The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-19

may still be a moOted point for
whom a woman dresses herself
becOmingly. Some say for men,
Twice as many, a large proper
tior Of the witnesses being ungrateful
observers Of the sterner sex. will have
it that she arrays herself with al eye
&c the effect she viii make upon the
ether woman"
A small majority contend feebly that
she CopscientIousIy believes she owes #
10 herself to look her best: that she
values what share of beauty has fallen
10 her lot as d talent she should i'm
prove.
This, apart from the simple pleasure
she derives from the comely picture
given back by the mirror before which
she does the aforementioned 'imrrov-
ing"
Nobody Fainsays the statement that
no woman cooks for herself.
Nor. as a rule. for the adult sisters
who. with her, compose the family.
She losses uD pancakes and makes
cookies 10 tickle the palates of her
children; compounds brOths and cooks
meats 10 strengthen and to make them
grow.
her sisters diet has been aptly. il
cOarsely, summed up in a paragraph
written by a physician. which I have
quoted before in the course Of these
familiar talks:
Toast and Tea"
women who live IN d home where
there is no man live on toast and tea
tie year round. il another woman
chance 70 drop in at meal time, they
kill themselves to boil an egg.
What wonder that they are scrawny,
talJow-faced. and neuroticI"
Since I first read this opinion Of one
who should speak advisedly upon the
subject, I have specuIated much upon
The hypothesis indicated in the last
clause.
Is there any other reason why the
typical "old maid" who keeps her own
house or fat should have the physical
characteristics our critic describes
bluntly?
May we not get light here upon the
mysterious delicate health Of the girl
who rents two or more rooms and does
her own cooking. earning . living,
meanwhile, as dressmaSer's apprentice,
stenographer, or cley'-?
They are almost sure to be neat
rooms: they are almost as certainly
tasteful and comfortable. and fitted up
with the various prettinesses belonging
10 toilet table and furniture that richer
girls have taught her to consider the
decencies rather than the luxuries Of
life.
t'Fussing With Cooking"
Her regard for these accessories TO
the comfort of daily living holsters up
her dlstaste to "fussing with cooking -
Roasting and frying and broiling leave
The smell Of stale cookery in her cur
1ains and upholstered furniture.
The rooms get hot and stuffy, and she
gets heated and jaded.
And after all, what is the use OF
going through so much to get so little
Thus runs her argument if she
troubles herself to argue sobeTIy on
such a trifie.
The wise eat to live. Gluttons live TO
cat. Hunger is satisfied as quickly AM
surely with bread and butter and the
nervous system braced as soon by a
cup Of good, strong tea as by regu-
lar meal Of soup. meat and vegetables.
Not TO speak Of the saving in money,
time and strength.
Her appetite is slender at the best
She will tell you, not without a touch
or pride The average middle-class WO-
man has not quite Outlived the Laura
Matildaism Of her mothers days aad
generation, when to confess hunger was
unladylike and 10 satisfy it by partak-
ing heartily and zestfUlly of substan-
tial food vas vulgar.
Who is To convince her that appetite
grows by what it feeds upon?