El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-10
For the Better Half
Written for the HEkALD.

little and yet it is not entirely iuaig-
nificant. Those whose days are quiet
and whose joys are unorowded can al
ford to do away with strict social codes
and put aside the barriers that mark
off the ways of official society. Bus in
the official social life which must be in
Washington-though it be far, very
far from having the circumscribed
laws and time worn ceremonies OF
European courts, yet it must have laws
and abide by them if it achieves peace
in it's joys.
Bishop Spauldiug has said that
whenever woman's suffrage comes up
for discussion, he sets forth one argu-
ment-that women are responsible for
the prevalence of dyspepsia among
mankind aud thus prove their lack of
practical Intelligence. The adequacy
of this argument as against the whole
| question of wOman's suffrage msy be
denied. That women are rot good
cooks is no complete reason, nor neces-
sarily any reason, why they should not
| be good voters. Nor is it admitted
that the statement is wholly true.
There is no doubt that men eat so fast
they'd have dyspepsia anyway even ii
q perfect diet were served them, but
| tQab alSO Is d. 5lC - ISSUE. mere Is
| working truth in the bishops state
ment. Women are largely. respOn
sible for the worlds dyspepsia, and
also have an important share in the
worlds drunkenness. That this
is so does argue against their
claims to practical intelligence. but
not necessarily against their claims
cook by luck. They know nothing of
chemistry, physiology or the science
of dietetics. Almost none over give a
moments thought to the proportions
of food values. They do not think to
make any difference in providing for q
farmer or for a brain worker who lives
a sedentary life. They make no dis
and know very little of proper diet:
for the sick. Some women by sheer
luck provide enough pourishment fOl
their families but are not careful tC
have the food palatable; they drive
J their sons and husbands to the saloon;
where their palates may be stimulated
aud pleased and their daughters to the
candy shop and to the drug store fol
chewing gum. Other women know
something of garnishings, spiciugs
and sauces and they have certain
) skill to please the palate but are in
different 30 the supply of nourishment
, The men of their households need beef
} or whisky for a stimulspt and the girl
, try TO satisfy their sppetites with
: chocolates.
It is an easily proved fact that wher
men. women and children are provided
with ample, fresh, nourishing, appetiz
ing food, with wholesome proper tior
: of meat and drink, vegetable and fruit
that they have no compelling desire t.
) stop at drug stores, saloons, caud.
: chops and bakeries for something Il
, nibble and sip at. The Woman
Christian Temperance Union coull
, achieve its worthy purpose a thousant
: times sooner by spreading the scienti
ic knowledge of food and its skillfu
, preparation, in establishing cooking
schools AID fighting pernicious sdulter
} alton of table foods, than by the
round about method of getting q mil
lion autographs in an immense roll
There are men who contend tina
woman is not naturally a cook. Ths
! only one or two women have ever beer
) famous for their cooking while many
men have made it q wonderful art,
} that it is therefore no true field fol
, her or she would oftener use her brain
J in 1t. Inasmuch, however, as most
women have to cook, and, rightly ol
wrongly, it is one of their importan,
fields, women might as well acknow:
ledge that they have not put their bes,
Intelligence into the work-have not
J done their duty by it and determine
J to lead better lives end get better din
ners and breakfasts and know some
thing of the why of it all.
The fad of fads just now seems to be
the pig-skiu finger purses-which are
commended because they are proof
against the willy pick-pockets and
purse thieves. The purse consists oil
two or three fiat pockets and has two
flaps folding down over each other.
There is q strap across which holds
the flaps down and also serves as
sort of handle. My lady slips two
: fngers-or three if she be able
through this strap, and thus, holding
the pocket book right side up, she la:
firm grip ON it and besides has liber-
ty enough of the same hand to ALLOW
her to carry her umbrella or lift her
skirts.
Sleeves are about as small as sleeves
can be and authorities in Berlin, Wen
ma, Paris, London and New York agre
that they will continue email unit
they begin to get larger aud that Their
is as yet nosign of such enlargement
; This is as to size around. In length
Ohs may have a narrow band over tn,
Z shoulder to do duty as a sleeve or have
sleeves with rufflss or points that fal
, over the knuckles, or anything be
, tween.
1 ELSIE MCELROY SLATER.