The San Francisco call., 1910-01-22
Professor Blames Women for
Catering to Appetites of
Their Husbands
By MARY AsHE MILLER

II hofC VI 0OAlCotAO ONNdAAOhC~o @hNe-AA
remarked that his difficulties arose
through the deleterious influence of
Eve. who induced him to eat improp-
erly.
1t is an amusing thing to consider
that. while we have advanced so mar
velously-or think we have-since the
beginning of history, it has been large
ly along the lines of getting to some
place more rapidly. improved methods of
keeping clean and better lighting sys-
TENS. Men seem to have changed very
little as regards fundamentals.
Far be it from me to object to this
1t is one of the comforting things Of
life that men are so apt to act more in
accordance with representations than
do women.
Over in Berkeley Professor Mitchell
has been telling his class in economics
the same old Edenic tale Man is cast
from his blissful state of riches because
of the faults of womankind.
1t is the spending of the family in
come that is agitating Professor
Mitchell. 1t Is an abstract disturbance.
however. as it is stated that he is un-
married, which removes any fear that
he was working off a personal griev-
ance.
He says in part: Money making is
developed to a very high degree. but
the diverse is true in regard to the
conservation of the family resources.
Only by teaching women economics can
the situation obtaining at present be
solved. Housewives. unlike business
managers. are not chosen as a rule for
their efficiency and business ability, as
men insist upon choosing wives with
out asking for diplomas as economists .
l am tempted to believe that Profess
sor Mitchell has been confining his
light reading of late to divorce statis-
tics. Those CHASTITY records of failures
to make good-or perhaps to be good
are filled with explorations of wifeIy
extravaganza and foolishness. But
these are the exceptions 10 the general
matrimonial rule-to the happy or at
least Unconditional homes that fill the
world
Speaking practically of the people
you and 1 know, don't you think Pro-
fessor Mitchell is little somber in his
views?
Most girls who marry are possessed,
believe, of a desire to make cheerful
and successful home. which can not be
done if an establishment beyond the
family income is maintained. The av-
erage American girl has an inteIi-
gence, which. coupled with this desire.
will enable her to formulate some sys-
tenn by which she may expend a just
proportion of her husbands income on
the things of the house.
Some may not like to assume the re-
sponsibility of very limited purse, but
think. the most conscientious. The
selfish or careless ones are those of
whom Professor Mitchell read in the
divorce records. probably.
1t is sometimes the very wifely de-
sire to bring happiness to her husband
that is the cause of the trouble Men
as rule care much more about what
they eat than do women, and ii is one
one of the axioms of life that feeding a
man properly is excellent for his dis
position.
Every one is exploding Historically
about the price OF foodstuffs. You can
not feed man comfortingIy in any
station of life without its costing
something. Consider the predicament
of the wife: To cater for and to her
husband or to save his money? The
lady or the tiger is child's play to that
On the other hand. there are. as
always, fools. Some women can not
learn to manage their bills. either for
food or clothes. and that means a
harassed husband. Any one old fash
ioned enough to read Dickens will re-
IucIHDCI uCdIs SHY lltllC IOEd upper
field and her housewifeIy struggles
But would this course in economies.
which Professor Mitchell advocates as
the solution, really help matters? You
can not put wisdom into head where
brains are not. Such an education for
a stupid woman would result at best
in cut and dried system OF house
keeping which would drive man to
drink or an equivalent A lot of break
fast food and health diet and new
ways of cooking minced meats without
any microbes in them and queer sub
stitutes for everything you have ever
really liked,-one can fairly visualize
that anemic family.
Frivolous conjectures aside, ii seems
to me that the learned professor was
not speaking from thoroughly prac-
Itical standpoint. In the greater number
of families the economizing is done by
the wife! or, at least. if she does not
Ieconomize, no one does
1t seems, too, that Professor Mitchell
is a little hard on women. Why should