The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-02-28
Enlist, Housewife, With the
Housekeepers' Alliance
in Their Battle Against
the Terrific Waste Which
Is Going on in America.
Don't Wait for War to
Make This Step a Neces-
sity. Take 1t Now.


AA/ going TO declare war;
Wv Tomorrow afternoon will
be fired the first guns Of
a real confiict--a war on waste. on
one side are marshaled armies Of
American housewives: opposing them
Generals Carelessneas. Lasiness. and
Neglect have intrenched their troops
Followers OF this trio are expected
to be entirely routed. however. by
an unexpected sortie from Camp
Economy.
Mrs. Flora Mcdonald Thompson.
directing the campaign for the house.
wives, refuses to divulge all her
plans at present. but Will outline
some OF them to her aides-de-camp
at the Home Club tomorrow after
noon at 1880.
During the past week all the mem
bers of the Housekeepers' Alliance
in this city have received the sum
mons to voluntary service In the
army In case Of a real war, con-
scription will be necessary. but IL
In hoped that n sufficient number
will loffer their services TO forestall
the. need OF such action.
In words less martial. the house,
wives of this city are asked to unite
IN q war on waste. Owing to the
belief there Is a definite loss of time
as well as material in the MANAGE
ment Of the average home, the
women are urged TO do what they
can to decrease the amount Of this
loss.
Since the beginning of the Eu-
ropean war practically all the bel
ligerent countries have found 1t
necessary to suggest to housewives
ways OF cutting down waste IN FOOD.
In Germany this has been made a
science. Bread cards, allowing each
family a certain amount: DEGREES
governing the amount OF meat to be
eaten each week. suggestions as TO
the use OF material usually wasted
all these have been part Of the sys-
tenn OF conserving the governments
economic resources.
Travellers of neutral or allied coun-
tries eating In dining cars and hotels
o. are warned against the waste OF
food. Save potato skins DO not
crumble crusts IL you do not wish
70 eat them, and cat no more than
two slices Of bread with each meal."
are notices posted conspicuously in
all restaurants.
toned to simplify their cooking and
TO eliminate luxuries that have little
food value. The Frenchwomen. ex-
ccllent managers as they are, are
finding their governments sugges-
tiona as to cheap living lcDs Of Il
hardship than might be supposed.
since the civil war the women or
o the United States have had little
cause 90 practice economy In the
purchase and cookery of foods. They
would be oghast II they were told
that they could have meat but once
a week, or that tea and cofec
grounds must be used several times
at least. .,
Mrs. Thompson 10 not planning 10
go to any extremes OF preventing
waste unless actual war forces II
upon the women OF the entire coun-
try, but she does believe that Amer
lean housekecperJ have wasted
enough food since the war began to
feed the starving population OF Bel
GUM and Serbia.
In order that these women may
know what to do II war should
come, the members of the House
keepers Alliance are instltutlng a
program of preparedness that Will
teach them how to meet such an
eventuality. At the meetings they
will tell OF their own pet economies
in household management. In the
hope that these Will help other
members to decrease waste.
"What do you consider has been
your most effective cconomy?' r.
the question a number OF them will
ANSWER tomorrow afternoon.
Just at present. the cutting off OF
waste will specialize in certain
staple goods.-flour, sugar. butter
cheese, lard, and soap. The. ways
in which these foods and utilities nra
wasted. with suggestions for pre-
venting such leakage. will be demon
strated.-
why don't American hpuEcwive'
practice economy In their own esta =,
lishmcnts. leaving more to he ser,
to the moody Sa1!9ns iot Europa
asls Mrs. Thnr,D'on.
"y.Ne:, '!,0pSh var uc"nr come
10 ~, z ~ sc worth wH!l" :,
have rarriau ~ such 4 canuli ~
ngniIst- "s0srr lrd raiuted tno ar
gulnent that tho women OF our ma