We all agreed only yesterday that women should remain attractive in all they do. A well-made apron adds the perfect touch. The Delineator Magazine of January 1886 offers us some much needed further advice for planning our day. Slip out for a nice morning walk and then heat up the wood stove for an average day of cooking in your favorite dress–watch the ruffles and the trains! There are meals to be made:

BREAKFAST

Cooked Wheat with Cream

A Ragout or Mutton Chop

Lyonnaise Potatoes    Graham Gems

Home Baked White and Graham Breads

LUNCHEON OR SUPPER

Biscuit

Warm Meat in Slices

Baked or Fried Potatoes   Canned or Cooked Fruit

Rebecca Cake

Tea or Coffee

DINNER

Tomato or Bisque Soup

Baked Fish with Oyster Sauce

Roast Goose

Apple Sauce   Boiled Onions

Potato Puff   Celery Salad

Spanish Cream

Nuts   Fruit

Coffee

DO THE DISHES!

Contrary to popular belief many middle class women did not have servants but for the lucky ones here was some very useful advice:

“Pick a sturdy German girl for drudgery (Buck Crenshaw in my fifth novel picks a German girl to help his wife but she quits)

Where hours are irregular, and where the house mother needs sympathy . . .the warm-hearted Irish.

For loyalty and conscientious attention to duty . . . the Scotch cannot be surpassed.

Whatever the nationality of our domestics we are all one family and one in our Father.”

In Englewood where my books take place it was more common to hire black servants since after the Civil War many settled in the Fourth Ward of the town. Margaret Crenshaw’s servant Lucretia is a trusted friend and Margaret promises Buck she will find the best house servant for Buck’s new wife even if it’s only an Irish girl.