ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 73 



throughout the states of our country, where men can become skilled in the 

 art or profession they may choose. The benefit of such schools cannot be 

 over-estimated. Already the State of Illinois has scores of trained engineers 

 and specialists where twenty years ago it had few or none, and they have 

 been given to the State by the university she has endowed although but 

 meagerly. 



Until recently there was connected with this university a department 

 which had for its object the teaching of Domestic Science or Household 

 Science. Three years ago, for some withheld or unstated reason this course 

 of study was dropped from the university role of colleges. Apparently, 

 those in power did not understand the aims of this department or had no 

 appreciation of the need of schools of this character. Whatever may have 

 been the reason for their action the State has been robbed of a benefit by the 

 suppression of this course of study. There has been removed from the State 

 an influence which would have told for good as year by year a few girls, 

 graduates of the course in Domestic Science, would have gone forth from 

 the university, to be living powers in elevating the homes of our State. 



Whatever may have been the faults and failures in this course of study 

 they were but incident to the newness of the department and would have 

 passed away in time. Whatever lack there may have been in its working 

 and complete success was not the fault of the course, its aim or its advo- 

 cates, but the fault of the soil in which the good seed fell ; and be it said in 

 praise of those who were the progenitors and defenders of this course of 

 study, that they were deep and noble-minded and comprehended the greatest 

 public and private need of our country— the need of better homes. 



There has been of late an infinite deal said and written about the home. 

 Orators extol its influences; lecturers frequently choose for their theme 

 some topic relating to ttie home ; there are home papers and home depart- 

 ments in almost every paper, and home books, containing full, able treatises 

 upon every subject pertaining to the home. All of this is work in the right 

 direction, but something else is needed. 



There is a science of the household, and there are needed schools and fun- 

 damental teachings to inculcate its principles and prepare the mind to read 

 intelligently and profitably the mass of matter now written for the home. 

 The world needs to be rid of the very prevalent idea that housekeeping is 

 intuitive to woman, that it is as natural for her to keep house as for birds to 

 build nests. The world needs to learn. Woman herself must awaken to the 

 fact that there are connected with the household practical responsibilities 

 for which there should be a careful and thorough preparation, that house- 

 keeping is an art or a profession which requires skilled hands and trained, 

 educated minds as much as any other art or profession. Women must be- 

 come convinced that their work as housekeepers is not what it ought to be. 

 They must become convinced that a course of study in household science is 

 the education needed by their daughters that they may become successful 

 managers of homes. I do not wish to be understood that this is all the 

 education woman ought to have. I believe she should be free to do or to 

 learn what she chooses and has ability for ; but inasmuch as nearly all 

 women become housekeepers, education for this work should be fundamen- 

 tal. Education for this work is essential to the comfort, well-being and 



