Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-05-03

CLUB recently that one TedSoii WHY ~oo
many young married men are III dect
is because their wives have not been
educated for their life work ana tnat
great waste occurs in the average
ilonle-a fair estimate about ten per
cent.-because of total ignorance ol
how to buy in the markets ana now
to prepare foods when purcIiaseu' IL
is a common saying that tle frehcH
housekeeper is able to prepare a good
meal from what the average American
cook throws away. and II tniS IS tTuc
it is without doubt owing 10 the TACT
that the French people nave LOT gen
erations been taught to use their IN
genuity in cooking foods 50 as 10 make
them palatable.
Here in Cornell College OF ASrIcul-
ture courses of instruction in domestic
science arc given under competent m
structors, whiclr-tnclude a discussion
of foods, sanitation, house decoration,
and household management. Practlcal
laboratory periods where the student
works out the principle of cookery at
first hand accompany these courses
The large class receiving TINS lndlNlu-
ual training evnce a deep interest," ana
enthusiasm which promises Wen lot
the work they will no doubt accom-
plish in this important field, ana II Is
not probable that when their college
year is completed these old well-khown
lines could be accurately applied 10
their culinary efforts:
Our Mary went to cooking Scilooi
She came home all elate,
She said she made biscuit
But-she made a paper weight.
During the year each young woman
has been required to estimate the cost
Of meals for a family OF large size
with small income This has furnished
excellent practice in learning the cost
OF foods and in planning to prepare
at small expense diet which shall
contain the five necessary food prlh-
ciples in their proper nutrltive pro
portion, considering at the same time
the suitable food for the child in view
of it's peculiar needs. 1T is also part
Of the work for each to serve dln-
ner to invited guests, making Inc Ia
BILE attractive and buying and pre-
pairing each article of food on the
menu, sufficient but not lavish out
lay of money being specified.
Sanitation. relating to the preSerVa-
ton of food and cleanliness III the
home. is taken up and the laws of
health are fully discussed during thus
years work and some time is given
to house planning and decorating and
to landscape gardening.
In Maine with its splendid Grange
membership OF over ffty-siX thousand,
having in the ranks thousands of
bright, enthusiastic women and with
its Women'S clubs and other organza-
tionS there is a great opportunity Tor
pioneer work To be accom- Dlished Cor
the bcttcrnnent OF home conditions, and
for the awakening of the young Wom-
en- of the State to a need Of moro
thought along these lines. The dis
play of interest by students and Scien-
lists on the subject of dietary studies
has resulted in extensive literature
much of which is to be had for the
asking by the reading public. Lectur-
ers OF Oranges desiring to devote their
programme on a "Woman's Night" or
at any session to this course could
no doubt secure from the Department
of Domestic Science or the Supervisor
of Extension Work at Orono, bulle-
tins giving special attention to these
subjects which would contain eXcr-
ciSes suitable for programmes. The
Department Of Agriculture at Wash
ington through its secretary sends out
bulletins which furnish ideal text
books for the student of these prob
lens. The Home columns Of agricul-
also full of good things.
Much of value could be gotten from
a study and discussion of these vital
questions at public gatherings and Il
thorough course Of reading and study
would prove to the average person of
intense interest and be exceedingly
profitable.
Regarded as a special education do
meStic science is in its infancy; how
ever. like scientific agriculture among
farmers it has ceased to arouse the
scorn of the thrifty housewife. There
is no higher mark of progress in civil
lzation than the advanced thought
and study women of the present day
are giving to things in the household
realm. The introduction of the studies
of domestic science and home econom-
les in the public schools is a recosni-
ton of the need OF such special edu-
cation for women ina womanly -voca-
tons and the advance in these
branches of study will exert a far
reaching influence on the homes OF
future generations.
NJ. ALICE THORPE.
Cornell University, Ithaca. \. Y.
Anrjl % 1910,