Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-13
BUYING FOR THE HOME

More and more women are realizing
their responsibility as spenders OF the
wealth OF the world and they are set
ting their minds TO the problem of how
TO spend judiciously," is the conclusion
of Mrs. Julian Heath. president OF the
Housewives League. TO all arSu-
mcnts that women are eXtravagant and
that they are easily induced TO buy
things they do not need Mrs. Heath
replies that women are comparativc-
~ new at this task" By this she means
that for centuries women made cloth In
their homes. grew their own vegetables.
and used only such meat as was
brought home by the men. The men
were the traders and the buyers. and
generations Of trading have given them
an instinct for shrewd bargaining.
Women have been compelled to learn
from the men. and il is not surprising
that, having learned their lesson in the
hard school OF experience, they have
at times been victimiZed by unscru-
pulous tradesmen.
The House wives League has over
$4,000 members. 1t is now in the midst
of campaign to secure the DassaS..
of weights and measures laws in every
State in the Union. and TO increase the
efficiency Of inspections systems used
in states where good laws have al
ready been passed Mrs. Heath declares
that no kitchen is complete without a
pair OF scales which have been tested
and found correct. She believes that
the great majority of grocers and
butchers honestly endeavor 10 give full
weight. but she is also Of the belief
that there are grocers and butchers
who Systematically give less than they
are paid for, and there are many others
whose clerks careless and often
give short weight because they are
pushed for time and neglect to make
the exact amount called for. Trades
men naturally resent suspicious, and
the league believes that many women
defeht their purpose by assuming that
all tradesmen are dishonest Caution
and not suspicion Is the policy which
viii bring the best results.
women are also sometimes afraid to
complain or protest when they are
cheated. The league urges that every
woman become acquainted with the
laws Of her State which cover weights
ana measures and the exposure OF
foods for sale. In New York. for in
stance, every housewife is urged to
nemorize the following passage FROM
the State law: Anything which can
not b" peeled. pared. or cooked before
consuming must he kept covered" The
housewife making the rounds at n
market can then take time to repeat
this provision of the law TO Negligent
stand owners who leave bread or cooked
meats uncovered
Inspectors soon become known to
habitual violators of the law. and
pains are taken 10 have everything in
order when an inspector is known TO
be in the vicinity. But If the women
buyers exercise vigilance they will
compose corps oil inspectors which
nc tradesmcn can elude. Mrs Heath
maintains that If women would exer-
else even moderate vigilance there
would be no need for the large num-
her OF inspectors which cities have to
support al considerable expense TO
the taxpayers
The league is also conducting a
strenuous campaign against the use OF
dry measures. 1t believes eggs should
be sold by weight for there is much
difference between dozen small eggs
and a dozen large eggs. and it believes
that potatoes and other commodities