Let us take an instance from the simplest effort at house-
keeping; say, that the kitchen and dining-room are one.
The floor may be bare ; indeed, a wooden floor, clean, or
stained to imitate dark wood, with one or more rugs, ^- which
may be of rag-carpeting, drugget, or finer goods, — is prefer-
able to a carpeted floor. For the same reason, wooden or
bamboo bUnds, or thin curtains of linen or cotton, are better
than woollen window-draperies, because all woollen fabrics
retain odors persistently. The walls can be clean, if there
are no pictures ; and if the chairs are of the straightest out-
line, they can be made comfortable with inexpensive cush-
ions. There is no condition of hfe so lowly as to preclude
the possibility of neatness at the table ; if there is no linen,
the table itself can be clean ; if the supply of dishes is lim-
ited, it is far more kindly and gracious for the wife or daughr
ter to rise from the table, and wash the plates and cutlery,
than to allow meat and pudding to be eaten with the same
apphances. When there is plenty of crockery, the trouble
is shght Goiiipared with the subsequent comfort, if one of the
family rises to bring clean plates and knives to replace the
soiled ones ; and the dignity of the most charming daughter
of the house could suflfer no detraction if she were to remove
THE DIiXliya-KOOM AND ITS FITTINGS. 75
the crumbs from the cloth before placing the dessert upon
it. A hungry man, pressed for time, perhaps hot and labor-
stained, comes home for dinner ; if he finds a freshly laid
table awaiting him, with a neat little wife who has taken a
few moments to tidy herself after cooking, ready to give him
a hot and savory dinner, and looking as if she had not taken
too much trouble to prepare either the dinner or herself for
his coming, the chances are that he will feel an involuntary
inclination to freshen himself before beginning his meal : if,
on the other hand, he is greeted with the unwelcome sight
of a disorderly table, ill-cooked food served in slovenly fash-
ion, and a frowzy wife without a suggestion about her of the
trim girl who first attracted his fancy, no one can blame him
if he throws himself into his chair unwashed, bolts his food
surlily, and hurries away from such a foretaste of purgatory.
Just here a bit of the philosophy of common life fits ad-
murbly, — the adaptability of persons to circumstances ; the
ever-recurring forbearance with the individual idiosyncrasies
of different members of the family; consideration for per-
sonal traits and peculiarities. Every newly married wife,
and some old ones, would do well to heed this little com-
mentary on careless living. No matter how limited the
household fittings, they can be kept clean : and, above all
things, personal cleanliness is a matter of personal choice.
Take the dinner — any family dinner may be served in the
plainest way, and accepted by its eaters as a good dinner ;
but with the addition of a Htde care in dishing and serving,
it may assume the aspect of a holiday feast. One of my
Syracuse friends, when considering the merits of rival candi-
dates for the supremacy of her kitchen, had this qualification
urged upon her : " Mem, I have lived with Mrs. W. on James
Street, and she always has her dishes varnished.'' Of course
the girl intended to say " garnished." Think for a moment
of the difference.
Page 45
Presented as published in 1885. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Let us take an instance from the simplest effort at housekeeping; say, that the kitchen and dining-room are one. The floor may be bare ; indeed, a wooden floor, clean, or stained to imitate dark wood, with one or more rugs, ^- which may be of rag-carpeting, drugget, or finer goods, — is preferable to a carpeted floor. For the same reason, wooden or bamboo blinds, or thin curtains of linen or cotton, are better than woollen window-draperies, because all woollen fabrics retain odors persistently. The walls can be clean, if there are no pictures ; and if the chairs are of the straightest outline, they can be made comfortable with inexpensive cushions. There is no condition of hfe so lowly as to preclude the possibility of neatness at the table ; if there is no linen, the table itself can be clean ; if the supply of dishes is limited, it is far more kindly and gracious for the wife or daughter to rise from the table, and wash the plates and cutlery, than to allow meat and pudding to be eaten with the same appliances. When there is plenty of crockery, the trouble is slight compared with the subsequent comfort, if one of the family rises to bring clean plates and knives to replace the soiled ones ; and the dignity of the most charming daughter of the house could suffer no detraction if she were to remove
TTHE DINING-ROOM AND ITS FITTINGS. 75
the crumbs from the cloth before placing the dessert upon it. A hungry man, pressed for time, perhaps hot and laborstained, comes home for dinner ; if he finds a freshly laid table awaiting him, with a neat little wife who has taken a few moments to tidy herself after cooking, ready to give him a hot and savory dinner, and looking as if she had not taken too much trouble to prepare either the dinner or herself for his coming, the chances are that he will feel an involuntary inclination to freshen himself before beginning his meal : if, on the other hand, he is greeted with the unwelcome sight of a disorderly table, ill-cooked food served in slovenly fashion, and a frowzy wife without a suggestion about her of the trim girl who first attracted his fancy, no one can blame him if he throws himself into his chair unwashed, bolts his food surlily, and hurries away from such a foretaste of purgatory.
Just here a bit of the philosophy of common life fits admirably, — the adaptability of persons to circumstances ; the ever-recurring forbearance with the individual idiosyncrasies of different members of the family; consideration for personal traits and peculiarities. Every newly married wife, and some old ones, would do well to heed this little commentary on careless living. No matter how limited the household fittings, they can be kept clean : and, above all things, personal cleanliness is a matter of personal choice. Take the dinner — any family dinner may be served in the plainest way, and accepted by its eaters as a good dinner ; but with the addition of a little care in dishing and serving, it may assume the aspect of a holiday feast. One of my Syracuse friends, when considering the merits of rival candidates for the supremacy of her kitchen, had this qualification urged upon her : " Mem, I have lived with Mrs. W. on James Street, and she always has her dishes varnished.'' Of course the girl intended to say " garnished." Think for a moment of the difference.