OUR BABIES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 529, 28 December 1912, Page 6

OUR BABIES.

(By Hygeia). Published under the auspices of the Society for the Health of Women and Children. " It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom."

TRAINING OF GIRLS.

(Mrs Parkes' address continued). There ia no doubt that the presentday education for girls is lacking in manv of the essentials for good womanhood.- There is a tendency to neglect training in household duties, in favour of what is termed higher education; and our present system encourages and snvite3 girls to enter un a course of study ion which nature never intended them. The position is well expressed by a recent lady writer, xSllice Hopkins, bhs says.— "We must' simplify our standard of living and teach our gsilrf very differently from what we £i*e doing. Culture? i.-3 s'uod, and tfie mora we have of it the better. It gives a woman a wider ssfisie of influence as well as s muse enlightened method of using that hifluer.ee. But if dead languages are to take the place of living "service, if high mathematics ars to work out a low plane of cooking ; asd household management, if a fim-ciass in moral science is to in-

v&iva a third-class in pestorroance of the; tTioi'si duties involved in family Hf*. then I deliberately Bay it were better that, like Tennyson's mother, wo should be 'net lesrneo, save in

gracious household wajs.' " Why should the cave of human life, of ha si? ahealth, and of hum*»n comfort ba ei;nsidsi*cd a lower thing or of less importance than good scholarship ?

It is moat regrettable that the amount cf household service requ:red of cur f-irla is bseovr.inq; les3 day by day, and that the duties which should devolve on every woman if she is to qualify for her proper position in life, the practical management cf a house, be left to servants and tradesman. Certain it is that if we wish to attain the proper ides! of v. cr?:anhood, tbs girl must receive a womanly education, a:;d be taught to regard domestic avocations peculiarly her field.

Idtetiesa among girls, especially of the well-to-do class, is recognised as one cf the chief causes cf nervous ailments. Perhaps the best antidote for hytecias and allied neurotic conditions is an eailv and proper training in houseware." This will prove excellent discipline, afford less time to dwell upon ills, son;e imaginary, some real, and inculcate habit 3of self control. Wo muse not on any account allow oar girls to drift into a condition of apathy and uselessneas, but impress upon ?her/» that true happiness only come to mind and hands fully occupied. The luxury end selfindulgence of the present day is largely responsible for the laxity and want cf purpose bo ofien evident, and to counteract thin evil cannot offer better advice than "Get busy, keep, busy."

Of course wo are told that other avenues ar« now open for women which offer 'mote atii-aci.iu.ns and are mors rernunsi-utiwe than domestic work. Do these realiy compensate for the lacs ef intelligence in common household affairs? There is everywhere a fretful discontent, a rebellion against domestic service, a rush to factories, offices, and shoo 3. What opportunity have many of these girls in acquiring a knowledge of housekeeping, which is the fir=t essential to sijccess in married life? Or course, many woman ate adaptable; they realise when they start in a house of their own how woefully limited ia their knowledge, but they set to arid learn these things. But why should sue iiave to learn in such a hard school, at the expense of her husband's digestion, her children's comfort, and her own peace of mind? Why did she not learn so much of what a woman ought to know when she was being' educated? To cultivate accomplishments is a very excellent thing, be it either in the direction of music or art; but how few succeed to the extent of applying their knowledge to the earning of a penny or even to the entertainment and pleasure of their own family? Better by far teach the plain things first, and get our girls to understand that the simple duties are the great things of life. The domestic task, the household courtesies, the daily opportunity for useful service that' home life affords, are the great accomplishments, and are the part of education that should be mada compulsory for every girl. Do not be afraid that in teaching your girl to do plain sewing, to iron and get up fine linen, or bake a pie, you are limiting, her mental horizon. You would be doing so if you kept her at. the piano when she has no aptitude for music, while you do the household duties. Let ua teach our girls that in domestic life the only way to do a thing is to do it, and that there is a dignity •'in all labour, more especially in domestic work.

We are all apt to think that when the occasion arises, a woman intuitively becomes competent in ' household management. But how many of us understand the care of an infant, the proper values of everyday articles of diet, and the amount required for the maintenance of heal;h in theh child, the adult, and old age? How much mischief is caus»d by over feeding, bad feeding, and wasteful feeding, ev,en among the poorest? How many understand tha absolute necessity of pure ah, and how health and vigour depend on the observance of pbysioloigeal laws. It requires no more than ordinary intelligence and a moderate education to readily acquire an arncunL of knowledge in these matters that will be of: greatest service in everyday life, and surely it ia mora ' in -accord uwith CO mm oh

smattering of subjects that are likely to prove of little or no use. A most pernicious impression seems to be abroad that the girl who earns her living in a factory, office, or shop is the social superior of the girl in domestic service. My experience teaches me that it is often the reverse, and that the finest womanly qualities are often foundinthe girl whose sphere of work is that of a domestic servant.