PRIZES FOR HOUSEKEEPING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 26, 23 October 1937, Page 15

PRIZES FOR HOUSEKEEPING

Roumanian King's Award

ELng Carol, iu the name of the National League of Roumanian Women^ has givemprizes to the 71 best peasani housekeepers — one from each of Roumama's counties. Of course, housekeeping for a village woman does not mean merely cooking, sweeping and .he like. It also includes milking, chicken raising, garden tend Ing, working in the fields and, most of all, bringing up children. "Village mothers take babies to the fields on their backs, almost as soon as they are born, tie them in little hammocks to the branches of trees and leave small sisters to watcb them as the mothers hoe or sickle Or gather fruit and vegetables. From that age until the son brings a young bride to the parents' honse or until the dftugh ter goes to live with parents-in-law, the mother is responsible for the children. Want is common and living condi tions are nsnally very primitive. The peasant homes are small, beds are often laeking, dishes are few, cooking uten■ils ineificient, and the people live in itose tfocqpanionsliip with the farin ani-

mals. Superstition also is common and the standard of living of many Roumanian villagers is exceedingly low. The organised Roumanian women, encouraged by the King, are trying to teach aud inspire peasant mothers to improve conditions. One method is the holding of cOntests. The representatives of the Women 's League, through their cOurses, lectures, and pnblications, explain in detail what they consider an ideal peasant honsehold and try to help villagSj housekeepers reach this ideaL Once each year domestic science experts choose what they consider the best and most helpful housekeeper in each connty. These are given a free trip to Bucharest and whije there are the honoured guests of the league They are . also rewarded by speeial prizes that wili help them in their home making. The king's encouragement of this activity is one of the many waya in which he is trying to help the imiHse*. raise their staudard of living.