The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-11-07


ability that we have best fitted to ex-
press it.
WHY NOT?
Why should not the boy be taught
to do many things about the house
which are always left for his mother
or sister to do, on the supposition
that it Is their business, and that of
no one else? Why should not the boy
learn to wash dishes, set the table.
make coffee, toast and pancakes, broil
steak, and keep his own room in
order?
Just because he is not expected to
do these things, and is brought up
in the same way as we educate our
hands, so that our right hand is called
upon to do almost everything, while
the left hand becomes merely orna-
mental. We have always believed
that man should be ambidextrous, that
is, able to use either hand alike, and
yet we are always saying to little chill
dren, use your right hand, don't take
hold with your left hand" By the
way. did you ever know that children
who, as they say, are "born left-hand-
ed" are generally smarter than others ?
Boys have been so accustomed to
hearing, "Let your sister do that
that is not boys work." that natural
ly (none of them being on the look
out for work., they get out of all the
Jobs about the house. This is the
fault of the mother who has not taught
them what they can and should do
that will come into use in after life,
Sometimes all the children are bows.
Then the mother has a good excuse
for teaching the lads homework. We
were much pleased, in listening to a
talk by Mrs. d. w. McCort, president
OF the Housewives league of St. Paul,
In which she said she had no girls in
her family, but that her boys were
quite as handy. She suggested that
boys learn to cook, so that when they
went camping, they could have good
meals of their own continuing. She
says they can do almost anything
about house, and that if she is with.
out maid, and company comes in un-
expectedly for dinner just about meal
time, she can entertain them, know.
ing that when she goes out to the
kitchen, she will find the potatoes
she had made ready in the morning
in the oven baking, other dishes on
cooking, and the table set. Just think
how fortunate the woman will be who
gets one of these boys for a husband,
She will never have to carry in the
wood or water, or get up in the morn.
ing, in spite Of raging headache, to
get breakfast.
OF course, the boy on the farm is
generally kept too busy to do much
indoor work, but he can early he
taught to see that the wood box is
filed, the kindling made ready, and
that there is water in the pail before
ne goes to school or to work. He can
often held with the dishes, he can
always attend to hanging up his
clothes when changing them, to keep.
ing his shoes in their proper place to
cleaning his feet from mud before he
goes into the house, and many such
little things which will relieve the
women folks from work.
Why should not the boy learn how
to sew on buttons and mend RMS in his
clothes? He may some day find him.
self where there is no woman to do
this for him, and it will be very use
1ui to know how. We know a boy, ID
years old, whose parents are both al
work. who helps his sister do the
housework after school. He also
washes out his sweaters when they
are soiled, blacks his own and his faith
ers shoes and presses both his own
and his fathers trousers. He is 2
mandy chap to have about the house.
Boys need not be afraid of being
called "sissies" because they do these
things. 1t is creditable to be able to
do them, and they will find not on,y
pleasure, but profit in being 81 nse
full.