The Washington times., 1914-08-23
Wives Confide Difficulties in
Extracting Money From
Husbands Jeans, and Even
Ask Pieces for Quilts.
By MARY EDNA MOVES.


Of the Department Of Agriculture. They
are all from women.
After reading a few Of the letters, one
might think that Mr.. Houston was pre-
pairing to conduct a matrimonial bu-
reau. or was harboring a Presidential
bee. He is a popular man right now
with the fair sex. and all because Of his
interest in woman, as a helpmate Of
man on the farm.
In the annual report issued by the
Department Of Agriculture every animal
on the farm has been given space and
discussed at length, but woman never
has beer included in this publication.
Now comes Mr.. Houston, the fully ar
mored champion OF woman and her
rights on the farm and in the home.
There Is not a doubt that II Secretary
Houston wants a better office than the
one he now holds. all he need do is
to place his aspirations tefore the suf-
fragists Of the farming States.
A woman's bureau has been talked Of
for years, and desultory steps have
been taken. but not until last winter.
when a circular letter was sent broad
cast was anything Of any importance
accomplished. The letter was addressed
to tho wife Of progressive farmer. one
known to be such by the department
and of standing in the community.
Select Own Topics In Letters.
This letter asked no questions. but
left the recipient free to discuss any
problem which might occur to her.
Not only her own problems, but those
of her immediate neighborhood might
be written about. 1t was stated that
the department OF Agriculture desired
to establish a woman's bureau to deal
in broad way with every phase OF
life, on the farm. in the home. con-
corning children. sanitation. nutrition,
cooking, clothing, house furnishing, ed
uCation, and the care Of the sick.
The Secretary and his corps OF
bright young men and women are
astounded at the large number Of
answers and they are working over
time trying to systematic them; Inc
replies are being assorted topicaliy
and eventually will be published In
a big volume for general distriou-
ton No names nor locahties. nor
hints of the writer will appear In the
letters published. Secretary Houston
wrecker, but Is merely trying 10 a'd
woman solve her problems.
Some good farmers out west OF tne
MissIssippf would swell with rage
could they see what their LOVING
spouses have confided to the neaa OF
the Department OF Asrleu,.u,bt ss,n ,bat be-
main trouble is to extract money IRON
her husbands jeans. She ADDS that
everything on their place flourishes
from wheat to bees IN the oarhyaLu
and meadows. but she can never maho
me HE and that every modern appll-
snce should be placed in the kitchen.
a. we'll as in the stable. This long
suffering helpmate thinks that II Seo
retary Houston wrote her husoano; ne
could be made to see tnat IL ;nto @ the
II,.hsn and to the bathroom as to
have n IN the pens, stables. and Tor ~
r;a,tton purposes. But where VIII
n end IL the Secretary OF Agricuitu.,te .,
takes the task of hauling up an 'he
husbands VINO may oo
called to his attention!
Can't Get Share of Money.
.notber woman writes Of the utter
,,n,.,ih,,ity to get a fair share OF
the dairy returns from her lord ana
master. another grievance over which
the department must sadly shake i's
head. A.
,,s.tic servants and farm hands DC
hound over to their employers 70.
certain time, and all sorts OF pehaitlSs
doled out II they yn;. dare re- ,ISpossibIe no ogb
MANY letters tell sad stores OF tIe
-,iin az wards and yards Of woolen goods
because Of vegetable dyes MADE from
useless recipes. Shrinkage OF wooie'
goods Is a wall In many 0.he. th ieeiti.
9ut the majority deal with the iesiti-
,nate subjects of the bureau. There are
manv in the far Western states VINO
would like practicable help toward se.-
ting home problems, such as dlshWdsn
ing, solved through co-operatHs.e feEinc asJiy
This during harvests of fruit pick.ns
~ nreserving time is a heavy task, 100
be,wy for the faithful housekeeper 10
solve alone. 1t Is hoped that the De
nartment might aid In estapnsMnins mn
agencies which will wash .hsnn disnes ID Ts wash &
do garments and return thehi' vi
them on the place r,,.h
number of employees In the Heaith
nepari nent have been detaHeu 10 sINe
their entire attention toward ahs"Gl
ing letters which ask ;dvs advaGe sn% aOIu about
sanitation and hygiene. special Dull,
Iotin will he sent out replying TO all
such questions. and this Will be chpou-
Iad In the volume OF letters bearing oi
tho subject and received from almost
every state in the Union. IL Will MAKE
a document of untold practicai Value
in the rural home.
Bits of Family History.
Many women write minutely about
means of increasing their precious per-
sonal income received from chickens
eggs. and the sale of garden stuff Some
pathetic bits of family history have
crept into some letters as for instance
the use of this Increased income to have
medical treatment for an ailing child.
to send a child to college and some
times to keep up the table, for OFTEN
the money from the farm all goes io'
f,rm uses or to aid the man OF the
pIace to enjoy a few pleasures. NO mint
~ friyolity such as a love OF gewgaws,
or desire to dress better. appears
from any Of the many letters. Life
seems tinged with somber colors TOT
these women and the work OF the bu-
raaII will. according to Secretary Hou-
ston he a notable one II 1t comes Lp
70 fair percentage Of what Is hoped,
woman on the farm" says Secre-
,arv Houston, lis the most important
ocnnomic factor in agriculture. Hell
domestic work undoubtedly has direct
hearing on the efficiency of the field
workers, her handling of the some and
;ts SURROUNDINGS. contributes to the cash
intaIse and in addition hers is largely the
rssnonsibility for contributing the socia
and other features which MAKE farm
fisfa Or