Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-09-22
FORMER CHELSEA GIL.
Washington. .. c.. Newspaper Writes
Up Mrs. o. J. Foster.

the ola historic regions famous IN cOlon-
ial times are always accorded due honors.
/ New England women in Washington
have held the high place In polite affairs
given TO the statesmen who have succeed
ed the intellectual leaders Of the early
days OF the republic. The Green Noun
tain stale is..not well represented in point
OF numbers in the social world, and the
duty OF being its sole representative in
official circles during the past season fell
to Mrs. David johnson Foster, wife Of
the representative from the first congress
sional district. Mrs. Page, wife of the
junior senator, spent but little time 10
Washington, and then Was not in the
most robust health. Mrs. Foster and her
daughters are active in many directions,
and their pretty home near Franklin Park
was rallying point for many diverse in
terests.
"This seems the age when a woman to
be at all notable must specialize" said
Mrs. Foster, sand IL one cannot claim
some sort OF prominence it looks pre-
sumptuous to permit attention to be
called to ones self Now J should like
to put in a plea for the woman who
makes an occupation OF managing her
home, all its affairs, business, domestic,
oAtAutANs CNCu AuANllDNAuhis AAOIHthN1Hthk Z
is one OF the professions, and should be
given all the Difference due such serious
occupation. When | was first married
and we were beginning rather modestly
to lay the foundations for comfort and /
competence, / discovered that my husband
found all business affairs a great trial;
that he could devote himself in a more
whole to his Law practice /
"A N awta laa Nal hal
OF the home management was lifted en-
tirely from his shoulders. SO | studied /
the question and soon we entered into a
sort OF Ferdinand and Isabella partner I
ship. We both reigned supreme in our 4
separate kingdoms, and one never inter- /
tered with the affairs which properly be-
longed in the domain OF the other. It
has worked to our advantage financially,
and certainly for our perfect happiness in
the family.
"If one pauses to consider how much
time and attention is taken up in the pro-
per management OF the home. it can be
readily seen that it requires yeomRn SER
vice from some member OF the family.
Why interrupt q man ia the serious avo-
cation OF providing the sinews OF war for
the home ? Il seems like expecting the
how many bushels Of pota-
toes to provide for a days rations. The
business OF q family, especially when
there are morelthan two members in it, is
q complicated proposition. / began early,
and now the routine is established, and
though it takes most Of the time, it has
become q problem which solves itself
smoothly according to certain fixed rules.
Il n 81 Ind ]
heavy on their hands or wish . real re-
paying occupation.
"In Burlington we have cur real .home,
and we enjoy life there as nowhere else.
But when II must be deserted for g good
part OF the year the problem OF taking
care OF II is a big ons, and how to do 1t
with the least expenditure OF money and
Of loss OF propsTty is OF vital account in
the economy Of life. But in Washington
during the sessions OF Congress the ques-
tion is one which is most difficult to set
tie. A house "A big care under the pres
emit conditions OF obtaining domestic aid.
Then renting a furnished house il a big
item which few men can afford without
feeling the drain in a more important di-
rection. have concluded that the apart
ment scheme is q Godsend to the passing
throng in Washington, and really, In
spite OF what economists say about the
fat breaking up American domestic life,
| feel grateful to the mound builders OF
the plains, who were, l believe, the true
and original inventors of the fat idea
We have furnished our own fat and keep
it year in and year out. We have thus
permanent home in Washington, and we
keep house in a more circumscribed area,
it is true, than in Burlington but accord
ing to the same plan. Looking after
three daughters is something also which
eats up time and prevents ennui.
"Rearing a daughter Is almost as fruit :
ful theme among women now as suf-
frage or whether women should have a mis-
sion. Details of paying bills and provid-
ing for three daughters and teaching
hem the value of getting all they need
on a fixed income also come under the
category OF an exact science. / do not
claim to do all these things with entire
success, rather the contrary, especially
v hen il comes to getting the daughters
10 spend their income and no more. But
for the expenses of my home for an
entire year, everything included, / find
can reckon in advance almost to within !
dollar or two. To do this has required
patient efforts and many fixtures, but 1t
has proved a most absorbing and repay !
ing occupation, one which cordially
to all young wives. Run your
home and train your children, 50 that 9
your husband may find q partner and 9
help in the battle OF life, and this seems a !
mission which cannot be rated too
iehly."
Representative and Mrs. Foster furnish {
4 rather different version Of the romance !
with the early days Of their ae- !
luaiHtance. As a young lawyer strug-
Cling to get foothold in his profession, y
Mr.. Foster taught school in the Chelsea
Academy, aud pupil in whom he be-
came interested from the beginning Was
Miss Mabel Allen, daughter of William I
Allen, direct descendant OF the beloved !
hero OF the state, Ethan Allen. That I
Mrs. Foster has shown such eminent bush
ness acumen and has proved herself 50 G
able a student Of domestic sciences Is well Z
As in the larger fields Of music and litera- 1
ture. must in a way be placed 70 the 7
credit Of the mastery instruction which '
she received ia the Chelsea Academy. The q
occurred shortly after Bliss
Allen left school, and il shows how wise 3
e Is for q man to know his future wife 9