The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-02-28
Makes Plea For Dress
Reform; Bar Suffrage

omen 10 ulSCuSS question VI u''SS
and its standards Right-thinking and
right-dOing women shOnld cooperate
in freeing their lives from the die
tdteS Of fashion. The burden of cost
should not he increased because
women have not tho dignity nor the
courage TO select and wear the gown
and the hat"
Mrs. Percy =. Pennybacker Of Aus.
lin. Tex. president Of the Interna-
t.onal Federation of Women'S clubs,
thus emphasized this morning Il work
that she is urging in her visits to
Climb centerS OF the county.
Bar Woman Suffrage.
Il believe woman suffrage is the
ouly inst and logical condition. but
us tho General Federation of Won
ems Clubs includes women Of all
sections of the country and of all po-
l,ical affiliations. | do not feel that
suffrage should be made an issue by
tn" organization"
There is 4 much needed place for
home economies IN club work" Mrs.
Pcnnybackcr said. If only 10 empha-
size the truth 10 a cririci2ing world
that the wOmcn'S club movement is
steadily piyirg to the home better
knowledge and higher ideals.
We need police matrons and po-
lice women. We cannot hope that
vice will be checked so long as po-
iico forces are under partisan control
and its members owe allegiance to
some political boss. Women can
remedy this"
Dangers Threatening Home.
The practice OF wearing rats
false hair, pufrs and huge ribbon
bows by young girls was classed as
one OF the dangers which threaten
The dcgclODmcnt OF the American
home, AT the opening session of the
midwintcr meeting of the Minnesota
State Federation Of Womens Clubs
a. the Church of the Redeemer,
Minneapolis, last evening.
1T is astounding TO see the girls
who are in our preparatory" schools
wearing huge quantities of rats, puffs,
curls and bolts of ribbon to decorate
their colftures." said Mrs. Penny
hacker. They are offending the
canOue Of good taste and are ruin.
ing their proper development. Fa-
theirs and mothers make sacrifices TO
send their children 10 Europe and
wonder why they do not seem TO get
much out of the trip. II is because
they are not prepared for it. We
get out OF Europe just what we take
10 Europe. Americans lack prepare
ton for travel. We think Il trip to
Europe is the open sesame 10 cuL
ure.
Lack of Education.
Another danger to our home is
the lack of education which our girls
have for home making. On the eve
Of marriage a young woman will tell
us that she knows nothing OF cook.
ing or sewing or housekeeping, but
OF course she can learn. What would
We think of young man. who. when
We ask him what equipment he has
TO care for our daughter. would tell
rs that as yet he has no profession
but OF course he can learn on2?l
We need n department OF domestic
science i'll every university. in every
normal school and college that will
rank with Importance with every
other branch of learning. We must
Lave women on the boards OF re-
gents OF our colleges to see that The
courses of study for girls are such
as will make them good wives and
GOOD mothers.
No Training in Finance.
What training does our Az ''.;"""
girl have in finance? She knows
that she can wheedle her father out
Of ANYTHING she wants. She has no
knowledge of the value OF dollar
What right have we to give her to
hard working young man. knowing
as she does, nothing of finances? |.
believe that when men and women
do marry they should start out with
firm financial understanding.
Another danger in America is the
lack Of solidarity in our homes
There is no community interest. The
automobile is one of our greatest
aids to solidarity, because once a
week at least the family gets to-
2other for ride We need more
revival Of the old-fashioned custom
Of reading aloud in the evenings,
with all the family together. AS it
is now, how many American families
ever get together at breakfast time.
even? The day is a series of whirl-
wind meals and exits by all members
Of the family. Americans are noted
for their guinness at meals. We
need 10 cultivate more congeniality
and pleasant conversation at meal.
times"
81 Paul, February 22.-"High cost
o. living" theorists may claim abso-
luton and discover a wealth of pessi.
miStic argument, if a literal inter
probation is TO be accepted of the
apparent advance in prices of food
stuffs consumed in the institutions of
the state during the last fiscal year
as classified by the Minnesota board
Of control in it's sixth annual report
issued today.
With the exception of breadstuffs
aud meats, in which slight decreases
are shown. per capita advances of
from l cent in cheese to $l.65 in
vegetables are reported in the aver
age cost per capita for the twelve
months Of provisions under nine
classificatiOns.
The average cost per capita in
meats for each person fed during
the years 1901 was $l6.33; 1911
u. 1882. The per capita costs of
breadstuffs for the same period were
1888 and $77S. The total average
cost per capita for all persons fed
in all state institutions was, in 1910
II. 1924; in 19n-12. $57.47 The
advance, whether it be attributed to
the high cost of living or an ad-
vanced standard in caring for the