THE ART OF THE HOUSEWIFE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21131, 14 March 1932, Page 3

THE ART OF THE HOUSEWIFE

MOST EXACTING PROFESSION. IJY L. I'ITMAN. It is remarkable bow ninny women both say and believe that housewifery fails to give a woman wide enough scope for her abilities. In no other single walk of life or profession is a woman called upon to possess a greater number of distinct talents. As a provider of food she is a dietitian of the highest type; in handling the household expenses sho must exercise a financial ability equal to any business man's; as Iho employer of domestic servants sho is in direct contact with Iho problem of unemployment; to make wornout clothes and shabby furniture do new service and to reservo left-over portions of food as new dishes, sho has to exercise tho liveliest of imaginations and inventive genius. Tho training of her children makes her a teacher of men and women more concretely important than tho best of educators; in the solution of enrh separate problem in her domestic routine she is a distinct factor in tho highest order of social service and sphere of social economy. No other profession can ask so much of her and demand so varied an order of ability.

To say that many women fail as housekeepers because of the varied ability that home-making demands is much nearer the truth than, say, that, tho work of tiie homo is obstructive to a woman's expansion and limits her mental growth.

Housekeeping is on ;i par with the most exacting line of business followed by men, if it does not surpass it. Men can specialise in the world of business and concentrate their efforts upon Iho mastery of one particular phase- of trade; but the housewife cannot specialise as .1 dietitian at the expense of her eflicieney as a teacher; she must bo effective in each portion of her routine. There is no partner in her firm to plan (he finances while she plans (ho meals; no clerks to write her letters; no boys to run her errands; no cashier to balance her hooks and pay her bills; she is each and all and all in one. It, is a matter of conjecture if husbands realise the work of their wives.