652 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



By far the greater proportion of the women of the world are daily per- 

 forming household duties in their homes. Knowing it is the natural 

 destiny of the normal girl to some day marry and make a home of her 

 own, should every girl not feel that this is a definite line of work need- 

 ing the most thorough preparation, and a calling than which there is no 

 other more exalted or sacred? But whether she marry or not, every 

 woman at some time in her life is called upon to do or direct house- 

 hold duties. As the profession of housekeeping is the most common one 

 undertaken by woman, it stands to reason that her most thoughtful 

 energies should be expended in preparation for it. 



It has not been many years since a girl's education was thought to be 

 completed with a knowledge of reading, writing, and arithmetic, to- 

 gether with what was termed the accomplishments, consisting of a little 

 French, painting, and music. Mankind has at last awakened to the real 

 needs of the woman's education. Now, beyond the accomplishments and 

 elementary learning, the highest and best that education can offer is not 

 considered too good for her. More is expected of the woman of today 

 than ever before. Her education must give her high ideals and practical 

 habits which will enable her to fill any position which the coming century 

 may bring. Some one has said: "Education, if it means anything, is the 

 quickening of the powers that enable us to live — ideally, and practically, 

 morally and mentally — or that give us the capacity to enjoy and expand 

 this life." 



The education of the girl of today may not train her for any special 

 position in the world, but it aims to make of her the whole woman, whose 

 influence shall be felt for good wherever she may be; and into whatever 

 circumstances she may be thrown, the educated woman, and especially 

 the woman with a practical education, is better equipped to meet life as 

 it comes to her. Then it falls to her lot to become a home-maker, surely 

 the best education, the most brilliant accomplishments, and the most 

 charming personality are not too much to give to that home. 



People are fast seeing that no education is complete which does 

 not teach one how to live. The girl should be taught — besides sciences, 

 languages, history and literature, those things which have a direct bear- 

 ing upon the peace ind comfort of every day. If mere intellectual train- 

 ing did this, there would be no need of manual training. But brain and 

 hand must work together in harmony for the most perfect results. With 

 science as the foundation, manual training becomes a help and not a 

 hindrance to the intellect. To train a woman to be a housekeeper along 

 with her other education, is not to narrow her sphere but to enlarge it. 

 Whatever work she may afterwards undertake, will only be helped, be- 

 cause she has been made stronger for it; by the equal training of hand 

 and mind. 



If the woman nters the home after such a preparation, how much bet- 

 ter will that home be than it ever could have been otherwise. If she is 

 not called upon to do the work of the household herself, she will at least 

 be able to direct her work with the surety of certain knowledge; but if 

 she does do it herself, she will know how to do it with the best ex- 

 penditure of time and strength, and make of her work not drudgery but 

 pleasure. The need of an education for the home is often realized too 

 late. We once heard a lady who was finely educated, but yet without 

 practical training, and who bad suddenly become mistress of a beautiful 



