooden spoon, kitchen knives and forks, tablespoons and teaspoons; three of each will suffice to use in your cooking. Don't use silver, or even plated silver, for kitchen purposes. I have known women to use their silver knives and spoons to scrape the iron and tinware. That is extravagance, not economy. Then again, do not use your fingernails to scrape with. It wears them off and spoils the shape of the fingers. Use the kitchen knives for that purpose.

Buy just enough kitchen utensils to serve your purpose, no more. To buy more than is actually necessary exhausts the ready funds too rapidly.

In buying a broom, see that the handle is light. Sweeping will be easier than with one with a heavy handle. Hang the broom up or rest it on its handle when not in use; it wears longer than when it rests on the brush part. A carpet sweeper is a labor-saving article; have one, if possible. Hang up kitchen utensils.

An ice chest is more economical than a refrigerator. The larger the piece of ice, the more economical. Wrapping ice in a flannel cloth, two or three thicknesses, is economy. Keep the ice chest in a cool place, where the wind will not strike it, and perfectly clean.

A slate hanging in a handy place in the kitchen, to jot down any article needed for the next grocery order, is a convenience. Avoid the borrowing habit. If it seems an unavoidable necessity, then return promptly, "full measure, pressed down and running over," and with thanks. Try keeping an expense book. It is better to keep the grocery list separate from other accounts.

It is not possible, living on a small income, to say "I will use so much for this or that, and so much for something else," for the reason, some seasons certain things cost more than at other times. Then again, our needs may be greater one time than another. By keeping an expense book, one can glance over the accounts and see where they may be able to curtail. Then again, it is a discipline v/e all need. The eldest boy or girl might be interested to help, the practice of which is good, instilling in their minds the same habits of thrift and economy.

Holders, with loops to hang by, for use about your stove, and others for ironing, save your aprons, towels, and often burned fmgers. Have good, generous dark gingham work aprons; or even the back breadths of a cotton dress skirt may be used to serve the purpose. A square bib to pin over the waist, and sleeves to slip on, saves a dress wonderfully. A pocket on your apron, to slip the sleeves into, will be found handy when they are needed. Have a nail to hang your apron on, and never wear your kitchen apron doing work in other parts of the house.

These aprons are not warm and burdensome, yet they cover the dress sufficiently.

It is more economical to have brown crash towels, three-fourths of a yard long, with loops at both ends, for the kitchen. In farm houses the roller towels might be better. Have a nail expressly for the towel, and hang it by the loop. Have a wash-dish in the kitchen, and a nail to hang it by wdien not in use.

When working about the kitchen, and especially handling foods, the utmost care should be used to have clean hands. If the handkerchief must be used, wash the hands afterw^ard. This is not only a neat habit, but from a health standpoint it is wise.

Buy a good reliable soap by the box, for kitchen and laundry uses. Cut each bar in two, stack it, not closely, on the top pantry shelf or some dry place. You will save money by so doing, as the soap will dry out, and will not Vv^aste in the using.

Did you ever try washing the dirty dishes as they accumulate during the day? Try it. It is so satisfactory wdien you come to wash your meal dishes not to have so many extra ones. Then there will be nothing to attract flies. Just here, while we are washing dishes, let me give you a formula for a wash for the hands. It is not original, but I do not remember where I found it:

One ounce of citric acid.

Two ounces of rosewater.

Two ounces of glycerine.

To be appHed after each dish-washing. Have a pen-knife on your kitchen shelf for cleaning your fingernails, and as often as once a week manicure them well. There is no excuse for untidy fingernails.

I have found it a wonderful help in the morning, having prepared as far as possible for breakfast the previous evening.

Be careful not to spill water and foods on yourself or the floor. Begin your meals early, so there need be no hurry. If one must hurry, there is liable to be more or less accidents and confusion, when there should be none if the meal is planned on time.

Make your ow^n baking pow^der. Get these ingredients at a first-class drug store:

Two and one-half pounds cream tartar. One pound bicarbonate of soda (saleratus). One pound cornstarch.

To be sifted together five times.

Seal this as tightly as possible in glass jars. It requires less of this baking powder than the ordinary kind. This recipe is taken from the ''Chautauqua Cook Book," and has been used in this family for years.

To render your own lard! "Oh," you may say, 'T can't be bothered making those articles which I can buy ready prepared." Very well; but there are women who are pleased to save in any and all ways, in order to have a part of the income left for extras or luxuries. So here is a clean and healthful lard for them:

Leaf lard ten pounds,

Beef suet three pounds, or that proportion. Cut both in small pieces, put into your kettle, add just a little water, say a tablespoonful, to keep it from burning until it begins to boil. Cover, let it cook about fifteen minutes, remove the lid, and let simmer until the fat is well cooked out. Watch that it does not burn. As it cooks, dip out the clear fat into a clean jar. Set a colander into a clean pan, and into it pour all the remaining fat, scraps too. After it has drained a while mash with a large spoon. Lay a piece of clean cheesecloth over the jar, turn the clear fat into it, let stand a few moments. Then squeeze the remainder of the fat into a dish by itself; it will answer to add to potatoes, etc., in warming over.

Sometimes the lard will bear a little more suet, but it must not be hard, or it will be difficult to work into the flour for pie crust, etc. The suet takes the place of butter for ordinary use, and is better than clear lard. In warm weather I put the lard into small pails or jars and pour melted paraffine over it. Cover well and it will keep all right.

Make your syrup, so that you may know what it is. Take granulated sugar one teacup, one-third cup boiling water; a few drops of lemon juice improves it. Let boil about two minutes. It is then ready for use. Or one can make a larger quantity and have it ready when needed.