The Washington times., 1919-02-02
Conserving the Housewife
Bu Mrs. Christine Frederick,
The DistinFuished Authority Household Efficiency

business girl or a woman shopping
will order a cup of chocolate and
whipped cream and some form or
pastry for lunch, while the chances
are the man will order ham and
eggs or some similar substantial
food.
The woman in the home should
take particular care to eat sutfl-
cient coarse foods to keep her
elimination active. She should eat
bran frequently and also vegetable
gelatine. spinach, carrots. raw cab
bage and all sub-acid fruits like
apples, pears, oranges, prunes, etc.
She should never eat in a hurry
or when tired or especially when
she is at a nervous tension" as
then food is likely to disagree with
her and cause headaches. How
ever, much of the sO7called
fatigue" and headache to which
women are subject is not because
they are really tired, bus because
of the pOisOns which are not prop
erly eliminated from their systems.
Coffee and tea are drugs, and
nothing is worse for the house
keeper to get into than the habit of
drinking coffee frequently during
the day instead of sitting down 20
a regular meal.
To keep in good health, especially
for one with the responsibility of a
house-mother, satisfying sleep is
needed. Perhaps the best method,
and one fast coming more and more
into vogue, is sleeping outdoors. 1t
is no longer considered a fad, but
the way to get the most oxygen and
the most restful slumbeT.
Any porch may be transferred
into a sleeping porch, with the aid
of canvas screens or bamboo
shutters. A small single bed is
best. and should be fitted with a
good mattress and several pairs Of
blankets. No sheets are used in
sleeping outdoors, and the sleeper
should have a long nightgown or
pajamas with feet or socks.
The secret of successful outdoor
sleeping is to have as much cover
under as over the body. Even in
the latitude of New York it is pos
sible to sleep outdoors the entire
Winter. There is no better way
Of reducing the danger from colds,
tuberculosis or other contagious
diseases, as well as insuring more
quiet sleep. II would be excellent
if every housewife could try this
plan of sleeping, because it would
give her more vitality for her daily
work.
Compared to genuine exercises
like walking, tennis, golf, etc.,
Homework is slow and does not use
the muscles violently enough. One
reason why women do not get more
exercise out Of IL Is because they
are wrongly dressed. They .snouId
never work in heavy dresses with
belts and tight armholes, but in
some modification Of a MILDLY
blouse costume which allows un-
restricted upward movement.
Sweeping, beating rugs and wash
ing are the three most violent kinds
dulged in to excess they will prove
far more beneficial than harmful.
A pair of bloomers is an excellent
thing in which to do such heavy
work. and there is no reason why
the woman in the house cannot
adopt such a sensible work cos
tune.
But, in addition to housewOrk, it
must be emphasized that every
woman should take quick, active
walks or indulge in some outdoor
sport for a short period every day.
There never was a time when
health was at such a premium, not
only health for the individual
woman herself, but for the nation.
It has been a matter Of concern that
so many thousands Of young men
were rejected for army and navy