Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-03-16
wOMAs's WORK AMONG THE POOR,
A Paper Read at IA Meeting of the woman's
Home Missionary society of the
Methodist Church, by MRS.
Homer Eaton.

Methodist Church, by Mrs.
Homer Eaton.
How can the Woman's n ONE NJ ssionary
Society cooperate with the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union, in saving
the lost and improving the drunkard' s
homer
Men are sometimes made drunkards
through the utter lack of thrift at home,
and the want of nourishing and strength
ening food which might brace the system
against the craving for drink. How shall
there be any betterment in the condition
of such homes?
1t requires no very clear vision to see
the very intimate relations which exist be
tween the work of the two societies. While
the mission of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union is especially to the
drunkard and the drunkard maker. the
mission of the Woman Home Missionary
Society is to the neglected and perishing
of all classes and in prosecuting this
work the ladies engaged In 1t will have
much to do with that large class of people
who have been made poor or who have
never been able to lift themselves from q
condition of poverty, through the curse of
! strong drink The question as to how
there may he any betterment wrought IN
the condition OF such homes is a many
/ sided one, and one which might be aus
wered in many ways.
can only refer in this brief paper to q
| few things which seem to lie on the sur
| face of the subject If we were to 20 into
the homes Of poverty among US, we should
/ find wOeful lack of ability on the part of
i the housewife to make home inviting to
! the husband al q children, or even to pro
perly cook the food, and make and mend
the garments of the family. The scanty
meal of the poor might be well cooked and
| decently served, and the plain ward robe
of the family might be well made, and
kept clean and in good repair, but for the
! lack of knowledge of such work on the
part of the wife and mother.
While we may visit such homes and
make the inmates feel that they have our
sympathy and good will, we shall find it
| difficult, If net, indeed, well nigh impOssi-
! BILE, by our personal visits to impart a
! practical knowledge of the household arts.
Hence the need of industrial schools, and
evening training classes, where the wo-
| men and girls OF the poor may be instruct
ed in household work, and be enabled to
carry into their own homes, and make
practical the knowledge thus acquired.
A lady who has worked mucn among
the poor in Boston, declares that cooking
schools tor poor women are among the
| best agencies against the saloon, and the
kitchen garden one of the most helpful
| things for children.
"A new era is dawning" says Mrs Rust
"when girls are encouraged to prepare
themselves for the varied industries.
Our industrial homes furnish a model for
| home life that the girls who graduate
| from them may be able to introduce into
| the practice of the people"
Where industrial schools are beyond
our reach, trained cooks might be employ
| pH n how n Qrat "a ~ a.
some meal with the least possible outlay.
This missionary cook must not only give
her lessons, but go from house to house
and show ignorant women how to do the
best with such material and appliances as
they have Nutritious and well cooked
food would go a long way toward dtmin-
| ishing the desire for stimulants and mar
cotics, and so diminish the tendencies to
bad associations and minister to a better
home life
We should labor also to prevent as far
as possible the selling at any price or the
giving away of stale meats, or vegetables,
or adulterated food of any kind. 1t is q
fact well known that cheap food is adul-
terated to an alarming extent, and we
should labor Tor the suppression of this
evil as well as the greater evil of intern
perauce.
In the work thus imperfectly outlined
we may lay the foundation for a higher
work, a work which shall upliit the spir-
itua! nature, and lead souls to a saving
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We must
not forget that this is the great end to be
sought in all gospel work; and as follow.
ing the example of the master, we 90
among the poor. and teach them lessons of
cleanliness, frugality temperance and in
telligent industry, we must ever seek
through these ministries to lift their
thoughts and affections to Christ, who is
the help of the helpers, the comfort of the
Borrowing and the saviour Of sinners.
The ultimate aim of both the Womap's
IN lotiah IeulpeiduCe Ouioh anu che
Woman's Home Missionary Society, being
the conversion of those among whom they
labor, and their methods of work being in
many respects similar. Especially in the
large towns and cities the two societies
in their local fields, may work together in
harmony on many lines, and be helpful to
each other in many ways.