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Is it sensible, proper, or in any way commendable, 
for younff girls from 14 to 17 years of age to have the 
constant company of young men ? This question is 
agitating the minds of young and old, and should be 
discussed right here in the home department, where 
we can hear from each one who is interested. The 
Chief Cook isn’t going to tell any secrets, but she 
knows one or more persons who want the question de¬ 
cided, Not willing to assume such a grave responsi¬ 
bility, she places it before you, and when the rest of 
the testimony is in, you will hear from her. The 
young men and maidens will be allowed to have their 
say before judgment is pronounced. 
§ S § 
Empkrob William says: “I cannot wish anything 
more pleasant for the men of my nation than that the 
women may, like the Empress, devote their attention 
chiefly to the church, children and cookery.” The 
question is, Would the Emperor wish anything differ¬ 
ent if he were wishing the most pleasant things for 
the women ? “ The most pleasant thing for the men” 
has decided too many things in the past; humanity has 
advanced, in our country, to that point where people 
dare to think and say that some things should be 
changed simply because it would be better for women. 
After awhile they will dare to do what they say. 
Then the children, weakest of all, will be thought of, 
and what is best for them will be done. When the 
time comes that the welfare of every one is of equal 
importance, a true civilization will prevail. 
2 § 2 
Suicide is becoming alarmingly prevalent. Recent- 
ly, in one week in New York City, there were two 
suicides and one unsuccessful attempt, all coming 
from a too sentimental view of life. In these 
cases, a part of the responsibility is easily placed. 
The one unsuccessful was a young girl of 15, whose 
intellectual food seems to have been confined to those 
novels, which are numerous in name, but in plot not 
so varied. There is always a beautiful young girl, 
dwelling in poverty, and sorely imposed upon by her 
relatives and fate in general. The beautiful creature 
meets an equally striking young man in a very roman¬ 
tic way; they fall in love, riches turn up from some 
quarter, and they are married. This poor girl in real 
life lived in the poor district of the city, and no doubt 
found herself pictured in the heroines of the books. 
Sue was pretty, but because the handsome lover and 
the fortune didn’t come along, as they never failed to 
do in the stories, she thought life wasn’t worth living, 
and took poison. Poor little, foolish girl! The other 
two loved each other, but because they could not 
marry, decided that death was preferable. In the pocket 
of the man was found a newspaper clipping contain¬ 
ing Ingersoll’s defense of suicide. Does any one be¬ 
lieve that such writers are not responsible for such 
evident evil infiuence ? They most certainly are. 
Each of us has more or less influence. Let us not for¬ 
get that thoughts or words may weigh just as heavy 
as acts in the time of reckoning. 
DOMESTIC SCIENCE. 
WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT IS TAUOHT. 
GREAT deal is being said, taught and written on 
domestic science, nowadays, and believing that 
scientific housekeeping would be equally as interest¬ 
ing and valuable to our readers, as scientific farming. 
The R N.-Y. will give a series of articles on the 
methods and results of the work done by some of the 
teachers of this branch. We give the following inter¬ 
view with Mrs. Dalinda Cotey, of Manhattan, Kansas, 
who thoroughly understands the subject, and has that 
enthusiastic love for the work that enables her to in¬ 
terest the most indifferent person: 
“ What is domestic science ? ’' 
“ It may be understood as embracing all the science 
that in anyway relates to the home.” 
“As usually taught, what subjects are included in 
the course ? ” 
“Household Sanitation, Hygiene and Nursing; the 
Chemical Elements of Food and the Chemistry of 
Cookery, are all subjects included in a course of Do¬ 
mestic Science as taught in many of our leading in¬ 
stitutions of learning. To these subj acts, some of the 
schools add practical laundry work and nearly all 
of them have thorough teaching in plain sewing and 
dressmaking. Some departments of Domestic Science, 
especially those of our agricultural colleges, add a 
course in practical dairying.” 
“ Is the teaching done through lectures or practical 
work ? ” 
“By lectures, illustrated by examples, and, when¬ 
ever possible, supplemented by practical work per¬ 
formed by the students. The subjects taught, as well 
as the methods of teaching, vary greatly in the dif¬ 
ferent institutions. Some of the minor details taught 
in one department, may be excluded in another; yet 
in the main points of all the schools, the work is very 
similar.” 
“ Are all the different branches studied during the 
same term ? ” 
“ No. The study of one subject is usually taken up 
during a term, and it is allowed the same time for 
preparation and recitation as is given to any of the 
other studies.” 
“ What are the details studied in household sani¬ 
tation ? ” 
“ As usually taught, it includes the study of every¬ 
thing relating to the healthful conditions of the house. 
The location, the nature of the soil, the necessity of 
perfect drainage, the danger of water in wells and 
cisterns becoming impure from unclean surroundings, 
the care of the cellar, the necessity of cleanliness; 
and also the diseases arising from dampness, and the 
presence of decayed fruits and vegetables in the cellar. 
The study of the best system of sewer pipes and traps, 
and the danger from the entrance of sewer gas into 
the houses are also included. These subjects are 
illustrated by charts and drawings, and whenever 
possible, the students are taken to see practical work¬ 
ings of the subject.” 
“ Is any attention given to methods of heating 
houses ? ” 
“ Yes. The best methods of heating, lighting and 
ventilating are studied, as well as the action of sun¬ 
light on the healthfulness of rooms. These subjects 
and many others are included in this course and taught 
chiefiy by lectures. The students go to the library 
for further research, and write essays upon the various 
subjects for part of the class work.” 
