Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-08-26
Attitude of Mind.

In all industrial pursuits to-day the
mental attitude Of the operator has come
to be known as the factor OF ohief I'M
portance. Some one has said that "hap-
pipess consists In being we'll employed
and well compensated in soma geniaf
occupation" and who can refute the
sentiment. In shop and factory efficient
experts are engaged In standard ziug the
operations. This new idea, lately
developed In business, is called efficiency
or scientific management 1t means that
the men engaged In q certain industry
are to do more work In less time with
less waste and greater output, while the
workers have shorter hours, higher pay
and better working conditions. Now the
question comes up to the home-maker:
"If the principles of efficiency can be
successfully carried out in every kind of
shop, factory and business, why couldn't
they be carried out equally we'll In the
home?" That is, can the principles OF
scientific management be applied In the
home? This question is admirably dis
cussed, we may add affirmatively, by the
author of "Tbe New Housekeeping,
from which we quote the following pas
sage, somewhat appropriate, perhaps, to
the vacation season:
"Wo mans vanity has often kept her
from admitting that many OF her prob
lens are 30 distressing simply because OF
her own lack OF personal efficiency, not
because OF circumstances, fate, or other
people. In most cases, however, she
never even suspects that she Is not as
efficient ~ abe might be, and points to
the hard manual labor she does as proof
of her eficiency-as II that didn't prove
just the opposite!
The efficient attitude of mind is really
the balance wheel TO the homemakers'
entire life and work.
The end and aim of homo efficiency Is
not perfect system of work, or scien:
tific scheduling, or ideal cleanliness and
order; it is the personal happiness,
health and progress oil. the family in the
home. The work, the science, the sys-
tenn, the schedule are but some of the
means to that end, not the end itself.
The 100 per cent, efficient person Is not
the one who tires himself out In
wonderful snarl of method and system
but who makes his mind so clear and
efficient that both the work and the
system are his slaves, when he gets into
action.
do not call that woman efficient who
thinks it sacrilege to change her seized.
ule of work. leave dishes unwashed and
house upset, to take advantage OF q
pleasant afternoon for jaunt In the
woods with the children. Neither do
call that woman efficient who com
plains that her schedule of work leaves
her no time to read good book or at
tend an afternoon musical or club meet
| ing. Efficiency would be sorry thing,
If it simply meant a prison-like, com
pulsory routine of duties. But does
not mean this. Its very purpose Is more
liberty, more leisure, q shrewder sense
of values, and the elimination Of wasted
energy.
Once knew a woman who busted the
back of every picture in her home every
day. She believes this was real eth
cheney. l also knew a woman who
spoiled delightful camping experience
by so celebrating the simple work Of
camp caretaking that she rarely had
time to enjoy the woods and fields SC
plentiful about her, and complained
after some months of camping, that she
had never had single day of rest! Thii
is typical of large class of women whose
sense of values is garbled by inefficient
thinking"