Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-11-04
NATION TO teach
HOUSEKEEPING
Government Plans to Teach Do.
meStiC Science to Women.
TO AID THE FARMERS WIVES

Department of Agriculture Has the
Project Under Way. and Details of
the Movement Are Already Decided
On-"Farmers' Institutes For Wo-~
men" Is the Slogan.
Convinced that the countrywoman is
not getting the necessary training in
the way TO manage n home and be-
cause of the fact that instruction In
domestic science is for the most part
confined to students in towns and cities
the department of agriculture has TAX
en- up seriously the question of how to
train the women of the rural districts
to do their work aud manage their
homes.
The individual brought up in the
country may suspect that the farmers
wife knows more about running a home
properly than her sister in the city, but
the department of agriculture doesn't
feel that way about it. 1t finds great
need for instructing the farmers wives
and daughters in domestic science and
purposes to make a beginning through
farmers Institutes for women.
Results of Ignorance In Home.
According to report on the subject
by John Hamilton. farmers institute
specialist of the department Of agricul-
ture, comparatively little is being done
in training women and girls who live
In the country in domestic science or
the management of the home. The
rural schools do little. and other OPP
portunities are few. Ignorance in the
home of the proper way to manage it,
Mr.. Hamilton points out means food
improperly prepared and sanitary con-
ditions neglected. Moreover. the selec-
ton and cooking of food and the keep
ing of things clean are not all the items
in the duties Of the countrywoman.
Other problems exist, such as those
connected with the rearing and educa-
ton of children, the clothing of the
family and the social, intellectual and
aesthetic improvement of the housewife
herself
Radical Change In Methods.
there we're 1924. .145 women and girls
in this country. About So per cent. or
over l3,0OO,O 900. lived in the rural dis
tricts. Mr. Hamilton says that to reach
this great multitude with even limited
educational facilities for the study of
domestic science and household art
will require, as Mr.. Hamilton views IT.,
a radical change in the methods here
tofore pursued. The introduction of
the study of domestic science and
| household art into the rural schools,
! the high schools and the normal
schools is only part of the work that
| will be required.
Winter schools for adult women
! will have to be organized says Ilr
Hamilton. Movable schools in large
numbers will have to be sent out; suit
able demonstration schemes will need
to be devised; expert advisers TO visit
! countrywomen will have 10 be en-
| ployed, and publications adapted TO
the capacity and needs of rural house
their homes
Institutes For Women.
Farmers Institutes heretofore have
been largely conducted for men. If
women ATTENDED, they have had 10 CON
slider the same subjects as the men, as
a rule But now the movement Tor
distinct farmers institutes for women
is rapidly growing, and it is considered
by the department the best agency ~
present TO increase the countrywom-
ans krowled q of domestic science
Last year 49, meetings. for country
women were held by the farmers in
Stitute directors in the several states.
The work in such institutes is far frOu,
perfect, but Il is in the right direction.
AS in the case of many other things.
other more progressive nations in such
matters are far ahead of the United
States, though the American finds f.
hard to realize t.. Austria. Belgium.
Sweden. Norway. Denmark. Swit2rr
land. France and the German state.
have for many years been conducting
schools of domestic science aud huur'
economies specially adapted To coT,-
tis PSoPie di'o diNo NO"i H'N VI H'uNS III
these subjects In fixed institutions in
towns and cities;
Cent Fine by Judge Lands.
Judge X. NJ. lands. who fined the
Standard Oil company 29,24oooo. has
fined John Bower of Rockford. ILL.,. l
cent. Bower had sent a threatening
letter to his brother-in-law, who is al
legged to have misused members of his
family. The judge apparently sympa-
thized with Bower and told him that
If he had said to the relative what he
had written to him it would have been
all right
AMBoD4&na@DeUMs0SMaNzn0sD0
nnaRnmYfnh HHm Z