WHITE ELEPHANTS IN THE HOME

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 148, 26 June 1934, Page 2

WHITE ELEPHANTS IN THE HOME

LET US MAKE WAR ON THEM. Spring cleaning! How the very thought conjures up visions of a general upheaval in the home, just at. a time, too, when we should be rejoicing and enjoying the beauties and the wonderful transformations of garden and trees, and all the joyousness that goes to make spring a glorious and happy time. Although most of us say that spring is cleaning time, really it is all the year round- But half the dread and burdens of the annual upheaval could be considerably lightened if women would make the winter months the time for making war on the white elephants and clearing away all the rubbish. An authority on the subject gives some excellent advice: To lighten the Herculean task let us go through every drawer and cupboard in the j house, and let us destroy or remove /everything superfluous. We only keep such things because we are too lazy to throw them away, because they have sentimental associations, or because we think they may come in useful some day. We forget that things which have lain idle for two or three years may well be idle for the rest of our natural life and constitute rubbish for somebody else. We may have a wardrobe full of old clothes which we will never wear again. All these clothes will be useful to somebody. Winter is here, it is cold, and there is someone who will derive inestimable comfort and benefit from that old coat- Don’t let it waste in the cupboard. Send it to some charitable institution which will know what to do with it- Every piece of material that you do not want will be of use to some poor soul, who, with cleverness and ingenuity. will turn it into a practical garment for henself or her children. Old vases, pictures that will never be hung in your home again, can be sent to jumble sales or stalls. They may bring in a few shillings for charity, so will have justified their existence in their old age. Then, think of the comfortable feel:ng which comes from knowing that every drawer and cupboard in your house or flat is tidy and that there is no uuneeesary rubbish about. Flats, in particular, were never meant to harbour unnecessary things. Yet it is amazing how they pule up. Be firm- G-et rid of them!