Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-11-27
EFFICIENCY.
READ BEFORE The ROCKVILLE INQUIRY CLUB
BY A MEMBER.


: | am very poor person to write upon thi;
l wonderful subject. but if a cat can look al
{ king. suppose can preach little &c
my betters, even if do not always prac-
tice, for often we learn great truths from
humble sources, and have heard Of real
J preachers who did not always practice their
precepts, and preached of heights they did
not reach. so that knowledge makes me
bold enough to speak my thoughts.
have looked at the subject of efficiency
from a great many angles and wish, first,
to mention number of ways that can
lead us, as women, to follow some of the
paths of this exactine leader, Efficiency.
Efficiency does not come in a moment. II
is not gift. What we are is what we
have been-what we make ourselves from
day to day We do not suddenly wake up
to marked efficiency, we grow into it, toll
for it. love it, How do we think, how do
we work, how earnest and energetic are we ?
Are our ways slipshod or do we work for a
purpose Do we apply our talents or are
we hiding them under bushel Efficiency
well applied is a very good thing not
rightly applied, or not applied at ALL it be-
comes very bad, inexcusable condition.
So will speak of the disagreeable side
can leave you happy will say some
things for the sake of argument, but wish
to state that have no hard feelings against
anyone. and only present these various
thoughts to make us think little of our
own affairs, and argue little. and per-
haps inspire you to help adjust matters
that are Of moment to us. Argument is
sometimes satisfactory. There is more than
one side to question. Lawyers prove
that, and when a lawyer proves a point,
why disagreed
Many of us used to have and still hold
most decided opinions, rather narrow too.
We were not far away from the influence
of the stern old Blue Laws but we seem
to be in a strongly marked transition period.
moving faster than humans usually move,
thinking faster. drawing our conclusions
quicker. This is no day for the sluggard,
either in acts or thoughts, and we are
bounced and jostled out Of great many
of our set rules. We must harken to the
changes. Our customs are changing. and
we are passing through stirring times. Some
of us land safely upon our feet, some are
still kicking the air, and some are still
peacefully doing things as their grand
parents did them, but we soon find when
we do not attempt 10 keep up we are left
far far behind. This Is an age of action.
concentration along given lines, but before
going far afield am going to ask some
personal questions to ascertain how we
women stand in this onward movement.
We all have important problems to solve.
even the sheltered ones. So we should
know how to combine foods for our healths
sake. Do wei We should save ourselves
every unnecessary step in the performance
of our household duties. We should in
vestigate lab0r-saving Devices study house
hold economics. menu making, household
| bookkeeping, marketing and cooking. And
whatever we do. do Il well. with as little ner-
vous energy as possible. Some people think
the more they hustle around, the greater
| the noise they make and the more excited
they get the more they impress people
with their Importance. Work efficiently
even in little affairs, eliminate every use
less gesture, attend to the business at
hand, and drop the superfiuous. Save your
self by making machines work for you.
This is not laZiness. We are reserving our
nerve force and that is what we must aim
to do. These are problems all women should
consider, for the American woman is a
| bundle OF nerves, and when they are on
edge or unstrung or do not behave properly
we are handicapped and our efficiency as
workers, as thinkers, as mothers is depleted.
| Why do things as our grandmothers did
them, if we have better way2 And from
all accounts our grandmothers had strong
people to do their hard work, now we often
have to do it ourselves or 90 supperless to
bed. or to work without breakfast. If we
become efficient housewives, we have more
time for recreation: if we become more eff
Gent mothers, we save our children from
sickness and give them broader view oflife.
And we can learn efficiency. for never was
teaching so liberal or the interchange of
thought so rapidly transmitted.
AS club women are we efficient, not as
individuals, but as an organization Do
the clubs of Rockville hold the place in the
community that they should hold. that
they can hold. Are we practical as a club,
do we do much besides having a good
time. do we want to do much2 have al
ways thought the club women of Rockville
should keep the town clean. or see that the
officers do so. What do the County Commits
siOners do TO make the Court House grounds
attractive? Would not a retaining wall
around the school house grounds be a
benefit and add to its attractiveness and
durability? would not ask these ques-
tons If the carrying out of the idea was
impossible. II is not, and we could accom-
plish great results. By daily acquaintance
with the cutters, alleys and yards we have
become accustomed to the unattractive
appearance. But II you will excuse me, our
town is dirty, and it could be beautifully
clean. Our streets are marred by poles and
lovely trees were cut in a most reckless
manner. All this should not be in town
with two clubs as efficient as the Inquiry
Club and the WOman's Club We do not
lack the ability but the sufficiently strong
n a Wa
criticism instead of removing causes for
criticism. Eighty women, such as consti-
tute the members Of our clubs. could ac-
complish anything If they tried hard
enough. There are cutters that make il
necessary to hold the nose while we pass.
OF course, we have the hope Of sewerage,
but we had to have sickness and death
before we would even admit that the town
| could be contaminated. and in the interval
of one year before we can get sewerage
nothing has been done, and we seem TO
be cOntented to live in dirty town be-
cause we will have to tear up the streets
months hence. We can be too contented.
| efficiency is never satisfied, II always strives
onward toward perfection.
A lady said to me not long ago that she
thought Rockville was the garden spot of
the world. Now | am fond of Rockville.
| i've HCtC' my HitcIcbtS dIC HcIc, HiOSt
Of the people are lovely, but am not
proud of an unclean Rockville, are you
Get the opinion Of an unbiased stranger
upon the streets Of Rockville and see what
he says, then let us try to profit and make
1t better. The people,who do not keep their
premises clean should be shamed into
doing so; the cutters, alleys and yards of
this town should be attractive and sani-
tary. so efficiency is not enough to keep
the town clean. We are all smart capa-
BILE women. People can tell that by our
looks. but we must put our talents and
energy to practical use to be Of value.
Efficiency takes no dreamers into her ranks.
The owners Of vacant lots in the town
limits should be willing to 60 TO the slight
expense Of having their lots cleared of all
rubbish and have the weeds cut. as they are
not only unsightly but unhealthy. A lot
that is 100 by 2l0 feet has been kept clear
L