Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-03-29

siasm in 1t. To be a really successful
housekeeper woman must be an en-
thusiastic housekeeper. Very few. II
any. men have achieved success in any
work to which they have given only
part Of their thought and niggardly
share Of their enthusiasm. believe
that the largest per cent Of unsuccess-
full housekeepers Is always found
among the women who are either do
ing their work ignorantly and accord
ing to somebody's tradition or because
their interest and enthusiasm are given
to some other persons work. Why is
the opinion SO general among both men
and women that housekeeping requires
little less intelligence than almost
any other kind Of work? Why Is 1t
that the most incompetent person is
the one who generally offers her serv-
Ices in domestic work? "She would do
better in some ones kitchen is the re-
mark very often made Of the unsuc-
cessful woman:
What Houssksspsr Should Know.
1t requires just as much brains to
keep a house as 1t should be kept as 1t
does to perform any other kind of
work. 1t requires just as mUch knowl-
edge and energy to make home
which truly fulfills all the term implies
as it does to engage in any other in
dustry. And no other wofk demands
quite as much OF the whole hearted In
terest. the real person. as does home
making. One good reason why there
are so many indifferently managed
homes is because housekeeping in gen.
eral has not as yet been put on the
same plane as other industries. One
reason why so many women are need
lessly wearing themselves out In their
task Of providing food and shelter for
their families is because of lack Of
knowledge Of the fundamental prin-
lciples of their work. Lack Of train
ing and practical education is re-
sponsible for many housekeeping fail
ures. A woman said to me: II cook
for my family because must, not be-
cause have any interest in the art.
for thoroughly dislike It," Are you
good cook? 2" said. mo. am moi"
was the answer. IF am ever sue
.cessful 1t is due to luck more than
skill. because really know nothing
about the science Of 1t, and, after
years Of experience. simply can't get
interested in It," Unless this woman
is quite unlike the rest OF humanity.
her dislike can be traced to her fail
ures, for no one dislikes to do that
which he can do really well-just
little better perhaps than any one else.
The woman who finds pleasure In max
ing bread Is generally the woman who
has won the blue ribbon al the county
fair aud who has a reputation for be-
ing the best breadmaker in the town
ship. She knows something about
yeasts and iour. understands the prop
err temperature for breadmaking and
finds her task Il pleasure because she
has had sufficient interest in 1t to be-
come familiar with its science.
The hOusekeeper's work. IL properly
performed. gives regular exercise to
all her faculties. II she understands,
as she should. the effect Of heat and
cold upon food materials. upon liquids
and solids, she will have working
knowledge of physics. II she knows
something about digestion and per-
sonal hygiene she will not be a stran-
ger to the study Of physiology. Her
Intelligent handling Of acids. alkalis
and the treatment of the different fab
RIGS in the laundry will necessitate
familiarity with chemistry. II she un-
derstands the scientific side Of can
ming and preserving and the preser-
walton OF food by other methods. as
well as the processes Of cheesemaking.
sterilizing. etc. she will be on familiar
terms with household bacteriology. II
she does not understand these simple
truths. so closely related to her work.
ignorance of them naturally presup-
poses working In the dark.
Tho Well Rounded Life.
The aim Of life should not be to
spend all the effort OF our days in
working simply to satisfy the physical
needs Of the body without any thought
for mental development. True 1t is
that a sound mind is usually found
in sound body. but it Is also true
that an empty head. like an empty
stomach. is equally susceptible to pol
sons. Where all thought and effort are
given to acquiring wealth. winning
social or political position without TAX
ing into account the other side Of life
the side which means the right at
titude toward the world. our neigh
bors and ourselves-a great deal Of
true living has been overlooked and
missed.