Mrs. Sutton of Haywood County Suggests Housewives Can Get More Rest, 1943

“Our Women Speak” from the Progressive Farmer, December 1943 issue

Mrs. Sutton’s Advice

“More rest of the housewife” is the slogan of Mrs. Sam Sutton, Haywood County, N.C. this is her plan for accomplishing it:

“Begin by lying in bed Sunday morning until 7:30. When you get up, start the fires, then milk. Get a quick breakfast of toast and leave off biscuits for once. Let everyone, big and small, carry the dishes to the big pan waiting on the stove. Wash glassware and silver in another pan. (Lots of large pans save time.) Rest all you can during the morning. After dinner, get out of the house into the fresh air. Ride and walk, rest again, eat a cold supper, and go to bed.

“You will feel wonderfully rested the next morning. After Daughter is off to school, fly into your work, but do not stick to one thing all day. When you get tired of hoeing, come in, cut out your dress, rest, and go back if the hoeing must be finished.

“Wash the next day, but do not try to wash everything on the place, and wait until the next morning to iron. When you get tired of a job, change to something else. The change will rest you.

“After supper, have Daughter wash the dishes and your husband to mop the kitchen while you lie down and get to sleep. Then make that dress and write that letter while Daughter is getting her lessons and getting off to bed. Have your books and magazines for your bedfellows, and lie back on plenty of pillows while you read a short story or finish that book. The first thing you know, your work will be done, yet you won’t feel all tired out as a result.

“Mowing lawns is a man’s job. Let him do it instead of running to town three times a week for a bolt, a pound of nails, or a piece of twine. One trip will take care of everything if you write everything down and do not let him forget anything. Do your part and do it well, but do not make a slave out of yourself. If you feel too tired to do a small job, lie down and rest, and you can get it done much more quickly when you tackle it.

“Yours for more work and plenty of rest.”