Adapted from “Morrell’s Pride, Book on Hospitality” 1922
New Year’s Day belongs to one’s friends. Unfortunately, the old custom of calling on New Year’s afternoon and extending the good wishes of the season and for the coming year, has rather gone out of fashion. Perhaps it is because of the telephone; or maybe the extra work such an informal reception has usually seemed to entail. There is no prettier and no more hospitable custom. Read more »
How to Choose Furniture
Homemakers in the early 1900s were advised to use discretion and restraint in furnishing their homes, especially at first. Here are some guidelines from “Household Discoveries” in 1909. Read more »
The serving of afternoon tea with its dainty accompaniment of sandwiches or cake is coming into ever greater popularity, whether at an entertainment to which cards for “Afternoon tea at four o’clock” are sent, or during the customary afternoon calls. In the former case, naturally, the refreshments are usually more elaborate, though in no case should they be heavy, as dinner is so close at hand.
For the small reunion of friends, the tea should be made and served by the hostess in the drawing room or living room; or in summer weather, out-of-doors. Simple ssandwiches and cakes are served with hot tea, coffee or chocolate; though tea is preferable, because less rich and held by most women in high esteem.
For the more pretentious afternoon tea, refreshments are served in the dining room, from a table made beautiful with flowers, lifhts and tempting viands. At one end of the table is usually a tea-service and at the other a service for chocolate. Each is presided over by a friend of the hostess. The refreshments include sandwiches, fancy cakes, olives, bonbons, etc. These are passed to the standing guests by waitresses or young girls, also friends of the hostess.
Napkins are a convenience, but not a necessity. Sandwiches and cakes are usually placed on the saucer or a plate under it. In summer weather, frappe’, glace’, sherbet, or any suitable frozen dessert is sometimes served in addition to the other delicacies.
From Mrs. Fryer’s Loose Leaf Cook Book, 1922
The Burden of Unnecessary Things
Adapted from The Modern Priscilla, December, 1912
Something that has to do with the cost of keeping house is unnecessary things. There are all sorts of things brought into the average house which add nothing to the comfort or well-being of the family. As a result, these things drain the family’s resources – first of money spent on them, and then the time and energy spent on caring for them.
It does not necessarily have to be a bad thing; it might even seem good, but it hasn’t been measured in the light of ultimate return.
It is difficult to live happy, healthy, wholesome lives as long as we continue to fill houses, mind, and time so full of things. What that thing will yield in happiness and content should be the measure by which we judge whether we should purchase it.
Only by applying this rule and resolutely turning from those things which will take more time and care than they can yield in pleasure or profit, can we cease to cheapen life and make workhouses of our homes.
Labor Savers in the Kitchen
Adapted from The Modern Priscilla, December, 1912 Read more »
Adapted from The Modern Priscilla, December, 1912
Frugal Homemaking Part 1 may be read here.
The activities of the household are mainly grouped in two divisions: cooking and cleaning. Preparing food and clearing it away; bringing dust and dirt into the house and getting them out again, seem to make up the sum total of this work, which yields wonderful profits when done right. To do it right is the important thing, and that depends a lot on the mental attitude of the homemaker. The courage of your convictions must be asserted in such a way as to adapt the means to the end. And the end is life.
The house must be so arranged that its activities may be performed without waste of time and energy. Let’s sit down and study this house we are living in and see if there is anything wrong about it in any way. Is it inconvenient? If so, why? Are the problems we see something we can change, or do we have to just make the best of them? Read more »
Adapted from The Modern Priscilla, December 1912
If you prefer, you may listen to the article here: Frugal Homemaking
Many years ago Thoreau wrote, “When one builds a dwelling-house, it behooves him to exercise some native Yankee shrewdness that he build not a work-house, a museum, a labyrinth without a clue, or a splendid mausoleum instead.” Read more »
Adapted from The Modern Priscilla, December, 1912
One of the ever-returning joys of the holiday season is the making of homemade Christmas candy. Almost every household does something along this line, and as this pleasant task is usually annexed by the junior members of the family, it is well to have handy a few general directions and some simple recipes for their guidance. Read more »
Adapted from Dennison’s Christmas Book, 1922
Home is the place to which all hearts turn at Christmas time. Then, to be one of a family in a home is the universal wish, however independent one may like to be at other seasons. And the stay-at-homes are glad also – glad they have a home, glad to see relatives from far away, glad to welcome homeless friends and give them a “real” Christmas. Read more »
The top picture is a frame house from 1922 taken from The Modern Priscilla. Below is the architectural plan for the house. The information from the magazine said that with this house plan it was possible for the automobile owner to build a garage in connection with the house without destroying the symmetry.
Click on the pictures to enlarge.
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