It's Friday Show and Tell and I would like to show you one of my very favorite books. It is a very old book by Julia McNair Wright, called "The Complete Home".I bought this book in a box with many cookbooks at an auction almost twenty years ago. It is falling apart and I usually keep a rubber back around it to keep it from losing it's pages.
The book was originally gi
ven to Miss Kate Cassell in 1896. There is no copyright date in the book. I have no idea if the persons in this book are fictional or real. It is narrated by "Aunt Sophronia" and the first page of the book says this:
ven to Miss Kate Cassell in 1896. There is no copyright date in the book. I have no idea if the persons in this book are fictional or real. It is narrated by "Aunt Sophronia" and the first page of the book says this:"Aunt Sophronia lives in one of our inland towns. She is relative to many of the townspeople- The Oracle of all. Firmly intrenched in hr own opinions and more than self complacent, she is yet ready to give other people their due. Her ideas are broad and sound, and she is no doubt a great blessing to our community. An indefatigable diarist, she has for many years recorded the best of what he thinks and learns on her favorite subject - The Home- These journals being to voluminous and too full of private affairs to present to the public, she has at our earnest solicitation reproduced part of them topically and with a happy faculty in discussing her subject from the beginning."
I have read this book from cover to cover many times and love it more everytime I read it. It covers the subjects of Order in the Home, Economy in the home, Beauty of the Home, Hospitality, Methods of works, Attention to dress, Religion, Friendships, Mistress and Maid, and many more! In the back is a chapter of "Useful Information" like what to serve the sick, how to get rid of stains, etc.. I don't know if it has
every been re-printed, if not it really should.
every been re-printed, if not it really should.
18 comments:
What a wonderful treasure to have. I wish it was reprinted because I could probably use it:)
Wow! I'd love to have a copy of that!
Oh, I love old books and this looks like a beautiful one! I would love to sit down and read it! The picture and graphics are so pretty! What a wonderful treausure!
Kelli
P.s. I saw your question about linking. Here is the code:
There is no place like home
Just copy this into your post and it should work!
I'm sorry for messing up your comment box! Feel free to delete the extra one! If you email me at kwinn@hotmail.com I will give you the code!
Kelli
That sounds like a neat book to have.
Sounds like it has lots of helpful advice in their.
I love old books! You have a wonderful treasure. I love reading about how women kept house and cooked in past generations.
I love looking through old books. I have a great number of my Grandma's and find very practical homemaking tips from them..
Your book looks so interesting!!
:)
What a neat book to have. I am sure there is some good reading there.
Antique books are one of my MANY weaknesses. I don't have any about the HOME though! What a treasure. Thanks for sharing!
Fascinating book!!
BTW, I do have those old photos in archive quality pages.
What a neat book to have. Wish we could all read it!
What a neat book! I love old books too!
Such a wonderful old book and everytime I hold old books like that I often wonder who held it and who read it, throughout all these years! I Googled the author's name and found a few web sites about the book...apparently it was originally published in 1879 and reprinted in 1903. A treasure indeed!! xo
That sounds like such a wonderful book! I hope it has been reprinted -- I'd love to look through it. I think that illustration is neat, too.
Barbara H. @ Stray Thoughts
The book is a real antique. I bet you wish you could go back in time and find out all about the person who first bought the book. That would be a story in its self.
This is just the kind of book that I love too, in fact I have something similar which is a three volume set called The Household Guide printed in 1910 and with the most wonderful Edwardian photographs and colour plates. It covers everything from cookery to dressmaking to managing the servants(!). It's one of my favourite things.
What a treasure!
Post a Comment