Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-02

THE ROCK ISL
the chemistry of the body, as digestion
lis nothing but series of chemical
changes. This chemistry of foods ma
turally leads up to the second science,
that of dietetics, which is properly
nourishing the human body at differ
ent ages under varying conditions.
For example, food fit for the normal
adult is not suitable for the growing
child
BHcteriOlogy Important.
The third science is that of bacter
lology. There is no class of workers
who should be so conversant with the
life history of micro-organism as the
woman in the home. She must fight
the ones that cause disease, and she
must know how to use to advantage
the helpful ones. such as yeast in
bread, the bacteria in butter, and in
the making OF vinegar. Two subjects
which are based on the study of bac-
terra are hygiene and sanitation. 1t
is certainly the business of the home
maker to see that the members of her
family have healthy bodies and live in
healthful environment.
Another science is that of house
building. because the house is the
working place of the woman. therefore
she should know the best arrange
ment of rooms, the most sanitary
method of the disposal of wastes. and
the most healthful ways of ventila-
ton.
Saving Labor and Funds.
Another great branch of knowledge
that the home-maker should possess is
that of economics. The economics of
past centuries has treated of produc-
ton alone. But when man produces
the money, that is, when he earns the
money, it is the business of the wo-
man to spend it. 1t must be confessed
that men are generally more business,
like in earning than the woman IS In
spending. In this present day of the
high cost of living, should not the
spender of the money of the home
know of the value of money, OF the
value of the article she is going to
buy, and of the amount of money she
has to spend?
From a study of the family accounts
of a great number of people, there
have been certain laws deduced, which
should serve as a guide to the spend
err of money in the home. In addition
to being the spender of money, she is
the buyer of the world. Ninety-tlve
per cent of the articles produced in
the world are bought by women, and
vet there exists on the market today
the adulterated food and clothing and
sweatshop work. Is not the buyer re-
sponsible for these conditions? Could
she not through her demand influence
the supply? Would it not be possible
for her to secure pure, clean food and
clothing labeled correctly and made
under sanitary conditions?
In third way, the woman has eco
nomic Importance as the administrator
of the business of the home. Her
time and energy should be worth as
much as that OF man. Yet we find
women so eXtravagant Of time and
energy. and so saving OF dollars and
cents. IS a result, the Kitchens are
poorly equipped, labor-savins appli-
ances are seldom secured, and differ
ent processes in the home are contin-
ued much the same as they were 20 to
so years ago. HOme-makers should
not degenerate into household drudges
through their misuse of time and en-
ergy.
Sociology an Important Factor.
The third great branch of knowl-
edge in home making is sociology.
The home can not stand alone. 1t is
many ways The ideals, the stand
ards of a community, are determined
by the ideals and standards of the in
dividUal homes in the community.
The ideals of nation are determined
by the ideals of the individuals COM
posing that nation. The standards OF
right lring must necessarily be deter
mined first Of all by the home, and
second, by the other institutions, such
as school and church. We have read
much of the decentralization Of the
home i'll the large cities. Yet it Is 60
ing on all around us in smaller com
munities. If through the fault of mem
bers of the family the home has lost
its attraction, and is no longer the
best place to the children. then this
home is going to pieces. If the home
represents to the children nothing but
a place in which to eat and sleep, the
lives and standards of those children
are being Influenced from the outside
rather than from the inside. The true
home-maker must thoroughly under
stand the forces which are tending to
pull her home apart, and she must
meet those forces intelligently.
Art I'm Home.
In the fourth place, there must be
art in the home. We call the man
who paints a picture, an artist. Now
we recognize that a woman can ex-
presh her artistic ability through the
furnishing of her home, and can be
Just as truly artistic in doing so, as