Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-21

Last week the ladies' OF Gardner,
and the week before that the ladies OF
Augusta, were given the practical
benefits Of free instruction in cooking
by a lady who came as the represen-
tative Of school Of domestic
science" This term suggests phase
of modern thought and methods. that
| is worthy of serious consideration
and one that is commanding more
thoughtful attention. and with more of
Its merited measure Of respect than
ever before in the history Of this coun-
try.
| A lady who comes into city or
town today. to speak upon the inn
portant subjects pertaining to ''domes-
tic science" will no longer be treated
lightly or in spirit of levity, and If
she be proficient in what she teaches.
and, therefore, able to give the benefits
that come from practical demOnstra-
tons. she will not fail to have In her
audience. the leading ladies in the
community. a.T f e-,
| The day of false sentiment is pass
ing away. The very pressure of pres
cnt day conditions, with the con-
stantly increasing scarcity Of domes-
tic help. emphasizes the Importance of
every young lady. being given some
practical insight into the problems Of
1 -
never be qualified to preside over any
mans home. Wealth. or social station.
can never be pleaded. as an excuse for
the failure of any girl to acquire that
practical knowledge of domestic
science" necessary to fit her for the in
telligent management of household.
Indeed the possession of those very ad-
ivantages should rather stimulate her
ambition to fully qualify herself to adj
minister them wisely and well, and in
such a manner as to be a genuine
helper to those who are to be asso-
4 ciated with her in the sacred relations
of the home.
There is no creature in the world SO
helpless or SO pitiable. as the young
wife who has no practical knowledge
of how to conduct home, and who
is dependent upon hired help whose
very efficiency or inefficiency she is
unable to gauge. unless i. be the one
who is suddenly thrown upon her own
resources without any practical knowl-
edge of how to cope with the duties
and responsibilities that confront her
However bright young mans pros
poets in life may be. there are COM
paratively few of them who are able
to begin life upon a scale which vii.
relieve their wives of all the work OF
the homeland even. in the rare cases
that will prove the exception to this
rule there is nothing that can justly
excuse her for an ignorance of practi-
: cal household affairs that units her tC
, assume and exercise the duties. ant
responsibilities that properly devolvt
upon the lady of the house."
The young man is expected to know
his business in all it's practical details
: He must grow into it. The welfare Of
; the home demands that young wOmer
should live IN to the same standard Of
practical attainment.
The mother who sends daughter
from her own home to preside over
another without a definite. and practi-
cal knowledge of the duties that mus
grow out of such change of relation
ship has done her a gross injustice
and one that, nine times out of ten
will go far to make her married life
angels here below. Young people
sometimes imagine so: but the tread
mill of practical everyday life will
Ispeedily disillusion them. happy
home life must be based upon mutual
forbearance, and mutual helpfulness
No woman has any right to ask hel
responsibilities of the home while she
idles away her time. If she is not his
active helper and adviser it will not
be long before she grows entirely out
of his life.
The growing number of divorces
emphasizes this fact over and over
again. Three fourths of the tragedies
in domestic life may be traced 20 the
folly Of over-indulgent mothers. who
permitted their daughters to grow UP
in idleness and incompetency, under
the mistaken idea that they were doing
them kindness. The old-fashiOned
training may nave been lacking in
some Of the accomplishments; but it
was productive of happy homes. No
girl has any moral right to preside
over a home whose. affairs she Is in
competent to manage. Let us, there
fore encourage the study of domestic
science frowning down the false
pride. the mistaken conceptions of life.
that would fail to recognize its true