New-York tribune., 1912-03-03
DESPISE HOME ARTS
UorL5ug Girls Are Ignorant
Of Domestic Problems.

'No one vho has come into close touch
with the voung working girls of this city.
observed tho student of social conditions.
"can fail to he appalled, nv their gross
and unIamented ignorance OF the simplest
housekeeping problems. In tho vast ma
iority Of cases among tho girls who swell
the ranks OF salesgirls and clerical as
sistants. the American daughter of foreign
born parents completes her education by
graduating from the elementary school at
the age of anywhere from thirteen to six
teen Then she goes to work at anything.
so long as II is not housework I'm some
other womans kitchen Her mother may
have been domestic servant before mar
riage, but i'm every case she scouts the
idea of her daughters following IN her
footsteps. This is a free country. and II
is not beyond the realm OF possibility for
any girl TO become the wife OF a President
OF the United States, the first lady in the
land. IL the girl is TO attract the favor OF
a wealthy young man, she must dress
well, she must keep her hands manicured.
she must not suggest in remotest fashion
the sordid realms Of the kitchen. \ poor
mans wife must needs know how 10,
sweep. wash and cook; but what mother
desires her daughter u become the wife
Of a poor man?
The daughter OF the tenements is no,
taught the things her mother has had TO
know. The girl leaves school and accepts
as genteel position as she can get as
soon possible. The minor children bring
home their pay envelopes intact and turn
them over 10 the mother, who pools the
assets, to be administered for the common
good Ii is the mother who bears the
whole burden Of the housekeeping. spar
ing her daughters I'm every way possible
The girls wages are worth much more TO
her than would their presence around the
crowded fat all day; 1t is far more I'm
portant to the family that May Lillian
be a skilful switchboard operator or
stenographer than that she be able 10
mend a coat neatly or bake bread
The situation would be satisfactory 10
all concerned were It not that these COM
petent bread winners are only girls after
all, with no intention OF fOrswearing Cupid.
They marry In due course, and since never
in the history of the world have there been
enough rich husbands TO go around, they
marry poor young men, boys OF the sau7
upbringing and social order as themselves
and Of scarcely any larger salaries. When
two thoughtless. improyident young peopis
try 10 live on the salary OF one, trouble
begins. The bride recalls bitterly the tirne
when she used TO spend ner own money;
with no questions asked The husoann
vaguely appreciates the fact that' so Iar
as he Is concerned. matrimony Is lsiIuLIe'
May Lillian cannot prepare the slInp,e.
satisfying meals that he used 10 nave a.
home; she even lacks proper interest ~, y,
the matter. and reproaches MN lot ns'
lack of ability to supply her with the .Vn
forts that she used 10 earn for hersel, ~
fore, as she puts IL. she was foolish enousS
10 tie herself down TO an alternating Iou"s
OF dishpan and washboerd
I'm an increasing number Of instance
the bride solves the problem summary "
going back to work. II baby has
rived TO complicate the dihculties, % %
young family manages-somehow Li'us
little by a series of slew, palntui s'sp
and at a cost Of much discomfort 70 n
husband and herself. she learns me tnlnh
her mother never thought II worth "'n'
TO teach her .,. "a
1T Is very significant of our times "
note that. while the daughters OF the poo,,
desirous TO be considered ine ladies' "a
stunning every phase OF home maklns srs
it's practical sides. our college wotnen 10
clamoring for more and more CouI..s.,,.
be introduced into the universit! cur al
mm touching upon domestic science ,hs 81
household arts. II seems to be onn
women OF well nourished mind who sth ia
GENTLY appreciate the importance OF W.
we'll nourished body.