66 



Let us educate our girls on broad lines, in literature, in science, in art, and in 

 music. All these will help them to be a greater power in the home, but at the 

 same time let them have instruction in practical home affairs and the manual 

 ability to meet the common industrial wants of the average home. 



But, more than all else, if the art and science of housekeeping be taught in the 

 schools, girls will learn to regard housework not as drudgery to be escaped 

 from, but as work which lays under tribute many sciences and which is more 

 conducive to contentment and happiness in the home than all other arts com- 

 bined. 



Discussion. 



Miss Blanche Maddock, of Ontario. I would like to speak more particularly 

 of our work in Ontario. Three years ago, at the international meeting in 

 Buffalo, the work of the women's institnte was in its infancy, and many doubts 

 were expressed in regard to its future. Those doubts, however, are being 

 removed. I notice a difference in this national association meeting. Three years 

 ago there was comparatively little interest taken in the women's department. 

 A year ago, in Toronto, a few of the States, as they reported, mentioned the 

 women's work ; but, so far as I remember, even the Illinois institute did not 

 think it worth while or sufficiently important to mention the Illinois women's 

 work. I notice a great change here. A large majority of the different State 

 reports speak of the women's work and the good that it is doing. 



Three years ago we had 1,000 members in Ontario. We have to-day about 

 7,000 members. We have about 250 different organizations; that is, we have 

 58 district institutes, with a number of branches in each district — from 1 to 

 7 or 8. 



There are many present familiar with the working of the women's institute 

 system. But there are a number here who have not attended one of these inter- 

 national meetings before, and I will go into it briefly. The women's institute is 

 under the farmers' in.stitnte and is conducted on the same plan. It is called the 

 women's institute in order that it may be recognized as a department of the 

 farmers' institute work. I have heard of the Illinois Association of Domestic 

 Science, but did not associate it with the great farmers' institute movement. It 

 is under the same superintendent, as I understand. Our ex-superintendent, Mr. 

 Creelman, has really made the success of the women's institute so far. He has 

 gone to the trouble and taken the time to aid materially in its success. Our 

 new superintendent, Mr. Putnam, is introducing new work that I believe we are 

 going to have a great deal of success with in the future. There is a separate 

 grant, however, aside from the farmers' institute grant. For the last two years 

 there has been a provincial grant of $.?,000 for carrying on the women's work. 

 This is used for a great many different purposes. 



Part of this money was used for a series of summer meetings for women. 

 This last year, through May and June, we had about 225 women's institute 

 meetings. Each meeting was attended and addressed by two delegates, two 

 women sent out by the department. One usually demonstrated while the other 

 would take up some other subject. 



Then, again, there is a grant given to each district institute of .$10 from this 

 fund. In addition to this, there is a $10 grant from each farmers' institute, and 

 very often a county council grant of $25. 



In that way w^e have money enough to carry on the work. This money is used 

 for literature, subscribing for magazines, passing these magazines around, or 

 bonusing one or more papers so that members get their papers at reduced iirices. 



Every electoral district is entitled to an institnte and this grant. When an 

 institute is organized it may be found that there are women living four or tive 



