Isabella Beeton, before the age of 28, wrote this book to address the needs of women to run a more structured household. I find this passage to be very funny and true. In today's writings it would be suited to call it the "Dummies Guide to Household Management".
"I have always thought that there is no more fruitful source of family discontent than a housewife's badly-cooked dinners and untidy ways. Men are so well served out of doors...........that in order to compete with the attractions of these places, a mistress must be thoroughly acquainted with the theory and practice of cookery, as well as be perfectly conversant with all the other arts of making and keeping a comfortable home." (p574)
This book, like the Bible, has no age. What was true for the women in Isabella's days is also true now. Many business men are engaging in luncheons and dinners to entertain clients. If the food is not catered by the best chefs in town, they take their clients to hobnob at places like Houston's, Sambuca's or Garrison's. How awful it would be if the only way he knew he was going to get a tasty meal was when he wasn't at home!
"As with the Commander of an Army, or the leader of any enterprise, so is it with the mistress of a house. Her spirit will be seen throughout the whole establishment; Indeed when a mistress is an early riser, it is almost certain that her house will be orderly and well-managed. On the contrary, if she remain in bed till a late hour, then the domestics........invariably partake somewhat of their mistress's character, will surely become sluggards."
I like how Isabella refers to a women as someone with such power and authority in a household. Like Sarah Ellis, she brought light to an image that was contrary to how men saw women and how women were seeing themselves. So often, women go through their daily lives of getting kids ready for school, off to work, back home to cook dinner, put the kids to bed, and then to bed themselves....only to realize her work is still not complete for the night. We, (I've been guilty of this to), fail to see how our many different roles, when done correctly, contribute to the success of our families. The Bible refers to the "virtuous woman" as one that gets up before dawn to prepare meals for her family. (Proverbs 31:15) If the woman sleeps late, then the kids oversleep. If they eat breakfast, then their late to school. If they don't eat breakfast, then they are cranky at school. I she drops off whining, hungry kids at school, her day doesn't go well because she feels like she is a bad mom. When she comes home with an attitude because her boss fussed at her for being late....her husband may as well turn in early.
*For those wondering why the biblical reference... The Book of Household Management became a best-seller second only to the Bible. Now that's impressive!
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2 comments:
Sherri,
Nice job in this posting. I like the way you share your own experiences as a way of explaining your reactions to Beeton's guide.
Love the "Dummies Guide to Household Management" line...it is so true. I agree with your conclusion that this piece is ageless. While at the time it was written, I feel quiet sure it was considered mandatory reading for young wives to be...today it serves as a great reminder for some of us in my generation who feel that maybe we gave up a little more than we intially thought when we decided that we should forego being housewives and mothers for the more well respected role of being a professional person. Enjoyed your post.
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