Books to Consult—Lillie Hamilton French: Homes and Their Decoration. Same author: The Home Dignified. Mitchell: The Fireless Cookery Book. Reading list on home decoration and furnishing: N. Y. State Library Bulletin. Bibliog. Vol. I, No. 20. Albany 1899.
Discuss the charm of the colonial style of furnishing; illustrate by cuts in the catalogues of large furniture-makers and dealers of four-post beds, Chippendale chairs and tables, Sheraton desks, etc. Take up the value of cretonnes in bedrooms and living-rooms. Have a practical talk on making over old things, dyeing carpets, simplifying the outlines of cheaply made furniture and staining it. Close with an informal discussion on The Kitchen Comfortable.
III—DOMESTIC ECONOMY
1. The Housekeeper—Her training for her profession. Schools of domestic economy. Lectures. Books and magazines. Practical experience. The training of our daughters.
2. The Table—The family income and cost of food. Economy and waste. Entertaining. An attractive table for those of small means.
3. Individual Needs—Food for the growing child; for the invalid; for the dyspeptic. The diet of the laboring man and of the professional man. School luncheons.
4. The Weekly Program—The old housekeeping and the new. The problem of the laundry. The household mending. Sweeping and dusting. Baking and cleaning. The mistress' personal supervision.
Books to Consult—Ravenhill and Schiff: Household Administration. Herrick: Housekeeping Made Easy. Campbell: Household Economics. Benton: Living on a Little.
The abundance of material for this meeting will make discussion easy. Take up as additional topics: How shall we have an abundant table under present conditions? Is vegetarianism wise? Can entertaining be done economically? Does it pay to spend time on the esthetic side of cooking and serving? Are weekly menus a help? Close with a paper or talk on the Importance of Simplicity in All Branches of Housekeeping.