New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-07
4 SCIENTIFIC HOME.

That admirable organization, Sorosls, dis
cussed a momentous question at its meeting on
Tuesday. 1t was: "Will home making ever
become a science ~ Three erudite papers were
read on the subject, and learned discussion
followed in which the Rev. Phoebe Hanaford
participated. We regret profoundly that
neither tho contents of the papers nor the
points of the arguments used in the discussion
have been published. We are left in the dark,
therefore. rs to what sort of place home con-
structed on scientific principles, as they appear
to the feminine mind, would be. The informa-
ton is also lacking as to which side had tue
better of the argument. Apparently the ques-
ton was not put to vote, and the organization
adjourned without deciding whether home
making would ever become a science or not.
This throws the discussion open to the public,
and gives the men chance to express their
views ON a question of vital importance to their
happiness
Let us suppose for a moment that home max
ing will become science, and that we shali
shortly have a company organized which VIII
guarantee thoroughly scientific home TO all
snbscribers. What sort of an institution would
II be7 The ideal home is, of course, haven
If rest where the husband and wife both have
their own way in everything where the chill
dren never cry ; where the servants are models
Of honesty and industry; where the dinner Is
never late and is always well cooked; where
there is no pcrceptible washing day where The
sweeping and busting are done when nobody
knows il: where selfishness and bad temper
are never known in short little Heaven
mon earth, inhabited by thoroughly angelic
mortals. Homes of that kind constructed upon
n scientific basis, and served hot, like steam
through subterranean pipes, would meet a long
felt want. Nearly every family In this great
civ would subscribe for one. But II by scien-
tiic home is meant place where intellect"
oerpetually reigns where the constant effort
il - TO make home interesting by making It in
structive"; where "happiness" is served out
ike cough medicine in spoon and according
IN recent. we are afraid the demand will not lie
great History tells Of a man blessed with
such home. who, as he sat listening to the
familiar words, "Home, sweet home, there Is
no place like home" remarked with deep feel
lug that lie was "thundcrinG glad there
wasn't.
A great deal depends upon the character OF
the scientific home. and that point must he
clearly explained before any opinion rs 10 the
success or failure Of the scheme can bc formed
AS for the men, there is little doubt about the
kind of a scientific home which would he popu-
lar with them. All they want is home where
they can have their own way always, where the
meals are always good, always fresh in variety
and always served on time; and whcre the wife
is so accomplished an economist that when she
asks her husband for money and he says !:
Where is that five dollars gave you week
ago ?" she vii, be able to reply sWeetly: 81
have bought both the children pair OF shoes,
myself new bonnet, and "a carpet for the lib
" rary, all ont of that five dollars, and have "A
. dollar and half left" That is the kind of
scientific home the average man is yearnng
for, and if Sorosis or any other organization
can supply it, the sum of human happiness will
be enormously increased.