The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-03-12

TON, certain women of Manhattan, chief among
whom were Mrs. JOHNSON, a lecturer on Phrenolo-
gy, and Mrs. De COVE, who also occasionally does
business in that line met in solemn conclave and
organized themselves into a 'Iearthstone Club"
for the purpose of discussing all sorts of questions
''that concern or in any way affect the domestic
relations of life" ''No pent up Utica" is to
confine the powers of this benefcent a, ISOLATION:
Tor strenuous efforts are to be made to establish
% anch clubs' in every city and village through
out the UNION, wherever a sufficient number of
pethcoated enthusiasts can be gotten together
the parent society in New York being regarded as
merely the nucleus of national organization.
That many very judicous reforms might be intro
duced into the American menage, will be readily
acknowledged by every one who is at all CONVEX
SAINT with the subject but it is certainly ques-
tlonable whether any such changes can be brought
about under the auspices of an association
whose President and Secretary are professional
lecturers on Phrenology. Mesddmes JOHNSON
and DE COVE may be clever enough women in
their way, and may very possibly be adopts in the
science which they undertake to expound, but it
scarcely follows thatthey the most fitting persons
-
less it be conceded that there is a more intimate
connection between Phrenology and Social Reform
than the generality of persons are accustomed to
believe. We told that at the monthly meet
ings of the Club among other subjects to be deba-
ted, are 'those that pertain to domestic cookery,
''the wardrobe, the laundry, household utensils
"and machinery, house furnishing, warming and
lighting, household expenses and economies, do
''mestcs, family hygiene the management and ed
'ucation of children, the difficulties to be encoun
'tered and the reforms needed, &C., &c" All of
these are legitimate and right womanly themes.
and might well task the attention of the wisest
amongst them. The subject of domestic cookery
alone opens up wide field for discussion. There
is no nation in the world where such an abundance
of good food can be had at prices which place it
within the reach of the poorer classes, or where
the auxiliary comforts of a home are more easily
attainable. But of the science of the cuisine we
know almost absolutely nothing. What is regarded
by an American family in good circumstances as
waste and refuse, would supply three French fami-
lies with all the food that they would require and
this, too, ola healthier kind, by reason of its be-
ing better prepared, more appetizng, and infinite
ly more digestble. From this brief reference to
what has yet to be accomplished, in the way of i'm
proving our domestic cookery, the amount of work
which the Hearthstone Club has cut out for itself
with regard to other matters of scarcely less i'm
portance, may be readily understood from SIM
pie glance at its programme. 1t is 10 be presumed
however, that the various subjects to be handled
are to be referred to appropriate Committees, and
here can very MAINLY bou, nd -
chronological requirements of the PRESIDENT and
SECRETARY may be brought into requisition.
Nothing could possibly be more en- reqle than that
the members of each Committee should be selected
with due regard to their cranial protuberances
and that the PRESIDENT of the Club should be
soemnly called to decide upon the indvd
ual fitness of the Committee women for the duties
to be devoved upon them, by a careful ex-
animation and comparison of their respective
organs. For instance, the heads of the Committee
on Cookery should exhibit, prominently developed
the bumps of Alimentiveness, Calculation
Order and Time. Those of the Committee on the
Wardrobe-Self-Esteem Love of Appreciation,
ldeality, CONFORMATION and Color On Household
Expenses; Adhesiveness, Cautiousness Firmness
and Conscientousness; while the Committee on the
Management and Education of Children, should be
particularly distinguished for their well deveuped
organs of Amativeness and Philoprogenitiveness
and as with these, so with the rest. But in all
seriousness there is, unquestonably, an album
dance of room for reformatory movement of the
kind inaugurated by the ''Hearthstone Club" The
subject of domestic economy is one which has been
heretofore but too little studied by American
women, and every Association which is formed for
the purpose of disseminating amongst them better
knowledge of their household duties, and a more
thorough appreciation of their true sphere of use
funess, deserves to be encouraged and sustained.
Whether the members of the Hearthstone Club
are capable of popuarizng their idea; or whether.
IN point of fact, they are capable of doing any good
at all, will depend not less upon the estimation in
which they are held where they are best known
than upon the tact, intelligence, and energy they
evince in extending their organization to other
cities. We fear, however, that the placing of
feminine professors of Phrenology at the head of
the Club, will not have the most beneficial infIu-
ence upon its labors outside of a particular circle.
Philosophers in petticoats are not generally held in
high esteem anywhere; and, least of all, by those
of their own sex.