Middletown transcript., 1907-02-23
PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION
Given to ths Wives and Daughters of
New Castle County Farmers

2
Better knowledge of economic farming
has resulted from series of eight lectures
on Home Economies" given during tht
past ten Gays by Mrs. Jennie G. Barlow
secretary OF the Illinois Association o.
Domestic Science, under the auspices Of
the Farmers Institute Of New Castle,
county. The meetings weresheld in Cen.
treyilIe, Mermaid, Hockessin, Bear Stat.
ion, Rose Hill and Middletown. Despite
snow drifts and extremely low tempera-
lures, 300of the wives and daughters OF
New Castle county farmers have been in
attendance. The institute management
aimed 10 show what the Middle West
was doing along the line of education for
women; for it was well known THAI
with a total enrolment at the State
University OF Illinois OF 5000 students
300 were women. of whom 200 were study
ing domestic science in some one of ten
courses offered by that institution. It
was also known that this represented the
growth OF eight years, for. beginning with 20
students only in 1900. the number became
40 in 1902, 80 in 1905. l60 in 1905, and 200
in 1907.
The infuesces which brought about
this growth are doubtless many sided and
far reaching, but among them it is clear
that leest in energy and weight was the
State Association of Domestic Science.
To each one of its 102 counties Illinois
appropriates annually $75, to be expend-
ed in farmers institutes, and IN 80 of the
counties womau's organization is affiili-
ated with the institute and is allowed a
portion OF the State appropriation, which is
increased in many instances by dues, &c.
paid by members. The fpderations of
these county tIgshia.thIs Il We
men constitutes the Illinois association
for Domestic Science. This association
offers to the young women of that State
one free scholarship in the household
science department OF the State Univer-
sity for eacli OF its 102 counties, and in
addition thereto one free scholarship for
each OF the first ten Congressional districts
in that State. These scholarships are
good for two years.
At this University the woman's build
just completed, is an imposing structure
costing $50, 600, consisting of a main or
central department., with north and
south wing, each three stories high.
Generally speaking, all that tends to pre-
pare for social life and its Development is
provided in the south wing. Physical
culture finds its place in the gymnasium
and swimming pool, located in the main
structure, while in the north wing may
be found, on the first floor, class rooms,
cloak rooms, officers, &c. on the second
foor kitchens, pantories. diningroom,
chemical laboratories. &C., and on the
third floor, Offices and rooms TO illustrate
house furnishing, decoration, &c.
OF the graduates from this department,
some vii OF necessity teach for long
er or shorter period and places are waiting
for them In the ward school of the cities
and towns of the State, where the girls
have manual training in their field just
as the boys have in the High Schools of
Wilmington.
0f3 200 girls graduated last year from
che eighthgrade Of the Chicago schools,
1000 at leastwere able to, make their own
clothing and to properly prepare and
cook plain food, for this has been a por-
tion Of their school work. OF the ward
schools.o Bloomington fiji are now equip
ped to teach cooking and sewing, and
of the girls in the schools OF Champaign,
1000 take that work ANNUALLY at n cost
per anuum Of 81 per capita for material
and s. per capita for teachers salaries,
Ins Quincy aud in a. large Eumber OF
other towns Of this class manual training
for girls as we'll as for boys is an essential
portion of the school work.
As to the necessity fdr this training
statistics show that household expenses
4 =
in the United States aggregate $I0,000,-
0O0, ,000 annually, oil which 500 in each
800, ori90 percent is placed in women's
hands by the men to befEpent in provid-
ing for the family maintenance. These
figures in the aggregate convey no clear
meaning and attempts to give better
expression can result OILY in partial fail
ure, granting that the population of this
union is uniformly distrfbue in 40 states
then s250,0O0,0 600 wbuld be needed
State to pay householdi bills. II at $50
points at equal distances from each other
in each State there should be placed on
exhibition a pile Of ll0Q0, 900 silver dol
lars, it is fair to assume that within a
very short time every n1an, woman and
child in each State could and would reach
some one of these piles. with no other
incentive offered than ap opportunity te
look at it from suitable distance.
To the man without a common echsol
education each dollar would represent
the largest part of full days work, and
to a woman OF tllis class each dollal
could represent little more than shelter
scanty food and partial blothing for one
day. Yet in countrie$, say Holland
where every girl mnst be trained in /
.'cook school, !, before SHE can marry, o.
in Sweden, where she Unjust prepare ,
satisfactory dinner for the family of hel
prospective husband before legal consen
can be secured, 81 Represents sum ad
equate for all lie requirements Of a plair
mans home.
| The farmer who sellsi his produce di
rectly to the consumer, knows that til,
average American womaN squandefs Iittl,
in purchasing whatever Ishe may do, ii
selecting and preparing tlhat food and th,
salesmen In department. stores can ais,
bear testimony to the cark taken BY hi
average customer; al muIat, MbWeyer, ad
nit that il Is given tasonhe $oEien, eithe
by inheritance or tfainaAg 10 do NOR
with dollar than 4 less fortunate siate
can do. The aim of tist movement ii /
put all women at the nning Of activ