may choose to step into the breach and try her hand at
sundry delectables for the ironing-day luncheon or dinner, both meals
being as simple as consistent with comfort and health. The ironing,
once commenced, should continue uninterruptedly until time to prepare
luncheon, when the irons are pushed back and the fire shaken or raked
and replenished. By this time the clothes bars should begin to take on
a comfortable look of fullness. It is well to keep them covered with
cheesecloth as a protection from dust and soot and, in summer, fly
specks. If any frying is to be done, set the bars in another room
until it is over and the kitchen thoroughly aired, otherwise the odor
will cling to the clothes. After luncheon the range is cleaned and the
irons drawn forward to heat for the afternoon session; and by the time
the table is cleared, dishes washed, and kitchen brushed up, both they
and the maid are ready for the renewed onslaught. Though it may
occasionally run over into the next day, the average ironing ought to
be completed during the afternoon and remain well spread out on the
bars overnight to dry and air. Tuesday, though a full day, is so clean
and neat that there is no reason why the maid should not keep herself
equally so and be ready to serve the table and attend the door without
further preparation than slipping on her white apron--and cap, if she
wears one.

WEDNESDAY

On Wednesday Mrs. Grundy mends and puts away the clean clothes and
picks up some of the household stitches which had to be dropped on the
two preceding days. The kitchen must be put in order, the refrigerator
must have its semiweekly cleaning, and the ashes which have accumulated
in the stove removed, a new fire built, and the hearth washed. While
the oven is heating for the mid-week baking there are vestibules and
porches to wash, walks to sweep, the cellar to investigate, and a dozen
little odds and ends to attend to which, with the baking, make a busy
morning. The cleaning of silver dovetails nicely with the Wednesday
work, and during the canning season the preserving of fruit can be done
at this time with the least interference with the other work of the
house, though when it becomes a case of the fruit being ripe, other
work must give way for the nonce. In short, Wednesday is the general
weekly catch-all into which go all the odd jobs for which room cannot
be found elsewhere.

THURSDAY

It is Mrs. Grundy's theory, strengt