Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX THE WIVES AND DAUGHTERS OF THE IRONWORKERS --continued How are we going to attack all the ramparts that stand between us and the possibility of enlightening the mothers? We have to reckon not only with their incapacity in most cases to learn, but also with their unwillingness to learn; and perhaps with a still more serious obstacle, the uncertainty of the teachers as to what should be taught, in what way, and at what stage. And even if we assume that the required knowledge could be imparted, many of the mothers probably would not use it. It is always much more trouble to take precautions than to neglect them, and those after all on whom we would impress the necessity of taking those precautions are already overweighted by having their life full of cares of one kind and another, that the more fortunate are able to leave to others. When we are face to face with some disaster occasioned by sheer ignorance, we say miserably and hurriedly, ' Something must be done'-- 'The mothers must be taught to know better.' But how is such a thing to be dealt with, or, more important, prevented? and at what stage of the mother's training? As to including the subject in the school curriculum which is so constantly suggested, it must be a matter of experience to most of us that young people are not in the least interested in learning the theory beforehand of domestic arts destined to be of practical use to them when they are older. How often girls of the well-to-do class, who could never be persuaded to take any interest, any care or thought as to the administration of their mother's house, become most assiduous and careful housekeepers when at the head of their own. One sees such a girl in prosperous surroundings, who never would have taken the..
