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refinement and betterment wherever her \\ork is found. Her Timitation is not 

 the home or field alone, for her influence is already felt in several States in 

 farmers' institutes and women's institutes^ The home maker's brain should be 

 educated as well as her brawn. For does not the physical condition of the child 

 from infancy to manhood depend upon her? 



The skilled home maker, with her magical tools of flour, butter, meats, and 

 vegetables, stands equally with the skilled mechanic. We hear so much about 

 balanced food rations for our live stock. The dairyman knows just what to feed 

 for the greatest milk supply, the beef man knows the elements of feed to produce 

 the greatest amount of fat and nmscle in the shortest time and for the least 

 expense. Charts line our institute halls giving the minutest detail for all grades 

 of animals, but the farmer's wife trusts in Providence and fries her beefsteak 

 without the assistance of chart or teacher. 



There is no practical school where the farmers' wives can attend and be 

 taught the elementary principles of home making, and if there were, their time 

 is consumed with household duties and rearing of children. They can no longer 

 shift responsibility, they are helpmates, and, in a sense, bi-ead winners. 



Women's institutes become a postgraduate course. Timid women, with years 

 of wise experience, become enthused and give the benefit of these years to 

 younger ones. Association of ideas brightens the intellects. Personal contact 

 brings out new thoughts. Women's institutes teach dignity and poise of man- 

 ner. They give a parliamentary and intellectual drill to all who take a part 

 in the discussion. Our women and our homes hold a high rank, and our agri- 

 cultural interests are advancing rapidly, but the interests of these homes must 

 be represented at our farmers' institutes to maintain their dignity. 



Special institutes for women are held in 15 States. Does this mean that only 

 15 States recognize the value of women in the home and agriculture? Our 

 home conditions must keep pace with the new methods employed upon the 

 farm. And to improve tliese conditions we must have a new ideal to strive for. 

 An ideal home should be the ambition of every home maker, but ideality should 

 be tempered with realit}', so that the personality of the home maker is not lost. 



Domestic science covers the entire field of the woman's work, but as that 

 term is so diversified several avenues of work can be weeded out. Any work 

 that comes to the home maker and is done thoroughly and scientifically comes 

 under this heading. Domestic science is household education. It elevates and 

 broadens the sphere in which the home maker is placed and reduces the mis- 

 taken idea that housework is a drudgery. It also olfliterates the stigma of the 

 American home, the misused and sadly abused term " servant girl." 



Women's institutes afford an opportunity to glean helpful instruction of a 

 nature suited to her peculiar individuality. An illustrated talk on household 

 conveniences will shorten her steps and lighten her work, also teach her what 

 to do with the least exertion and what can be left undone. An illustrated 

 anatomical chart and a good lecture will cause the mothers of girls to give their 

 lu-allh more consideration and attention. 



In all, women's institutes teach the ear to hear, the eye to see, and tlie soul to 

 reach out for higher attainments in the daily life. And wherever we find women 

 actively and earnestly employed in seeking the true conditions of their home 

 life, we find them more efficient to master the problems of finance, and through 

 the medium of women's institutes they are more able to meet every demand in 

 the home. 



Mrs. H. M. Dunlop, of Illinois, explained the_ work of the .school of domestic 

 science in the woman's building on the State fair grounds at Springfield. 



" Every county in the State that has a domestic science society of any kind 

 has the privilege of sending one girl to this school. The building has u large 



