Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-24
HE OLD AND THE NEW.

In my early life it was quite an unusual thing for a girl to have any knowledge of the use of tools, and any inclination that way was suppressed las being masculine. The needle and the pen were supposed to be sufficient for her needs. I have many times regretted that I did not learn what girls can learn now in carpentry and other household trades. We studied physiology, and for years afterward could tell the exact number of the bones in the foot and what muscles are used when we rise from a chair. But so far as my memory serves me, I learned little about correct habits of daily living, about food, digestion and nutrition, or how to prevent disease. In the laboratory we experimented with various substances, and were ex- pected to make bread that we might watch the growth of the yeast plant, but did we learn much about flour, or about the baking, or have enough of the practical work to make the whole process intelligible and could we ap- Iply our school knowledge of chemicals l when house cleaning time came around? do not wish to reflect on the teach CTS of that day, but have sometimes thought that one reason for this lack lof practical instruction may be found in the fact that many teachers then, and perhaps now, have no life outside of their books and school room, they go directly from the position of pupil to that of teacher and have but little knowledge of the management and care of home. or of any of the real problems of life. Doubtless many of our homes might be happier if as chfl- dren We had been required to commit to memory some of the practical truths in Wells Questions and An sWers in Familiar Science,'' as care fully as we did the doctrinal truths in the 'Assembly's Catechism''
 Ii l remember rightly, the phrase Domestic Science" was seldom used when was school girl. True. there were some things bearing upon the nome which were incidentally taught m connection with other sciences. but It seems to me that q greater stress was laid upon developing our mental nafure, storing the mind with scien- unc, historical and purely literary matter, and fitting us for teachers and positions in life outside of the home.
 recall with anything but pleasure some of my school tasks in natural Isc1ence. in mental science, and in moral science. but do not recall any special instruction in the practical If fairs of the home. We went to i lneighboring city to examine the 1oco- motive works, but were never taught how to select 3 desirable building lot Tor how to secure good drainage, or To- lcate a well.
 We were compelled to make q draw ing of the steam engine shall ever forget my struggle over it?-but were never taught how to design a conyeil- ient dwelling house, or how to apply Jour knowledge of the principles of heating and ventilation.
 Probably we all studied about bumps, but has our Knowledge thus gained helped us when the kitchen pump would not work. or the drair pipe was frozen? Such practical
 knowledge was supposed to be con
 fined to specialists in that trade.
 And Judging from the utter lack ot lall practical knowledee of domestic lscience which some of our professiona.
 husbands manifest. may. we not infel that the system of instruction in our colleges has not been beyond question
 But now that the very air seems ful lof Domestic Science and we realize it's scope. when we remember that il
 Is the science of the home and includes Ieverything pertaining to those laws and principles the rigid observance o1 (which results in the perfect home. AS we recall the weary steps by whicl I've have come to OUT present imperfect lstandard as llousekeepers and home makers. does it not make us long tt be school girls againSand have the com pIete training which many of our bes' schools now offer for this work.