Twentieth century home cook book

Children should be early instructed in the ordinary amenities of life. At their time of life impressions are easily received and become a part of their character as men and women. Politeness and decorum in the parlor, dining-room or library costs nothing, and are as necessary when the parlor, dining-room and kitchen are one and the same room, as in more extensive houses. In this country we have no caste, and the child of the poorest parents may be called to the highest positions. If they are taught habits of cleanliness, decorum, and gentleness of manner, when young, it will cling to them through life, and go far to keep them out of bad company when they grow up. It gives habits of self-respect, and deters them alike from seeking bad company and from foolish or criminal expenditures. Children shoukl by no means be curtailed of enjoyment. On the contrary, they should be given full liberty to indulge in innocent pleasures, guided by habits of self-restraint and self-reliance. They should feel they may always freely go to their parents for advice and sympathy. Thus they will come to regard home as the most pleasant place. They will naturally avoid rough and vulgar companions, and seldom, if ever, care for vicious or vulgar pastimes. IX. What Constitutes Vulgarity. In general terms that is vulgar which is not in accordance with the usage of refined society. Loud laughter or loud conversation in public places is vulgar. Not to pay the proper deference to each other is vulgar. Not to assist a woman in any difficulty is not only vulgar but positively brutal. Not to apologize to any person whom you may accidentally jostle in a thoroughfare, especially if roughly, is vulgar and causes the action to be brutal. To refuse to accept an apology under like circumstances is vulgar. It is vulgar not to show self-respect. Arrogance is equally vulgar. In fact, a dictionary of vulgar actions would fill a volume, and yet few persons are so lost to self-respect that they do not have a prick of conscience at a vulgar action, at least until their consciences are scared, or unless their education has been neglected at home. For conscience, although inherent in human nature, may be as much improved by education as any other faculty. X. Parlor Decorations. The furniture and decoration of the parlor should be as rich as you can afford. In any event the room should have an air of light and cheerfulness. Both it and the library should be comfortable, home-like rooms. Avoid glaring colors or cheap finery. Never buy stiff " sets " of furniture and never crowd your rooms with trash. The handsomest effects are often produced where each piece of furniture has been bought when wanted or it was convenient to do so. Let there be comfortable easy chairs and sofas, and always some chairs light enough to be easily lifted and moved. The wall-paper should be rich and generally light-colored, but of no pronounced pattern. Wooden mantels are handsome and often costly. If of marble these may be white or clouded. The wood-work should be light, unless rich dark Avoods are used, and the door-plates to match. Where the heating is by a stove, it may be steel, bronze or ormolu, and the fixtures for lighting the apartment at night should match. A chandelier makes a prett}^ center-piece for the ceiling, or if the room is long and large, two or moi'c. XI. Decoration Not Necessarily Costly. The parlor must be, to be pretty, the room lived in. Never have a room too fine for yourself and your children to pass the evening in. It is part of the education of