Housekeeping, circa 1903

So, I was on the Project Gutenberg site today and came across a book titled THE EASIEST WAY IN HOUSEKEEPING AND COOKING, published in 1903. The chapter I read in its entirety, "CHAPTER IV. THE DAY'S WORK." made me smile.

An (long) excerpt:

The first difficulty lies in taking for granted that successful housekeeping is as much an instinct as that which leads the young bird to nest-building, and that no specific training is required. The man who undertakes a business, passes always through some form of apprenticeship, and must know every detail involved in the management; but to the large proportion of women, housekeeping is a combination of accidental forces from whose working it is hoped breakfasts and dinners and suppers will be evolved at regular periods, other necessities finding place where they can. The new home, prettily furnished, seems a lovely toy, and is surrounded by a halo, which, as facts assert themselves, quickly fades away. Moth and rust and dust invade the most secret recesses. Breakage and general disaster attend the progress of Bridget or Chloe. The kitchen seems the headquarters of extraordinary smells, and the stove an abyss in its consumption of coal or wood. Food is wasted by bad cooking, or ignorance as to needed amounts, or methods of using left-over portions; and, as bills pile up, a hopeless discouragement often settles upon both wife and husband, and reproaches and bitterness and alienation are guests in the home, to which they need never have come had a little knowledge barred them out.

I think I will make this my motto: Housekeeping is a combination of accidental forces from whose working it is hoped breakfasts and dinners and suppers will be evolved at regular periods. That's awesome. I can also relate to the "New home halo". I'm (slowly) getting over it.

The chapter goes on to the day's routine, which details silly things, like the order in which dishes ought to be washed or "Turn the mattresses daily", but useful things as well- such as, when scrubbing wood table or floors, scrubbing with the grain will take the stain off, against the grain will rub it in.

The rest of the book appears to have other household tips as well as recipes. Some are outdated, for example, we don't need coal or wood for our stoves anymore. Some are probably valid, and are just tips lost to history or modern convenience.