1905.] THE RESERVE POWER IN HOUSEKEEPING. Ill 



change often enough so that there will be very great incon- 

 venience in that respect. I have seen women working at 

 kitchen sinks so low that they had to bend the back. No won- 

 der that the spirit droops and she has very little courage, for 

 three hours spent at a low kitchen sink is backaching work. 



Why is it that the hooks are put into the closet or al30ut the 

 room just a little higher than it is easy for a person to reach ? 

 Why is it that the gas jet is very often just beyond a woman's 

 reach ? 



There are simple changes which may be made about a house 

 which will make it possible for a woman to keep her courage, 

 keep her strength, and make her feel that housework is not real 

 drudgery. 



Another bulletin which we sent out is on the subject of sav- 

 ing strongth. We have physical culture for women in the 

 household. A woman very often says that she has no time to 

 study physical culture, that that belongs to the women who are 

 not busy, and to the women who haven't very much exercise ; 

 but the woman who has to do her household work from day to 

 day is not using certain muscles that she ought to use. She is 

 bringing the strain of her work ifpon the wrong muscles. I 

 don't know that very many women will care to go to school, 

 but there are a few vital principles which she may study which 

 will keep her in good health. She is not asking for less work 

 to do, she is asking how to do the work she has better, so that 

 she may be able to accomplish more without loss of strength 

 and health. In the first place she does not stand always upon 

 the balls of her feet in doing her work. If, as she stands at her 

 table, she will study to see whether the weight is upon the heels 

 or balls of the feet, it will be a wise conservation of strength. 

 She can determine that by rising upon the balls of her feet 

 occasionally. As she stands at her table doing- her work, if 

 she stands back upon her heels, abdomen forward, chest down, 

 she will feel a constant sagging of her hips, a constant depres- 

 sion which comes to every organ of her body, then a depres- 

 sion to her mind which affects her whole being. Let her rise 

 upon the balls of her feet, abdomen back, chest up. Let her 

 vsay, " Life is worth living." She sees the bright side of life, 

 courage comes, strength comes. An athlete works hard to 

 keep his muscles strong. A woman should practice the same 

 principles as an athlete, use her muscles, and she will become 



