The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-06-24
Household Economics.

large number of ladies, including several
from Searsport and other nearby towns was
present and the speakers included some of
the best known workers in woman's cause
in the State.
The principal speaker was Mrs Sarah F.
Hamilton of Saco and her address should
have been heard by much larger audience
what we need in our homes is to have all
things so fitted to our lives and conditions
that we can do our work with the least pos-
sible friction. There is too much supertluous
ornamentation. Simplicity should be the
aim of the good housekeeper. Visible dust
is terror to the neat housewife and every
unnecessary ornament, either in the house
architecture orfurnishings, is an addition to
the dust-collectors. If women had the
designing household utensils would be
more simple. Square corners are the bane
OF every neat housewife. Mrs. Hamilton
has in her own house, done away with the
corners in cupboards by the use of strips Of
tin. When women become architects the
building of houses and household furnish
ing Will be their speciality. She next refer
red to some of the labor saving devices for
women, notably the sewing machine aud
carpet sweeper. She believes in coopera-
tive housekeeping, in public bakeries, laun-
drles, etc. Cooperation in housekeeping is
coming, and the big range, with its heat
and its waste of fuel, is going, All should
labor intelligently. Children should be
taught that only labor which is done with
out thought degrades. The time is coming
when children will be taught less about the
old wars, and more about the things that
concern their material welfare. BOYS will
be taught carpentry and other useful
branches, and girls will be instructed in
cookery, child training, sewing, etc. She
spoke of Edward Atkinsons experimental
oven and of his surprise that the women of
the country took so little interest in it. Wo-
man, she said, is apt to be conservative and
to appeal to man, but there is change for
the better In the household woman's voice
IS equal TO mans. We must aim at simple
ity in dress and food. A woman's form
should be left as God made it, and not be
built over by the dressmaker. Simplicity
IN food will abolish indigestion. By putting
SSNN S--NNo'Ae'
day life woman can accomplish much
When you find an enthusiast and a drudge
combined in one you will find power that
will be felt in the world When the rich or
weitto-do practice simplicity they benefit
not only themselves, but those in the hum
bier walks of life, who are prone to look 70
those in higher stations and to initiate them
w., i
Dyer of The Congregationalist, Boston, who
spoke briefly on cooperation, heartily
seconding Mrs. Hamilton's Ideas on that
subject, She paid glowing tribute To one
Of Names earnest workers, Anna Dow,
whom she classed in Mrs. HIS. category as
enthusiast and drudge; that is, woman of
high genius and capable of a great deal OF
hard work, She spoke of the good work
Gone by the College Settlements in the
larger c ties, where the cultivated vouny
ladies from Wellesley, Vassar and other
schools for the higher education of women
take part in the every day work of the
household among the lower classes in the
slums. The poor women know nothing Of
proper housekeeping, and the college settle
ments are doing them world Of good.
More gooC help is needed in the households
of the we l-to-do classes, and their need in
this direction is ministering to the wants of
the poor, in causing them to be educated up
to proper methods of doing work and thus
made more capable of earning an honest hv-
ing. Miss Dyer was greatly impressed dur
ing her recent visit to England with the
beautiful simplicity of the English women.
They employ more servants than American
women do, and consequently have more
time to devote to other matters. Their liv-
ing ls less expensive, and they use the money
saved on other expenses to hire more ser
wants. In Boston seamstress working for
small pay must have her siroin steak and
dress in the latest style. In England econ
omy is practiced in the purchase of both
food and clothing, common sense and re-
gard for health and comfort prevailing in
both The womens clubs are becoming a
strong factor, and household economics, the
kindergarten and the improvement in the
household, hold an Important place in the
consideration of the clubs.
Miss Crosby of Bangor referred to Atkin-
sons Aladdin's oven ,and to his statement re-
gardng the INERTIA of women in matters
of improvement in the household He
should have said "inertia of the human"
for men are as slow to adopt new ideas as
are the women. In the matter of household
economy the rich must lead off, especially
in such experiments as building houses
without dust-catching corners.
Mrs. McGregor of Deering, manager of
the Boys Home in Deering, said we must
begin with the children, and educate the
race. She spoke of one boy taken from the
home and placed in family in good circum-
stances. After few years he found en-
ployment with another wel-to-do family
and carried into their home many new ideas
which had been taught him in the first fam
lily. Boys from the Deering home and girls
from the Belfast home go into good families,
where they get new ideas of life and work,
and when they go out into the world carry
those ideas with them.
Miss Dyer again came to the front api re-
lated an incident of little girl WHO had
been taught cooking in school. For several
days in succession she asked to be excused
before the close of school at noon, and when
asked the reason Saj6 sha had laarnad To