ut all the children in orphanages. If
the mother is a good mother, capable with help of rearing her children
to independence and {74} self-support, this latter is not only a cruel
but a wasteful method. As charity becomes more discriminating and
resourceful, it will be possible to organize pensions for widows of
this class, though these pensions will need the careful oversight of a
visitor, who should see that the children are taught to bear the family
burden as they become older.

There is great diversity of opinion about the value of mothers'
meetings for women whose home duties prevent them from attending church
on Sunday. If these meetings confined themselves to providing what the
church service provides,--a chance for spiritual uplifting and
refreshment,--there could be no possible objection to them; but,
unfortunately, many mothers' meetings strive to attract and hold
members by such small devices as paying them for very bad sewing, or
making small gifts, or selling things below cost. These attractions,
small as they are, lead many women to neglect their home duties, and it
is no unusual thing for one woman to belong to three mothers' meetings
of three different denominations, which take her away {75} from home
three afternoons in the week. The atmosphere of patronage and
"sprinkling charity" that is so common in these meetings, distinctly
lowers the self-respect of the women; before very long they learn to
write begging notes or send begging messages to "the ladies" in charge,
and the place that should be for them a source of spiritual strength
becomes merely a source of supplies.

Collateral Readings: "The Lustig's" and "Corinna's Fiametta," Mrs.
Schuyler Van Rensselaer in "One Man who was Content and Other Stories."
"Practical Sanitary and Economic Cooking" (adapted to persons of
moderate and small means), Mrs. Mary Hinman Abel, published by American
Public Health Association, Rochester, N.Y. "Foods: Nutritive Value and
Cost," by W. O. Atwater in Farmer's Bulletin No. 23 of United States
Department of Agriculture. "Dietary Studies in New York City," W. O.
Atwater and Charles D. Woods in Bulletin No. 46 of United States
Department of Agriculture. The Health Department of New York City will
soon publish leaflets prepared by experts, which will contain simple
directions about buying and preparing food. "The Le Play Method of
Social Observation," "American Journal of Sociology," Vol. II, No. 1.
"Trea