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The
StilLRoom
fighting
shy
of
it.
In
housewifery
there
can
be
but
little
pretence,
for
no
ignorance
may
remain
hid,
BlufF
and
a
ready
tongue
or
pen
go
a
long
way
towards
creating
many
a
"
brilliant
reputation
"
in
the
"
artistic
"
and
vapid
world
which
lives
at
clubs
and
restaurants,
and
runs
societies
for
im-
proving
other
people.
But
no
bluff
will
ever
avail
in
the
presence
of
the
food
or
drink
in
the
pre-
paration
of
which
our
skill
has
been
employed.
The
products
of
housewifery
speak
for
themselves
;
they
are
no
empty
expressions
of
sentiments
which
may
be
false
or
true.
In
no
way,
indeed,
can
affection
be
displayed
with
more
subtle
grace
and
delicacy
than
by
the
thoughtfulness
of
the
housewife.
The
greatest
of
poets
has
no
such
instrument
at
his
command.
Not
that
women,
in
order
to
be
efficient
in
their
homes,
need
be
ignorant of
the
events
and
thoughts
which
are
in
progress
outside.
Quite
otherwise,
they
should
be
able
to
be
the
boon
companions
of
men.
But
what
I
would
urge
is
that
they
should
take
over
as
their
share
of
the
necessary
work
of
mankind
the
management
of
that
department
which
is
immediately
associated
with
domestic
life.
In
this
there
is
nothing
degrading.
For,
after
all,
it
is
housewifery
to
which
nearly
all
the
arts
and
sciences
bring
their
secrets.
Home
and
comfort,
food
and
drink
—
it
will
be
a
long
time
before
we
can
get
quite
away
from
the
need
of
these
things.
To
introduce
science
and
order
into
the
domestic
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