Evening journal., 1899-03-02
HOUSEHOLD THEORIES.
scientinc knowledge II Not as Vnlu-
able as Practical Experf-
eure.

euce.
There is nothing in the world easier
than TO lay out the work of other peo-
Pile Systematically, according to set
rules and method, and there are a
great many people who foolishly em-
ploy themselves in this manner tc the
neglect of that work which has been
given them to do on their own account.
1t is doubtful If the world was ever
benefited much by the theories of peo-
pie without practical experience to
guide them.
The woman who has never cooked,
who has never catered to the needs of
family, cannot teach cooking TO
others or give lessons in household
economy which will be of practical
value All the knowledge of chemistry
and of physiology that can be. learned
Is not worth the practical experience
OF one intelligent woman who has
toiled successfully, however humbly,
In her kitchen, solving these problems.
Invaluable as science is in solving the
problems of the household, its chief
value is as an assistant to practical ex-
perience. The good sense ayd instinct
of true motherhood, when guided by
experience, have proved far less falli-
bic method of dealing with household
problems than science has yet given
us. There are reasons for this. If men
and women were machines IL would
be quite possible to serve their needs
by exact methods. Households are
composed Of individuals, sensate be
ings whose needs and whose condi-
tions often vary infinitely from each
other. The problem of each household
is to meet these individual needs, and
it must be forever a problem which
must be solved individually. Science
deals only with the average man, and
fails to touch the needs of some individ-
uals. What is proved to be the correct
food for the average man may be some
exceptional mans poison. 1t has been
repeatedly proved that established the
ories of food must be abandoned before
practical experience in individual cases
There are persons TO whom strawber-
ries are poisonous, and others who find
wholesome meat, and even milk, ma
lures so-called universal food" indi-
gestible. All household problems,
like the problem Of food, are
also more or less individual ones
1t depends largely upon the moth
er of the family TO decide what
is best for her own. She knows by long
experience the individual needs of each
child. She remembers that this one has
a delicate throat, another, perhaps, a
weak digestion. IL is the fact that she
treats her family and selects their food
from her knowledge of their individu-
ality that viii always render the home
table superior to that of hotel. The
home table may be plain one, but love
guides the caterer and dictates the ex'
penditures. 1t Is arranged to suit the
needs Of the individual family. not or
) any set theory. II is for that reason il
is the most delightful and most whole
! some table in the world.
One shudders involuntarily over the
physical degradation Of family fec
by theory, each day on just the correct
scientific allowance of proteids
starches and fats, as at the thought o
the table of the young bride of thu
$ comic song, who cooked food by chem
s ical formulate" Men are not willing t.
4 be treated like machines in a matte.
r. so vital and so individual, though Their
are great many well-intentioned peo
pie who are forever attempting to soly
j., the problems of home by some rul
that viii apply TO all, The fact is be
coming more and more apparent, afte
years of foolish experiment 10 tn
contrary, that men and women are un
= willing to give up the individuality o
home to meet any theory of what i
J best for them. The day is further ava.
I than ever when they will be willing t
! be fed, housed and clothed on an.
cheap universal plan.-N. Y. Tribune.