The Washington times., 1914-05-09

During the last days of June and
the first days of July there will be
gathered in Cleveland a group of
people interested in home problems.
There will be housekeepers, some
from private homes and others from
public institutions, to which they are
striving to give the semblancr at
least of a home. There will be teach
ers Of home-making from schools of
all grades: from universities, agri-
cultural colleges, technical institutes.
high schools. and kindergartens.
There will be architects, physicians.
lecturers. and writers on home topics.
They will represent every phase of
the subject Of home economics-cook-
ing, sewing. chemistry of foods, diet
etics. household decoration, and SAN
itstion.
Many who will be at the conven-
ton which is to be held at Western
Reserve University. are young. and
will be there to gather material for
use in their future work of home
making, teaching. or institution man
agement. A few, however, will rep
resent that little company of enthus-
lasts that met nearly fifteen years
ago at the Lake Placid Club in the
Adirondacks and formed the society
from which the present organization
sprans.
Ranks Trimmed Out.
The ranks of this little company
are sadly broken to be sure. Ellen
H. Richards, sanitary chemist and
expert in water analysis. and one of
the first educators to urge the in
PRODUCTION OF domestic science into
the schools, died three years ago. .
Emily Huntington, widely known as
the originator of the Kitchen Gar
Den method of teaching housekeep-
ing to little children. has n=ssed
away. So. too, have Maria Parloa,
one of the best of the early teachers
Of cooking and author of some of the
most helpful of the popular bulletins
on food published by the United
States Department Of Agriculture.
and Maria Daniel. one of the first
to put upon a scientific basis the
important work OF feeding people in
public Institutions.
The influence of these pioneers still
fingers, however. and is felt when
ever the association comes together
in convention.
Washingtonians like to recall the
fact that the American Home Eco
Monies Association had its birth in
Washington and was welcomed by
many people prominent in 500 and
Iublic life. In July. 1905, Il. Lake
Placid conference on economics.
which had been semi-private insti-
tuition. held its last meeting but is
sued a call for a gathering to be
held I'm Washington the following
December. for the purpose of form
ing a national organization which
should carry on its work.
This larger organization, like the
parent society, came into being in
response TO a growing belief among
thinking people that much OF value
TO the world is lost when the arts of
home-making are passed from
mother TO daughter without the help
Of the formal methods ot teaching
hiCh have been worked out by edu-
"atOrs. The members of the associa-
tion are far from undertaking. the
knowledge OF foods and cooking. and
sanitation which has been gained
bv individual women working in
their own homes: in fact, they value
II 50 highly that one Of :he chief
purposes Of their organization is to
conserve II and pass il on from gen.
GRAFTON to generation.
Believe 1t Is Important.
They believe, however. that home
making is so important that II should
be studied Systematically, and that it
should reach out to every science
and demand nelp: that il should
reach out toward chemistry and seek
knowledge about the composition OF
foods and Of textiles and their Ieia-
tIcn to the human body and its vel
fare: toward physics and engineer
ing to inqCire the principles or neat
ing, lighting, and Ventilation, ana
toward baCterioloSE ana tne khoFtu
subjects of hygiene and sanitation
to inquire now disease may be ward
Ell off from the home.
They would have home economies
enlist the arts as well as the sciences
In order that II may put the princI-
r,Jes Of decoration and ornamenta-
tiCn at TIE service or an nome
makers They would have II look TO
economies also and ask why Il Is
that there is so great a discrepancy
between the average FANNY income
and the cost Of efficient hOrEe-mak-
iu. They believe, however. that the
bringing together OF knoNl"d@e from
al these EourCes cannot pe Inc Wo'h
Cf individuals. and for inns reason
they have strengthened themselves
bv forming national organization.
Two thousand members Of the as
sOCia ton are most OF them women
OF course. but there are lew men
Who are rendering Valuable assist
snce The president is Miss Sarhh
Louise Arnold. DEAN Of simmons Co..
lege. Boston and rs officers repre-
sent homes. schools. and institutions
as widely separated rs CanaGa and
Texas Maine and California. mere
are forty local bra nChes in different
parts Of the country. Washington
boasts of two :l"urishing branches.
one among the white people and the
ether among the colorcd, OF which
Miss Emma S. Jacobs. director, and
Mrs Julia w Shaw. assistant di-
rector Of domestic science in the
public srhCrls are the presidents.
The former holds monthly meetings
IN :he Public Library: the latter.
which meets in TIC - Street Manual
Training School. has been so fortu-
raie as 70 enlist in its membership
rot only teachers Of cooking and
sewing. but also teachers OF cabinet
p:aking and carpentry. who are MAX
b. q distinct and valuable conIribu- :
BON TO its work.
Publishes Live Journal.
What does the society do besides
holding meetings? some one asks.
One of its chief activities il the pub
location Of the Journal OF Home eco
rmmics which has a unique position
among ma gazincs devoted to the in
trrcst OF home life. Il deals not
with fashions nor the making of
fancy dishes. Its purpose is rather
10 keep it's ey. upon the scientific
ploWs which are al work in labora-
s><4AS all over the world under ths