Evening journal., 1917-08-03

The market basket" Is the new slo-
gen OF patriotic women, the badge Of
honor. the symbol Of the thrifty
housewife who gets the best and
most for her money by going regu-
larly TO market, selecting her foods
herself, and bringing them home.
Few women would order O dressl
OF hat, or even a part Of a dress, by
telephone. Shopplng-mcaning Sc
lecting clothes and general family
supplies outside Of foOds-women
have always done In person. Il might
tire them TO 60 way into town on
hot day, but neglectng such an OBJ
vious duty as matching the trimming
for a gown selecting some underwear
for the children. or taking advantage
pf a bargain sale in table linen, would
never occur to the conscientious
housewife. When st came to the
Sunday roast, however and the vege-
tables and some fruit and sugar FOR
ielly-mahng, why. then she would
call up by telephone, or the maid
would do t. or perhaps one OF the
children, or final resort Friend
Husband could pop into the market
On his way to work.
On the whole. this method seemed
10 produce average results. The
grocer as was expected, conscien-
tiously filed the order; the butcher
weighed and cut the roast; It was all
carefully packed and sent home, and,
II something had been forgotten,
hurry-up call by telephone brought
the delivery boy again to the door.
All modern up-to-date groceries and
markets were run on these lines, and
such services were accepted as mat
Ter Of course.
Then the European War came and
demanded our surplus; under roduc-
ton and poor crops reduced this until
the II. C.. OF l.. became a regular
family pest and kll-ioy. Carl Vroo-
man, Assistant Secretary OF Agricul-
ture, talked about a 500 900 600 waste
OF food and strongly insinuated that
the American housewife would have
10 mend her ways. or in 3 short time
there wouldn't be enough to eat in
he world.
At first. the housewife was prone
30 blame the grocer for high costs;
she often told him so, and asked him
how he expected her to pay her bills
promptly Il he charged her such aw-
ful prices. The grocer. being human,
was inclined 10 say that he would
better get out OF business than keep
on with fOOdstuffs going up. wages
md overhead expenses keeping pace,
md more and more difficulty in col
Getting bills.
The minute, however. that house
wives stopped scolding and began TO
lhink seriously, the situation began
10 grow ea1ier.
It Is always easier 10 face facts
than 70 try and dodge them IRE
facts We now face are these: that
bven with increased production and
scientific control OF the food situa-
ton, even with improved methods OF
booking and increased watchfulness
IS to household waste. food prices are
going to remain high. We have go'
10 feed our families. 10 maintain
proper table standards; in short, We
must get the most for our money
Experts all over the country are re p
Idly coming 10 the conclusion that, Il
We want TO maintain reasonable food
costs We must see where we can helI
the grocer TO keep down his selling
costs. There are many causes tina
affect the fluctuations In food prices
but a dealers overhead charges, thai
Is. rent. telephone. delivery. and cleri
nai expense, may be very largely dun
lnshed by making no unnecessary
rails on them.
This is the place IN the story wher'
enters the Market Basket. II is beinl
summoned for duty by widely vary
ing groups of women in which au
thority is vested; the Home Prepared
ness League, the Womans COMMITTEES
OF the Council OF National Defense
the Domestic Science experts lectur
ing to the Women's Clubs and Othe
organizations. all are exhorting tn
housewives Of the country 20 go q
market as their grandmOthers did