Advice from the past...

[telophase]

I took a break and went over to the cookbooks section of the library to grab a book or two to check out, and noted that we have a metric ton (approximately) of home economics textbooks from the 1930s through the 1960s. I'd idly been hoping to find something as culturally sensitive and insightful as the World of Parties book I posted on some time ago, but, alas, you'll have to settle for an excerpt from The Mode in Dress and Home from 1935, which explains the importance of going to the bathroom on a schedule.

7. Have the proper elimination daily Careful attention must be given to the disposal of wastes from the body. Constipation is one of the chief causes of ill health and ugly complexion; it can be prevented by the habit of having a bowel movement at a regular time each day. Health and beauty on the outside result from health on the inside. How can we acquire this habit?

(1) Select a suitable time, preferably before or after breakfast.
(2) Drink plenty of water. A glass or two of water immediately upon rising will aid in proper elimination.
(3) Eat fruits and the root and green vegetables.
(4) Take some form of regular exercise out-of-doors

As you can see, there's a lot of decent advice in here, mixed with the occasional "Uh, what?!" changed-cultural-attitude moment. Most of the book contains detailed instructions on sewing and pattern-making, and how to select a pattern, and so on, but the very beginning and the very end deal with personal cleanliness and household management, respectively.

The chapters are also punctuated by little "Activity" suggestions. I note the section on proper elimination does not have an Activity suggestion.

There are exacting, detailed instructions on how to brush your teeth. The Activity for the toothbrushing section is:

Activity -- Collect pictures of suitable toothbrushes and select the one which is best suited for brushing your teeth. Give use of the toothbrush.

I think I have failed to mention what, to me, is the more astonishing bit of the personal hygiene sections: this is a textbook for high school. Detailed instructions on how to brush your teeth, I'd expect in the early grades nowadays.

Undergarments should be changed at least every other day or oftener, you'll be glad to note. And the Activity after the bathing section (which notes that cold water is insufficient for bathing), which shows that advertisers had managed to push body odor well into the public eye by 1935, such that it was in textbooks:

Activity -- Make a list of reliable deodorants, which are quite safe to use. Give the general directions for the one or ones which you think are best.

Also, at the end of the first chapter is a list of Suggested Class Problems, which includes:

2. Have a class discussion and demonstration of the proper use of cosmetics.

3. Appoint a committe to find information on how to care for the nails. Have a demonstration in class of a manicure.

6. Have a class discussion and a demonstration of the process of shampooing the hair.

10. Study a thermometer. Know the normal body temperature.

13. Plan a score card for judging the personal appearance of a high school girl.

15. Discuss the value of sunshine to the health. Why is the popular sun-tan fad a good one?

HOME PRACTICE

2. Prepare a scrapbook on health and beauty which you think would be interesting. Try to make your scrapbook attractive.

The second chapter has a schedule for a high school student which gives one hour per day for homework, but this has gotten long enough, so that shall be another post, later.

Comments

[telophase.livejournal.com]

I never did write up The People's Cookbook, which I found in the stacks at the same time as the World of Parties, so that sounds like a good idea.

Yes, it is covered in burlap.