The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
DOr1ESTIC ARTS.
Department Of Household Economy,
Its Practical Value to
Young Women.

! An observing VlSltOI, upon eIiteI lls
the homes of various well-to-do farmer
Through our state, could not fail to not
ice how very unequal are the provisions
made by the average farmer for hi:
sons in their labors on the farm, ant
his daughters in the performing OF theil
domestic duties. Too many of our farm
lers, while providing the latest improved
Ireapers, binders and other farm ma
chinery for the boys, contend tha
"what was good enough for my mother
lis good enough for my daughter and the
girls are forced to perform their house
hold duties in the same primitive man
ner that their grandmothers did, with
out any of the modern and compare
lively inexpensive conveniences thai
ltend to convert houseWork into pleas
ant duty, rather than an irksome task
1t is not surprising that farmers
daughters, looking forward through the
vista of coming years and seeing only
the prospects of a life of cherries druid
gerry, become disheartened and forsake
the home for the shop or store or plunge
desperately into the horror of the 10Th
century. the new woman craze. Look
ing through the eyes OF discomfort, the
lot of a housewife appears to one OF
these girls merely a slaves existence,
and she determines to fit herself for
some trade or profession ("higher
sphere'') in public life, for which but
one woman in a hundred is qualified,
and becomes the enthusiastic advocate
of what she chooses to term the "eman-
cipation of the SEX"
In this age of progress it is necessary
for woman to acquire thorough knowl-
edge of the science of household econ
omy and hygienic living in order to
keep pace with the worlds advance
ment, and to most effectually contribute
to the welfare of family; but first OF
all she should be brought to realize
that woman's true sphere lies in the
home, where her influence is boundless.
When this has been accomplished, the
new woman will have become thing
of the past.
1t should be source of great salts
faction to the people of Oregon to know
that we have one institution OF learning
where young women can become thor
oughly domesticated. The benefit de-
rived from the course OF household
economy at the Oregon Agricultural
College by the young women in attend
ance and the state indirectly can not
be overestimated. Upon entering the
o. A. c. the young women take
up the same literary course pursued by
the young men in the agricultural and
mechanical courses, but they have in ad
dition horticulture, Horticulture, land
scape gardening, dairying, millinery and
cooking; also thorough course in hy
giene. The students are taught that
without health there is no success in
life They receive instructions regard
ing their own organism, the importance
of hygienic living, and health, and how
to attain it.
During the third term in school sew
ing and studies in hygiene are varied
by lectures on etiquette. During this
term the students are required to max,
some article of wearing apparel, wholly
by hand, and, having attained profc-
iency in plain sewing, they are taught
to cut, fit and make their own dresses:
and much special attention is given to
this branch of work. OF the various
branches of industrial work embroced in
the household economy course, cook
ing becomes the most popular with the
students; and nowhere is woman's inge-
nuity given wider scope than in the
department.
Few Americans, comparatively speak
ing, realize of what great importance it
is that our cooks should be skilled in
the science of hygiene. We all know