Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-02-21

EDITH G. CHARLTON
The selection of food for the table in
order that 1t may be truly nourishing
and may yield the necessary material
/ for growth is one of woman's greatest
! tasks. To be the maker of home
from which strong men and women
shall go forth to build and keep ma
ton powerful and united is the high
est task given to human beings. This
is woman's true work. IL she honest
+, ~ equipped and trained for it?
The Task Of HomsmaIeins.
Woman's share in the well being of
the family demands not only an intel
ligent knowledge Of the principles Of
/ her work, but also interest and enthu-
sinsm in 1t. To be really successful
housekeeper woman must be an en-
thusiastic housekeeper. Very few. IL
any, men have achieved success in any
work to which they have given only
part Of their thought and niggardly
share of their enthusiasm. l believe
that the largest per cent Of unEuccess-
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
a 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 Housekeeper Should Know.
1t requires just as much brains to
keep q house as II should be kept as
does to perform any other kind Oh
work. 1t requires just as mrch knowl-
edge and energy to make a home
which truly fulfilis all the term implies
as it does to engage in any other in
dustry. And no other work 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 indifferentiy 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-
ciples Of their work. Lack Of TRIM
ing and practical education is re-
sponsibie for many housekeeping fail
ures. A woman said to me: II cook
for my family because l must, not be-
cause have any interest in the art,
for l thoroughly dislike it." Are you
a good cook 2" said. mo. am not"
was the answer. III am ever sue
cessful 1t is due to luck more than
skill, because l really know nothing
about the science Of it. and, after
years Of experience, l simply can't get
interested in IT," Unless this woman
her dislike can be traced to her fail
ures, for no one dislikes to do that
which he can do really welI-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 at the county
fair and who has a reputation for be-
ing the best breadmaker in the town
ship. She knows something about
yeasts and -four, understands the prop
err temperature for breadmaking and
finds her task pleasure because she
has had sufficient interest in it to be-
onroo f. vnflSup NTH 70 CSSMnoA
The housekeepers work. II 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 q working
knowledge Of physics. II she knows
something about digestion and per-
sonal hygiene she will not be q 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 q
familiarity with chemistry. II she I'M
uerstands the scientific side Of can
ming and preserving and the preser-
walton of food by other methods. as
well az 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.
The 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 It is
that q sound mind II usuaily found
in sound body. but II is also true
that an empty head. like an empty
stomach. il 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 ct.
titude toward the world. our neigh
bors and ourselves-a great deal Of
true living has been overlooked and
missed.
the osfeuder should be ejected at once.
But amid the storm Of abuse one
friendly voice was raised, asa benevo-
lent clergyman rose from his seat say