Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
MODERN home EQUIPMENT
Homework Made Easier by Mechani-
cal Appliances.
CARE PASSING OVER TO MEN
CO~nveniences Lessen Labor in the
Home, but Make Duties of House,
keeper More Complex
What IL Portends.

Whether the homework of the next ten
years will be done by men of women prob
ably will depend as much upon the develop
ment of conveniences and machinery as
upon the eagerness with which women o.
all classes change their present apathy
and make a rush to do homework.
At present the job of housemaid has
evolved to such a point that it requires a
personality which might be described as
something between a lady and an engineer
ess.
Inside finish and machinery for washing,
ironing, telephone swttchboards, speaking
tubes, and pneumatic cleaners save hands,
feet and backs. In the most scientifically
kept house there is only one duty which
the most prejudiced could class as ignomin-
ious, and that is the busting of hardwood
floors by hand and the getting down in a
! position formerly scorned by the house
wife,
She may now alternate this with rolling
and other exercises to reduce flesh If she
likes. as the expert claims that the pneu-
matte cleaner does not yet effect a smooth
busted surface on wood, but only sucks up
the dust from the depths Of the rugs and
furniture. A cloth over the broom leaves
streaks. 1t is declared. so that wiping the
floor by hand is up TO this date the only
way in accord with domestic science, while
the properly cared for floor, It is said. is
only touched with water once or twice a
year. Altogether. delicate touch, intel
ligence and precision are everywhere re-
quired I'm the application of the new meth
DDS and machinery.
Homework Made Easier.
Past experience shows that where ma
chinery has made it possible to put house
work on an easier and quicker basis men
have stepped in and taken II from the
woman's province, as the bakery, the laun-
dry, and rug cleaning establishments. A
present attachments are being evolved in
these lines for those who prefer having
the work done under their own roofs and
the question comes as to whether the other
sex will not step in to pre-empt the posi-
ton of housemaid.
The appliances often require more head
work and intelligence than goes with the
average girl who now acts as housemaid.
Proof OF this is found in the fact that the
improvements are looked at with suspicion
by the maid in houses where they have
been installed and are neglected in favor OF
the old methods.
The interest taken by the wives and
daughters who occupy these mansions is
only theoretical, say the architects, They
are something to be enthused over when
the plans are drawn up and run away from
after they are put in" said one architect,
who has built some OF the finest residences
in Chicago. In these the kitchen equip
ment and that for fighting dirt is so eff
fectual as TO bring it into the realms of
the fairy land Of science.
Is there a rich woman with a corps OF
daughters who is domestic enough to step
into this fairyland with them and do the
work from top 10 bottom OF the house that
has been provided for her?
Tours over House Interesting.
"Wil you walk into my parlor?' one
can imagine this person saying as glibly on
sweeping day as on reception day, and
viii you walk into my kitchen. my laun-
dry or my bath room?' nay yet turn out