New-York tribune., 1906-10-16
HOUSEHOLD ACCOUNTS.
Hoe Many Women Use System in
DisbarSing IRcOmeS2

DO we really need six different kinds OF spoonsT
gssd Mss Helen Kinne. professor OF domestic
science Teachers College. at recent conference
ot the domestic science department ot Brooklyn
institute. "a time ago people needed only one or
two different kinds OF spoons and forks. and they
were quite as comfortable and happy We are
and really. when you stop 10 think Of It. weren't
they quite as well bred? I wish there some
way 10 get statistics OF the number OF women who
nrs spending time, effort, their lives, you might
say, to appear as well some one elee VINO has
more money We buy many things that give US
neither comfort pleasure, that don't need OF
really want, simply because some one else mas
them and ashamed TO be without them
But the mans effort must 60 TO pay for these
things and the woInan's TO contrive and econonlize
In ways that do not show IN order 70 get them
',rhe Twentieth Century Housekeeper' was the
subject of the conference. Miss Kinne thought the
twentieth century housekeeper should be q business
woman and run her house as her husband runs his
business. She should know how mitch Il costs TO
feed her family q head day. She should keep
correct accounts, and know how much or the family
income goes fer food, for rent. for clothes. for
house furnishings and for cmusernents. She should
have a reasonably definite idea in her head ar all
times Of how much must be allowed for repenishing
household supplies linen. utensils. furniture; how
long such things Will last; when they will have TO
be replaced
GETTING DOLLARS WORTH.
''She should study values. ana know exactly how
20 get the most good out Of every dollar" said tho
speaker "Ou her falls largely the expenditure OF
tne Income. On her depends how much good the
s2ily gets out OF that income OF two families of
equal size, each with income OF $50 a month
one may get great deal more comfort luxury and
amusement out Of the income. because the wife
pends It more wisely It is hardly too much TO say
that the comfort OF the family depends as much on
the oisbursal OF tbs income as upon its earning
Among the wage earners the wife is often the most
important single member Of the family. Husband
sons and daughters may be oil earning All hand
her their wages for the family treasury. They have
no tine TO market. TO shop for themselves. They
have no time TO 90 TO the savings bank with de-
posts. She attends 20 It ell On her depends the
amount OF comfort they ell get out OF their wages
and the amount saved
y believe in keeping accounts. even iteraized
accounts. at least ill we have an accurate knowl-
edge OF what We must spend It is easy, for in
stance TO KEEP the milk account, because Il IS q
fixed charge. We take 50 much, II costs so much
We should know tUst definitely how much our
meat costs us week. our egss, whole table.
We should know when too much OF the income IS
going for food. too nueh Cor clothes A friend
OF mine college graduate. wrote to eighty col
how kept household accounts Only nv i've 0or or
feed their families or run their houses The tTen
Teyi SearGry n9Gsskeeper should be able every
Know Know how much money she viii require for the
THE SOCIAL CONSCIENCE
nut "iIlIe Al Is her duty 10 extract full value
Tor money. the tweTteth century housekeeper
cannot live TO herself alone. The social conscience
has been 60 roUsed thai It carnot be satisfied 10
get cheapness unless it kroy7s " at that CHEAP
ness means Does il mean child labor, tvveatshop
labor, less than living wage, Or clothing made
under conditions inin4cal TO health? TIE Con-
snnners League can furnish lists OF ranu.acturers
and merchants who do not contrib !te 20 these
evl!s. II may seem hard that, in addition 10 all
tee resi- OF cur ourGens, have got TO take
SstS.4 qoesl1ons into our buying. But il is also
inspiring 10 know that, simply bv tie nteIJigenf
expenditure Of our inco1na We may promote ethi-
cal conditions. ~
We live in nerve wrackiug age The +v,en-
ttih century housekeeper cannot adequately nil
tler place without system. il is also her duty 10
money Tor real amusement for herself. rof r9srnI
soclal duties. which add to her burdens without
agSSII, 1g5SS 0I reLrehng her at all, but real
Some women never any trouble with their
e,, a's' yust as some employers never have any
sta.hes lIley are able 70 pay what IS asked thew
are themselves accomplished hol sekeerers and
lney nave peculiar tact and Judgment in getting
along with servants. Such women are apt n ,abS
no interest in attempts solve the sa-Tant r,Tnh
len. Instead, they are tire very ones ,9ee5a15 -
help solve II. A woman who had = ni9S - aioro 10
Shls NE Went 10 a very wealthy and philanthrorie
woman hoping TO get her aid. The phil9nfbroyist
tolo her she took no interest in the subiecr az
and did not think any reasonable woman needeS tsS
70 nave But me problem Is increasing an +be
SSaIe' alla Lds begun TO trouble Europe where II
ass never been heard of before. 1t Is A part &c
II tne social unrest Of the age Schools for +rai6i-
ee-lt!Lss nave never Yet been successful in this
co1HliE- lheE have been very successful In The
past IN Europe but now less so The ,,~c5
Iehl : eoinG 10 grow worse instead Of better and
ever intelligent housewife should take AZ, 81,
terest Il 10 greater extef,t thar 5oII.i' III
.esar IN tte enorts Of Miss Frances Kellor and
10 Trd - a I s1LSt S teG me question and trying
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