Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1913 — CITY AIDS WIVES [ARTICLE]

CITY AIDS WIVES

Visiting Housekeepers Appointed at Madison, Wis. Expects to Alleviate Domestic Woes In General—Untidiness, Bad Food All Slated for Cure If Plan Is Successful. Madison, Wis.—No longer need the youthful bride weep red her pretty eyes over her charred dinner; no longer need Mr. Young Husband court digestive disaster in vain attempts to assimilate four-pound cakes, for this thoughtful municipality has provided a remedy. Said remedy Is Impersonated by visiting housekepers whose business it is to go about solving household Illa The capital city of Wisconsin, on learning from the Associated Charities of homes where tidiness and new methods of housekeeping generally are needed, and where lack of them Is the cause -of untold domestic woe. decided on this plan for teaching housekeeping. The plan Is working like a charm. The young housewife sets out to prepare dinner. Presently,.her store of patience and her knowledge anent the art of cooking are very nearly exhausted and no dinner Is ready. She sends a hurry call to the new bureau of housekeeping*. A dignified matron from the bureau responds. She comes accoutered like a soldier—a trim blue suit, her uniform, and a bag of utensils for first aid to the distressed housewife, her weapons.

Like a general surveying his field of battle she looks over the culinary department of the household. A few swift orders given, a helping hand here and there, and the visiting housekeeper sets running smoothly again the wheels of the household. But the duties of the visiting housekeeper do not end with setting aright the feet of the young housewife on the path of domestic management. Alas, no. Her life’s little irritations come with carrying out some of the minor provisions of the rules laid down by the directors of the bureau.

She is a truant officer extraordinary on her rounds of duty. Recreant children found at play when they should be in yon schoolhouse wresting with the three R’s are dispatched summarily to report to their teachers. Peddlers of fake household remedies are to be detected and exposed by the visiting housekeeper.