Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-11-14
;. Obe ..
Home Maker
EDITED BY
ALICE +. TALCOTT.
a Foreword.

n fOfeWOIu.
Following the policy of many of |
the most successful newspapers, the !
Tidings has started department for !
women, in which everything pertain |
ing to the home will receive atten- !
ton from time to time. AS this de-
partment in city papers is Intended
to meet the needs of city people, it
is of little use to the country sub
scriber. In common with the major
ity of magazines for women, it is cal
culated to aid those whose income
is from $1,000 per year up, and
takes cognizance only of the genteel
poverty described by popular story
writer's, in which the heroine keeps
but one servant, and has but one silk
dress a year.
1t seems to us that this kind of
reading instead of being an aid to
economy, is often spur to eXtrava-
gance, by raising the popular stand
ard of living higher than the average
income can afford and thus Great
/ ing artificial wants. In this way the
aforesaid papers and magazines are
largely responsible for the state of
affairs indicated by Secretary Will
son, when he made his famous re-
mark, that "the American people are
suffering, not from the high cost of
| living, but from the cost of high liv-
ing" Like all such sweeping state
ments, it is not altogether true. We
all know that the prices of many of
the necessities of life are much high
er than they were a few years ago.
/ Legislation may, to a certain extent,
control prices, but it cannot strike
at the root of the trouble. AS the
present condition has largely been
brought about by wrong education, it
can only be remedied by right educa
ton along these lines. AS the major
ity of our readers probably have an
income of less than $1,000 a year,
we will endeavor to make our sug-
gestions accordingly.
Another feature of the magazines
alluded to, which often makes them
harmful rather than helpful, is that
instead of tightening woman's labors,
their advice, if followed, often adds
to them, by creating unnecessary
tasks, or by doing the old ones in
ways which require more time and
effort than the old methods. AS do
mestic service grows higher in price
and more inefficient in quality, it
behooves the housekeeper Of limited
means to reduce her work to the ihin-
imum, that she may do without help
as much as possible. Observation
has shown us that western women,
as a rule, are not slaves to their
homes, to such an extent as their
eastern sisters, and we welcome any
suggestions that will help us more
recent corners.
The care and training of children
is another topic which we shall dis
cuss in this column. AS in other
lines, theories are of little practical
value unless they have been tested
by actual use; and we shall be very
glad if the mothers will tell us about
the methods which they have found
successful. Often the teachers can
give us help by pointing out defects
of which we are unconscious, because
they look through unprejudiced
eyes and have an oportunity for
wider observation and comparison.
Anything which makes for the
comfort and welfare of our families
is of interest to all homemakers, and
we ask you to cooperate with us, to
make this department a success. As
it is probable that many of the most
valuable suggestions might be made
by those who are not in the habit of
writing for publication, and who
therefore are timid about appearing
in print, we request that you will
write them out in your own way and
we will dress them up for publica-
ton, if necessary. While we would
like your name for our own conven-
ience, it will be withheld if you SO
desire.
Address all communications in
tended for this column, to The Home
Maker, care of the Tidings.
FOR THANKSGIVING