Housekeeping ranks among the professions as truly as any other occupation. It is more than a trade, since one who works at a trade performs each day the task assigned, the work being planned and directed by another. Thus little of the worker's energy is expended in deciding his activities. It is the director who must possess and exercise the power to guide; his work being to initiate, plan and direct. This requires larger capacity and ability than is required of the one who merely practices a trade.

It is the work of the housewife to initiate, plan and direct the business of the house. The woman who considers this work as the opportunity to assist in sharing the responsibilities of the wage-earner, and in developing the powers of those making up the family, has grasped the truth concerning the possibilities of her work.

There should be no more question as to the need of education and training for the woman who selects the food, clothing and works of art which minister to the highest welfare of a family than there is for the need of study on the part of the farmer, the manufacturer, or the artist who produces them.

Everywhere training is showing its benefits in the greater efficiency and skill of those who take advantage of it. Women will never be able to spend money so as to bring adequate results, until they have in some way acquired a broad training in the estimation of values. The word of the salesman is a poor guide, yet one who has had no training to aid her is unable to select for herself any more satisfactorily. Houses which are turned over to "experts" are usually striking witnesses of abundant expenditure, but pitiably fail to convey to eye or heart the refreshing individuality or the satisfaction to be real-ized in the cultivated woman's home.

The fullest, most completely rounded education is none too good for one who is called upon to use and impart so varied information as is the housewife. The study of science is especially practical for one who aspires to master all the things that come within the range of her work. A knowledge of chemistry is necessary to an understanding of food composition, of cooking, cleaning, etc. The laws of physics are as closely related. For the mother, modern psychology is an indispensable study, if she is to understand her child, and wisely guide its development. If this knowledge may not be secured in school, a great deal may be done to supplement such training. Study in this course should do much along this line.

In addition to the knowledge gained through study, there should be a liberal amount of practice in the various duties before one assumes the care of a house. Unfortunate the home where the practical experience all comes after marriage. It comes at the hardest of periods and is unjust to any man. In no business can failure be graver or the results more serious. The fact that some very efficient housekeepers have evolved from unpromising beginnings is no argument. Such are, without exception, most eager for their daughters to receive training, since they know by dear experience its value.

Much of the present aversion to household duties would vanish before adequate preparation to perform them. The American Kitchen Magazine published, in January, 1901, some suggestions of leading men on the general subject of Housekeeping on a Businesslike Basis. Some of their remarks are significant. One says: "Whenever one's knowledge of a subject has passed the stage of drudgery and becomes a science, its performance immediately becomes a pleasure. The ability to do a thing in the highest known perfection, or a little better than anyone else, is always a source of delight, and it matters little what that something is. This spirit imparts its influence to everyone in any way associated with the work. The men or women who know their business seldom have difficulty in keeping those under them happily employed. . . . . Wherever the circumstances of our life land us, we should make our stand, do our part of the world's work, and do it well.....The woman who would have a home of her own and a happy one, should know, not only how to manage the chambermaid, but the cook as well. The moment that either discovers that there is method on the part of their mistress and knowledge superior to their own, they will comply with her requests.....There will be no trouble with the kitchen end of the house when women take the same pains to know their business as men do.

"The first essential is the proper training. The second essential is such a desire for success that she is willing to perform her part with industry and devotion.

"It is not as necessary to show that housekeeping has in it elements of business as to make housekeepers themselves recognize its business character and apply to it ordinary business principles. A quick attention to details, a fine sense of values, good judgment in buying and selling, and a ready adaptation of means to end with the least possible loss, are points of a good business man, - the housekeeper certainly has need of them."

A Right Spirit

Training and Devotion

Essential Business Principles