“ How do you think the study of art should be con¬ 
ducted in a domestic course ? ” 
“ Art in the home may include a study of the ar¬ 
rangement and decoration of a house from an artistic 
standpoint, and is a most delightful term’s work when 
there is a good library for reference and museums and 
art galleries to which the students have easy access 
for the study of harmony of color and form.” 
“ Are hygiene and nursing taught in all their de¬ 
tails ?” 
“No, we do not have an elaborate course of medi¬ 
cine ; only such practical knowledge as is useful in 
ordinary home life. This subject is also taught chiefiy 
by lectures. In the city, where it is possible, it is very 
desirable for the students to occasionally visit some of 
the best hospitals to observe their system and methods 
of work.” 
“ How do you proceed in teaching cooking ?” 
“ The chemistry of foods and cookery is taught by 
lectures, experiments and by practical work. A 
kitchen laboratory is provided with range, work tables 
and cooking utensils of all kinds. Here, under the 
direction of the teacher, the young women test the 
theories advanced in the lectures, and put into prac¬ 
tical application the lessons they have previously been 
taught. In connection with the kitchen there is a 
model dining-room and china closet well supplied with 
everything needful for the serving of lunches, dinners 
and banquets in the most approved manner.” 
“ We presume this branch is taught very thoroughly. 
How much time is given to it ?” 
“A great variety of work is taught usually extend¬ 
ing over two or more terms, one for beginners in 
studying plain cooking, and another term for more 
advanced students devoted to fancy cooking as well 
as canning, preserving and pickling fruits and vege¬ 
tables. Some time is also spent upon the subject of 
cooking for the sick.” 
“ How is dairy work taught ? ” 
“ Dairy work is taught only to the extent that could 
be practically applied in our ordinary farmers’ homes. 
The theory of dairy science is taught by lectures, 
and the practical work is 
done by the young women. 
They set the milk, skim 
it, test the cream, chum, 
work and salt the butter, 
and have the entire man¬ 
agement of the work as 
they would have in their 
own homes. A few les¬ 
sons in cheesemaking are 
given, and a few small 
cheeses made.” 
“Are the instructions 
in laundry work adapted 
to the ordinary farm facilities, or are improved 
methods and machinery used ? ” 
“Laundry work is taught in the same practical way, 
with the use of no more improved machinery than is 
found in our ordinary homes. The best methods of 
washing different materials to prevent their shrinking 
or turning color, are practically illustrated, as well 
as the best methods of clear-starching, ironing and 
polishing.” 
“ Is the sewing department calculated to graudate 
good dressmakers, or is the instruction only on ordi¬ 
nary sewing ? ” 
“ Sewing usually occupies several terms, and includes 
instmction in all kinds of hand work, machine work, 
the care of machines, as well as cutting, fitting and 
finishing. Some of the schools teach fancy work, em¬ 
broidery and lace making, but in the most of them, 
the work done is thoroughly practical. The sewing de¬ 
partment is usually a separate one with a teacher 
who gives her entire time to the work ; but in some 
of the newer schools where the classes are small, the 
teacher in charge of the cooking department is in¬ 
structor in this work also.” 
“ Do you believe that this course of instruction in 
domestic science tends to elevate housekeeping in the 
minds of the pupils ?” 
“ Undoubtedly studying housework as a science lifts 
it above the plane of mere drudgery into something 
worthy of one’s best thought and effort. Such a course 
in domestic science accomplishes much more for a young 
woman than the visible results—the ability to plan a 
comfortable house, cook a good dinner and fit a dress; 
it awakens in her an appreci ation of the true dignity 
of home-making. Such a study helps to level the dis¬ 
tinction between the rich woman and the woman who 
must labor with her own hands. A young woman of 
wealth who takes a liberal course in domestic science, 
has no feeling of contempt for the woman of equal 
education, who by the necessity of circumstances or 
from choice, does the work of her own modest home ; 
for she knows so well the skill and ability required to 
make that home attractive.” 
“ There are also money advantages to be gained, are 
there not ?” 
“ A woman so taught will never ruin a home by 
reckless extravagance or leave it wholly to the man¬ 
agement of careless servants. To the young woman 
in moderate circumstances, the training is invaluable, 
not only that it enables her to perform more easily 
and skillfully the tasks that fall to her lot, but broad¬ 
ens her life and ennobles and beautifies its humblest 
details. Such a course of study for any young woman, 
can but make her life better and increase the happi¬ 
ness of all who are associated with her.” 
ONE WOMAN'S WAYS AND MEANS. 
HE mother of a little family, and the wife of a 
hard-working farmer, I find that in order to 
overtake and vanquish that mortgage, economy must 
be the watchword ; therefore, I do the family sewing 
with no assistance, except that furnished by good 
patterns and a first-class sewing machine. 
For my husband, I make flannel winter shirts, sum¬ 
mer neglig6 and work shirts, blouses and summer 
frocks, for use on his route. The flannel is bought 
direct from the mills, and of the widest width, at the 
lowest cash price for good quality; $5 will make a 
good-sized pair of shirts, that will wear three seasons, 
and then remake into suits for a child of three years. 
I make the shirts, because the ready-made ones are 
not long enough, and when making I find that it pays 
to make backs and fronts double to a depth of 12 
inches ; then the reins, when ■vrorn over the neck and 
under the arm while plowing, etc., will not wear a 
hole quite so quickly. Blouses fit better, wear better, 
and stay buttoned when homemade, as I make button¬ 
holes crosswise instead of lengthwise, as they are in 
nearly all ready-made goods. Frocks are made of 
blue cheviot gingham ; we have never found them for 
sale in any color but white. A seamstress charges 75 
Highest of all in Leavening Power.—Latest U. S. Gov't Report 
Abm>lutei.y pure 
