The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-12-24
DEMONST RATION AGENTS
TEACH ART Of COOKERY
TO NOUN TAIN WOMEN IN
MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME
HOUSEWIVES NOW SUPPLY DAM
TIES WHERE FORMERLY
REIGNED SODA BISCUIT
AND EGGS

Lexington, KY, Dec. 24-Women
Of the mountains of eastern Kentucky
are rapidly being trained TO cook
better food and to make pre,ty, prac-
teal clothing, according to Miss Mary
Z. Sweeney. former head of the De-
partment of Home Economics of the
University Of Kentucky. Miss Sween-
ey resigned her position in Kentucky
on December / 10 accept a similar
place at the Michigan Agricultural
College, Lansing, Michigan.
Miss Sweeney was Ehe first head of
the Department of Economics at Ken
lucky and was in active charge, with
the exception Of a few months during
the World War. when she was in the
y. NJ. c. A. Canteen service under
fire in the battle Of the Argonne.
our efforts with the mountain
women" said Miss Sweeney in telling
teaching better cooking and the max
ing OF pretty useful clothing rather
than teaching them to make money.
THE mountain woman OF a few
years ago made four story biscuit
thai were green with soda. The eggs
they served came to the table SWIM
ming in grease. Their dresses were
of the most losely made and ugliest
type.
"Our agents and demonstrators have
gone through the hills and valley on
foot and on horseback teaching cook
ing and dressmalling until today the
change Is quite remarkable although
not yet what we want 1t to be.
I'VE have not at anytime aimed di-
recly at helping the mountain woman
make money through her home work.
But 1t has had that effec; in some
instances. For the mountaineer does
not raise enough food even yet to
support his family. But in some in-
stances our teaching has had the
effect Of giving woman more money
through efficient buying and making
their own clo,hing rather than buying
them ready made as in the past"
The first work done, according to
Miss Sweeney. was TO teach canning
and preserving of the food that was
available. Now the women are being
taught cooking and TO make the right
kind of clothing. Sanitation and health
rules also are taught.
"The women are intensely interested
In the work" continued Miss Sweeney.
They ride horseback or walk long
d stances to get to the meetings bring
ing their lunches and staying all day
to study"
In McCreary county many groups
are learning TO sew and at each
school, the school lunch has been in
troduccd with view to teaching the
proper diet for childrcn. In other coun-
ties. Miss Sweeney said, the time has
not yet come for introducing school
lunches.
The work has extended into twenty
eastern Kentucky count es. four of
wh.ch--Iaurel. McCreary. Whitley and
Muhlenborg--are distinctly mountaih
counties, Miss Sweeney said. Most OF
the others are what are known rs
border counties
"Thc transportation Is very bad and
have been m1rooned for Shree or
four days by torrcntial mountain
streams after rains" said Miss sween-
ey. "Then The only way l got out
was to swim the mule | was riding,
through n dangerous stream"
An illustration OF the work being
done she told as a personal expert
ence. 81 was In mountain neghbor-
hood last year, remaining all night
nj little cabin. In the morning
was surprised when the mountain
housewife served me with delicious
flaky biscuit and poached eggs. in
stead of the -four story green bis
cult and greasy eggs | had been ac-
customed 10 find IN the mountains
asked the woman where she had
learned 10 cook. She produced little
cook bool;. without any sign OF author
ship on l. anu which recognized as
one We had put out couched In The
smY. { OF English"