282 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



which has specialized her for housework. To be sure, a custom which 

 has continued as long as this one of woman remaining by the fireside 

 must have as its foundation something which is fundamentally right 

 for social development. Yet so many myths have grown up about this 

 custom that we are in danger at times of mistaking these additions for 

 the good of the original idea. Because of these erroneous ideas current, 

 popular opinion is inclined immediately to conclude, if for economic 

 reasons a woman strays from the fireside, that she and her husband are 

 incompatible, or that he is unwilling to support her and that in some 

 way she is neglecting what is popularly supposed to be her divinely ap- 

 pointed mission. Of course such a conclusion is often unjust and not 

 warranted by the facts. 



In discussing the subject of the preparation of food, we accept con- 

 ditions as they are; that woman is specialized by society as the house- 

 keeper and food purveyor to the various groups called families. 



In spite of the fact that many of the home industries have de- 

 veloped into world-wide industries there still remains for the house- 

 mother much of the food preparation for her family. The necessary 

 meals for one's family are the essential fact which confront each house- 

 wife anew each day. No matter what other home activity can be ne- 

 glected, that one duty of preparing food can not be omitted. How 

 often we hear women make some such remark as this, " I was too sick 

 to do anything else but get barely enough for the family to eat." This 

 shows that every other home duty can in extremity be left undone ex- 

 cept that one. Food preparation then is the fundamental duty of the 

 housewife to-day. " A good stomach kept in a healthy condition is the 

 foundation of all true greatness," says Dr. Tyler, professor of biology 

 at Amherst College. 



The housemother's first duty then after bearing her family is to 

 provide them with food for their growing needs which shall give them 

 the best endurance for life's conflict. But her responsibility is much 

 greater than this, for closely connected with the necessity for food are 

 the other hygienic necessities for survival — air, water, sunshine, 

 shelter, rest, all in due season; and depending upon these vital necessi- 

 ties are the opportunities for the development of the mental, moral 

 and social personality or the completely social man. Because woman 

 is specialized for home work, these wider responsibilities for individual 

 growth have, in a large measure, become hers also. 



The home as a social organization stands as an agent of help or 

 hindrance midway between the well-established theories of the scientists 

 concerning human welfare, on the one hand, and society, on the other, 

 where the finished product of personality asserts itself as a social force. 

 "What that force shall be the home can alone determine for by its 

 agency, the theories concerning human welfare must be put into prac- 

 tise and through it as a clearing house must pass in their operation 



