DOMESTICITY IN BELGIUM.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 828, 5 October 1916, Page 4

DOMESTICITY IN BELGIUM.

In Belgium, economical housekeeping is practised as a matter of course, war or no war. The women there are splendid cooks, as well as all-round, thrifty housekeepers. In conversation with a Belgian woman recently, the subject of housekeeping cropped up, and she mentoned how they do things there. It seems that, as a general rule, one daughter does the marketing, and brings back with her the meat, fish, vegetables, or whatever else she has purchased, the idea being to prevent dishonest tradesmen from substituting an inferior article for what has been bought. Another daughter mends the house-linen, and, should there be no daughters, an extra maid is kept. The housewife herself visits the pantry every morning, with the cook or general servant, and suggests what should be done with the food. The cook or general is given the money to buy the small things needed in the household, and the mistress counts the cost of these with her every morning, noting down in a special hook all her expenses. All Belgian girls, no matter how high their position in life, as soon as they leave school, learn systematic cooking, ironing, washing, and general housework, either from thir mothers or the maids. Belgian women contend that this is the most practical way of teaching their daughters housewifery. As things are in this country at present, such a plan would not be practicable, as comparatively few mothers are sufficiently versed themselves in scientific housekeeping to instruct their daughters properly, and, as for the maids, in many cases they know even less. Such a scheme might be feasible in the next generation, as a fair proportion of the .young girls of the present day are receiving at least some instruction in domestic science.

Of course, a typical Belgian house is fitted and furnished with a view to saving labour. For instance, the lioors are painted and varnished. A small rug is put in the middle of the floor, and another narrow one by the table, or in front of the fireplace. The iloor is washed every day with a half-wet flannel, and the rugs thoroughly shaken. This system not only saves work, but is also much healthier.

Our Belgian friend, who does not care to give her views on the subject of housekeeping as it is done here, remarked, however, that she had seen houses, both in London and Sydney, where they simply brushed up the carpet, leaving the accumulated dirt underneath.