316 RURAL RECONSTRUCTION 



all of them of course being women. Their services are warmly 

 welcomed and highly appreciated, and have already, although the 

 service is still only young, led to a noteworthy improvement of 

 country life. Their women agents — " demonstration agents," for 

 they teach mainly by demonstration — busy themselves with every 

 branch of women's particular duties in country life — dairying, 

 poultry keeping, gardening, as well as women's domestic economy, 

 hygiene of the house, cooking, clothing, making the home attractive, 

 and economical and efficient housekeeping, and, above all things, 

 the bringing up of children. " Increased home efficiency " is the 

 motto, so to speak, inscribed upon their banner ; and their activity 

 in the north and west alone already extends over 166 counties. In 

 the year 1919, 1,077 households were visited by such agents and 

 assisted in the improvement of housekeeping, making it more 

 efficient. Such assistance proves highly called for, for in the 

 maintenance of their housekeeping arrangements women are often 

 terribly backward, and nothing but demonstration will lift them out 

 of their old accustomed groove. Thus the kitchen is apt to be put 

 into requisition for all sorts of purposes, such as bathing, washing, 

 joinering and the like, causing serious inconvenience. Agents have 

 persuaded American housewives to supplement their kitchens by 

 washhouses, in which presently room has been found for baths. 

 Then water has been laid on. And in course of time the whole 

 class of operations of this sort has been made less troublesome and 

 more convenient. Every such instance is found to act as a model 

 for similar improvements elsewhere; for neighbours come to see 

 and admire ; and so, in course of time, the entire district comes 

 to be put into a better condition. 



Cooking is of course assigned a premier place in the teaching 

 programme, with demonstrations provided. And the advance made 

 in this department — which in our own country certainly needs 

 looking after— greatly appreciated by the males, is reported to be 

 considerable. Another branch of female activity in which distinct 

 success has been scored is that of " clothing." In Massachusetts 

 no fewer than 268 local leaders in this branch of work have been 

 personally trained by " clothing specialists," with the result that 

 more than 4,000 women have been taught how to be more efficient 

 and economical in the making and repairing of clothes. More than 

 4,320 new garments were made in 1919, and 9,802 remodelled in the 

 same year, effecting a saving of 56,998 dollars. Then there are 

 " feeding demonstrations." 

 Feeding of children is in only too many cases irrational or wasteful. 



