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Nicole Push at Jun 18, 2020 09:09 PM

114

A WORD WITH THE WOMEN
(Elia W. Peattie)

The next best thing to going away in the summer is the making of a cool place in one's own house. It is surprising to see how dusty and worn, faded and frowsy a house can look when the revealing spring sunshine appears, illuminating dark corners and the house is thrown in shabby contrast by the exquisite cleanliness and freshness of nature out of door. House cleaning to the women with some sense of poetry does not mean a mere cleaning of windows and whipping of carpets. It means a regeneration and redecoration in keeping with the season. It means a putting aside of the dull and heavy draperies and a hanging up of cool, fresh, airy stuffs which give suggestion of summer and its delights. It means bare polished floors, or clean canvass, wicker chairs instead of upholstered ones. Japanese portiers in the place of woolen or silken ones and an abundance of blooming plants. Omaha is sometimes as hot as the tropics. It is a city in which the extreme of heat is reached. Not very many years ago people who could afford to consult comfort thought it impossible to remain in Omaha during the hot months. Since the dust has been allayed by the paving and watering of streets and the heat mitigated by the growth of trees the excellence of the water service and all the conveniences of the city, this is not the case. But it is still necessary, if one would enjoy the summer here, to adapt life to the conditions to a marked degree. The house should be provided with shades which will exclude the glare. These should be supplemented by awnings. Hammocks should be hung in the shadiest places, sleeping apartments rearranged with special thought of the southern breeez, and the method of daily living should be much more leisurely than in the winter time. To arise early, sleep during a part of the day and remain up late in the cool fo the evening is the comfortable way to get through an Omaha summer. Even the business men could do this, if they would only think so as they do in the semi-tropical cities of the United States. But if they will not, at least the women may

Every year the summer fabrics grow in beauty and delicacy, and they are so exceedingly inexpensive that there is really no excuse of any ingenious women to go unprovided with fresh wash gowns. Seventy-five cents will actually buy a dainty summer dress, and, if home mad, is obtainable by almost anybody. These ought to be put on May 1 and worn until the last of October. Woolen gowns will not do in Omaha and the woman who attempts to wear them is bound to be uncomfortable;e. It has been noticeable the last few years that there is a growing disinclination to the wearing of gloves. This is distinctly the work of that sensible and charming creature who, under the name of the 'new woman' has awakened terror in masculine breasts and contempt among the conservative of her own sex. But the new woman---if the silly name must be used--prefers comfort to conventionality. She will not do up her hands in [?] kid gloves on a sweltering day, when all the rest of er body is clothed in light and cool materials. Instead she will manicure and perfume her hands, and go with them uncovered, no matter whether she goes to market or the theater. It really is more appropriate to go with uncovered hands when one is wearing a summer costume than to dress oneself in light materials and then enclose the hands in air tight gloves.

This year most women of moderate means who live in Omaha must stay here. They cannot afford to go away. The way, therefore to enjoy themselves is to prepare their houses and their wardrobes for the reason, make a study of summer menus and then possess their spirits in peace. I'm after all, a peaceful spirit is the thing that keeps the body most comfortable in heat or in cold.

114

A WORD WITH THE WOMEN
(Elia W. Peattie)

The next best thing to going away in the summer is the making of a cool place in one's own house. It is surprising to see how dusty and worn, faded and frowsy a house can look when the revealing spring sunshine appears, illuminating dark corners and the house is thrown in shabby contrast by the exquisite cleanliness and freshness of nature out of door. House cleaning to the women with some sense of poetry does not mean a mere cleaning of windows and whipping of carpets. It means a regeneration and redecoration in keeping with the season. It means a putting aside of the dull and heavy draperies and a hanging up of cool, fresh, airy stuffs which give suggestion of summer and its delights. It means bare polished floors, or clean canvass, wicker chairs instead of upholstered ones. Japanese portiers in the place of woolen or silken ones and an abundance of blooming plants. Omaha is sometimes as hot as the tropics. It is a city in which the extreme of heat is reached. Not very many years ago people who could afford to consult comfort thought it impossible to remain in Omaha during the hot months. Since the dust has been allayed by the paving and watering of streets and the heat mitigated by the growth of trees the excellence of the water service and all the conveniences of the city, this is not the case. But it is still necessary, if one would enjoy the summer here, to adapt life to the conditions to a marked degree. The house should be provided with shades which will exclude the glare. These should be supplemented by awnings. Hammocks should be hung in the shadiest places, sleeping apartments rearranged with special thought of the southern breeez, and the method of daily living should be much more leisurely than in the winter time. To arise early, sleep during a part of the day and remain up late in the cool fo the evening is the comfortable way to get through an Omaha summer. Even the business men could do this, if they would only think so as they do in the semi-tropical cities of the United States. But if they will not, at least the women may

Every year the summer fabrics grow in beauty and delicacy, and they are so exceedingly inexpensive that there is really no excuse of any ingenious women to go unprovided with fresh wash gowns. Seventy-five cents will actually buy a dainty summer dress, and, if home mad, is obtainable by almost anybody. These ought to be put on May 1 and worn until the last of October. Woolen gowns will not do in Omaha and the woman who attempts to wear them is bound to be uncomfortable;e. It has been noticeable the last few years that there is a growing disinclination to the wearing of gloves. This is distinctly the work of that sensible and charming creature who, under the name of the 'new woman' has awakened terror in masculine breasts and contempt among the conservative of her own sex. But the new woman---if the silly name must be used--prefers comfort to conventionality. She will not do up her hands in [?] kid gloves on a sweltering day, when all the rest of er body is clothed in light and cool materials. Instead she will manicure and perfume her hands, and go with them uncovered, no matter whether she goes to market or the theater. It really is more appropriate to go with uncovered hands when one is wearing a summer costume than to dress oneself in light materials and then enclose the hands in air tight gloves.

This year most women of moderate means who live in Omaha must stay here. They cannot afford to go away. The way, therefore to enjoy themselves is to prepare their houses and their wardrobes for the reason, make a study of summer menus and then possess their spirits in peace. I'm after all, a peaceful spirit is the thing that keeps the body most comfortable in heat or in cold.