Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-12-02

Economies, U. Of NJ, farmers Week Course.
1914.
wish to talk to you about methods to
save labor and time as well as money, and
it is but fair to ask: What does the
modern woman do with her time? Why
does she want more2 Why does she want
to spend less time at her household duties
than her mot her or her grandmother did?
These questions can be answered in
many ways. Will give but few sugges-
tions. Perhaps the foremost reason is
that the modern woman wants to be more
efficient, not only as wife and mother,
but also as a citizen. In many of our
states the woman has as many civic duties
as her husband. 1t is only question of
every woman in the land. How is she GO
ing to vote wisely unless she has time to
study the questions of the day?
II you have read Ellen Glasgow's new
book, "virginia," you know how ineftici-
ent Virginia was as both wife and mother.
Whyf She failed in the first particular
because, she did not realize that a man
wants little more than a slave for wife.
She failed in the latter because she did
not try to keep pace with her children.
In the early years she did not have the
wisdom to lay the foundations for q
happy future. But, happily, the Virginia
type is becoming scarce, and most women
now wish to keep pace with their bus
bands and children. For this a certain
amount OF leisure is necessary.
Then, woman's health must be con-
sidered. A woman owes it to herself and
her family to get out Of doors every day
and to take rest every day.
Now let US consider how she may insure
certain amount of leisure. The first
necessity is to have system to her work.
One woman with her work systemized
can accomplish in an hour what her un-
systematic sister will take four to do.
And she will have her family trained to
do their share OF the work.
To speak OF the preparation OF food,
the first economy OF time and cost is to
have good tools to work with. Too many
women buy their kitchen tools in hap
hazard way, not stopping to consider
whether they are strongly put together or
whether they are easy or hard to keep
clean. When buying tin cup or pan, do
you think whether there are cracks and
seams to catch and hold dirt? II you have
measuring cup, is it one OF the seamless
ones that are perfectly easy to keep clean
or is it one with rolling brim with
large space to gather germs? The good
one costs no more than the poor
How about your kitchen knives? These
are used a dozen times day, and each
kitchen should be supplied with some
good ones. When you buy pairing knife,
do you stop to consider whether the blade
will work loose from the handle after
few days use? 1t is real economy to buy
good steel knives with the blades riveted
into the handle.
Some housewives consider it economy to
buy "seconds". Usually, it is false econ
omy. The enamel-ware seconds" are
dangerous. Enamel is liquid porcelain
which is poured over and baken on to
hard metal. The ''seconds" always have a
spot which has not been covered or has a
thin covering so that it soon chips and ex-
poses the metal. Aluminium is probably
the best ware on the market as yet. 1t is
expensive, but is it economy or not to pay
three times the price for something that
will last ten times as long as the cheaper
thing?
Labor-savers, such as cleaners,
if carpets are used, washing devices,
wringers, dustless mops and busters, long
handled dust pans, should be in every
home. A kitchen cabinet is labor-saver
as well as great saver of room. A bread
mixer, especially in a large family, is a
great labor-saver. If electric power is at
hand, an electric washing machine will
pay for itself in short time.
The tools should be so arranged that
everything is convenient. Tools that are
used every day should be kept close at
hand so that no motion shall be lost.
Money can be saved by buying for cash
and in quantities. Usually there is room
enough in our houses for storage, and it
is saving of time as well to have a sup
ply on hand. The expenditures should be
watched so that we can tell if there are
leaks anywhere.
Fuel may be saved by using the right
kind of ute nsil and by the use of fireless
cooker. An electric iron not only saves
fuel in summer, but energy.
Women should be as particular about
the choice of tool as it is possible to be,
and after getting it, should know how to
care for it TO get the best service from it.