Mrs. RAPHAEL
It has been calculated in France that a country housewife walks a distance equal to one-third of the way round the world, in her housework during forty years 1 In spite of modern inventions, a recent investigation in Great Britain showed that country housewives work, on an average, over fifty hours a week in their houses, apart from the strenuous job of taking care of children, and apart from all the outdoor work that they do. Figures from the United States are very similar.
A few weeks ago the Sixth International Congress of Scientific Management met in London, and women from twelve countries discussed the problems they had in common. They compared their suggestions, for improved housing, for the better planning of kitchens, and for testing of equipment. They spent much time considering problems connected with shopping, food planning, and budgetting. Eighty per cent. of retail shopping is done by women, so it is the housewife who is responsible for the best use of the family income.
Many of the suggestions made at the Conference will be of interest to the intelligent housewife who realises that her job is one of the most skilled of the professions.