are indebted for this incapacity to some unknown or for- gotten ancestor whose dislike for that particular form of work had, in becoming transmitted to them, grown strong enough to render them incapable of performing it well. Now, all this, and more which followed, was naturally not calculated to help one who did not know anything about cooking, and who might possibly conclude that the whole business is not adapted to her, and that she can not learn to do it satisfactorily. Whatever may be true in regard to heredity, however truly our hands may be tied, there can be no notion more hurtful for a young person to entertain than that she can not do this or she can not do that. There is not much danger of a woman's attempting impos- sibilities. Goethe was right in saying that "we do not de- sire the stars." There will not be much time wasted in reaching after them. The old saying, that " where there is a will there is a way," is full of truth as applied to house- keeping. If I could help to impress it upon some bewildered and disheartened young housewife that there is for every failure some cause which is understandable, and which may be removed, I should feel, as Artemus Ward pathetically observed, that I have not lived in vain. Discourage- ments must be expected as a matter of course. I remem- ber that, in the first year of my life as a housekeeper, a sentence of Hugh Miller's would come into my mind at appropriate times with all the force of a great temptation. It was this : " It is useless to attempt to do in spite of nat- ure what one was never intended to do well." But conso- lation came in the thought that the woman who rules her own spirit is greater than the man who takes a city, and that, if she gives undivided and earnest attention for a year or two to all the small details of house-work, she will be able to do a great deal without expending so much thought upon it. TALKS UPON VARIOUS SUBJECTS 131 ABSURD ADVICE. More nonsense has been written by way of advice to women on the management of husbands than upon any other subject, and the prevailing sentiment is in favor of some extraordinary manifestations on the part of the wom- an. For instance, if her husband comes home in a tower- ing temper, as he does sometimes, she is expected to meet him with the orthodox smile, and mildly anticipate the sunshine which is supposed to be hidden by this cloud. ^^Soft words," we are told, "turn away wrath," and it is undoubtedly true, if the tones of wrath are not so loud as to prevent the soft words from being heard. "Don't both lose your temper at once," is the common form of the sage rule given to young married people ; and one can not help thinking that a strict adherence to it has resulted unhappily^ some poor women never having an opportunity in the entire course of their married life to lose their temper, that luxury having been appropriated by the other party. Who has not seen women with a cowed and submissive air which tells the tale of a repressed, almost . loveless life ? And occasionally that rare and terrible spectacle is presented of a man who, like Mr. Jellaby, is only at peace when alone with his head against the wall. Is not Nature's example worthy of being noted, and pos- sibly of being followed ? To clear and sweeten the air, both clouds must discharge their electricity. ' Instead of a con- stant low rumbling of thunder, isn't it better to have a good lively clap ? When the mournful day arrives on which the young husband first "rises to explain" in a new and unlover-like way, if the wife responds in the right spirit she may check a long series of similar performances. .As Dr. Crosby re- marks upon another subject, " total abstinence is not the 132 HOUSEHOLD HINTS, true idea, but temperance, which allows one to use but not abuse."

AI-modernized reading of the original text

are indebted for this incapacity to some unknown or forgotten ancestor whose dislike for that particular form of work had, in becoming transmitted to them, grown strong enough to render them incapable of performing it well. Now, all this, and more which followed, was naturally not calculated to help one who did not know anything about cooking, and who might possibly conclude that the whole business is not adapted to her, and that she can not learn to do it satisfactorily. Whatever may be true in regard to heredity, however truly our hands may be tied, there can be no notion more hurtful for a young person to entertain than that she can not do this or she can not do that. There is not much danger of a woman's attempting impossibilities. Goethe was right in saying that "we do not desire the stars." There will not be much time wasted in reaching after them. The old saying, that " where there is a will there is a way," is full of truth as applied to housekeeping. If I could help to impress it upon some bewildered and disheartened young housewife that there is for every failure some cause which is understandable, and which may be removed, I should feel, as Artemus Ward pathetically observed, that I have not lived in vain. Discouragements must be expected as a matter of course. I remember that, in the first year of my life as a housekeeper, a sentence of Hugh Miller's would come into my mind at appropriate times with all the force of a great temptation. It was this : " It is useless to attempt to do in spite of nature what one was never intended to do well." But consolation came in the thought that the woman who rules her own spirit is greater than the man who takes a city, and that, if she gives undivided and earnest attention for a year or two to all the small details of house-work, she will be able to do a great deal without expending so much thought upon it. ABSURD ADVICE. More nonsense has been written by way of advice to women on the management of husbands than upon any other subject, and the prevailing sentiment is in favor of some extraordinary manifestations on the part of the woman. For instance, if her husband comes home in a towering temper, as he does sometimes, she is expected to meet him with the orthodox smile, and mildly anticipate the sunshine which is supposed to be hidden by this cloud. ^^Soft words," we are told, "turn away wrath," and it is undoubtedly true, if the tones of wrath are not so loud as to prevent the soft words from being heard. "Don't both lose your temper at once," is the common form of the sage rule given to young married people ; and one can not help thinking that a strict adherence to it has resulted unhappily^ some poor women never having an opportunity in the entire course of their married life to lose their temper, that luxury having been appropriated by the other party. Who has not seen women with a cowed and submissive air which tells the tale of a repressed, almost . loveless life ? And occasionally that rare and terrible spectacle is presented of a man who, like Mr. Jellaby, is only at peace when alone with his head against the wall. Is not Nature's example worthy of being noted, and possibly of being followed ? To clear and sweeten the air, both clouds must discharge their electricity. ' Instead of a constant low rumbling of thunder, isn't it better to have a good lively clap ? When the mournful day arrives on which the young husband first "rises to explain" in a new and unlover-like way, if the wife responds in the right spirit she may check a long series of similar performances. .As Dr. Crosby remarks upon another subject, " total abstinence is not the true idea, but temperance, which allows one to use but not abuse."

Household hints