Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-03
Domestic Science.

| The efficient housewife. in her attempt
| to put her home on business basis, finds
| her greatest obstacle in the help she is
| obliged to employ. Probably the house
wife is herself to blame. in part. for the
very active prejudice which exists against
domestic service.
All over the country young women and
girls are flocking to domestic science
schools, elaborate courses of training are
being pursued. and large classes are
graduated. But what happens after grad
| uation? If there are not enough places in
institutions of various sorts. such as hos
pitfalls, clubs college dormitories. hotels
and tearooms. these young girls will seek
positions in offices where their training
goes for nothing.
Some one has termed this new vocation
which should be evolved "household engi-
neer, and there is surely fertile field
for its development and expansion.
The housewife would then have COM
pany of trained and skilled workers to
whom she could turn when she required
help, and the long hours wasted in train
ing green girl to say nothing of the
waste of cooking materials destroyed in
the process of learning. and the general
tension of the family temper during the
period. would be things of the past The
housewife, on her side. would need to
change her mental attitude toward her
helpers She would recognize these eff
cient and well equipped women as her
peers. and the old positions of mistress
and servant would vanish completely
When all is said and done, most women
are fundamentally domestic, and when
the time comes for efficient work in the
home to be recognized as the equal of any
other vocation. whether of teacher or
secretary or manager. then many women
will gladly adopt what they feel to be
essentially their rightful profession, and
from which they have been kept through
fear of social distinctions
Upon good housekeeping depends the
health and progress of the nation. Com
missions are being continually appointed
to investigate the food supply of the
country and to work upon the problems
of growth and distribution; but all these
activities will be futile if In the final lab
oratory of the home there is not the skill
and efficiency to turn these findings to
good account.
Packing Your Books and Furniture.
Few people know how to take care of
their many books on moving day. For
these the soap boxes one gets at the
grocers for a few cents each are the
best. 1t is not wise to pack too many
books in single box, as books are
heavy and awkward to handle. Wrap
each book separately in newspaper and
lay carefully in the box. being sure that
while the books are firmly packed they
are not so tightly wedged in as to cause
any breaking of the edges. Cover the
books with a layer of the newspaper,
then a folded CLOTH and tie a rope
around them to prevent them slipping
out. The very fine editions de luxe should
De carefully wrapped in tissue paper and
packed in box by themselves. In sort
ing out the books for packing it will be
found advisable to pack the books of
like sizes in one box and not try, as
many do, to put them in boxes hit and
miss When you unpack, too, it will be
easier to put them back on the book
case shelves if they are not separated
as to sizes.
An old-time mover of experience says
it is not safe nor wise to conceal the
glass doors of bookcases, cabinets, china
closets, etc. If they are exposed the
men know just what precautions to take
in handling them. All movers carry
ScreWdrivers in their pockets for the pur-
pose of removing the mirrors. etc, from
the dressers and other furniture.
Gilt furniture must be carefully wrapped
with burl3p or newspaper to prevent it's
being Clipped, and upholstered furni-
ture should have the seats covered with
burlap and the legs carefully wrapped
with either burlap or newspaper.
Roll your fine rugs. never fold them or
let them be dragged about the pavement
and pack the curtains and portieres in
boxes, the household linen and wearing
apparel in the trunks. Above all. label
every box you pack SO that its contents
are known directly you get it in the
house.
Clean everything before you pack