Catholic Central High School - Banner Yearbook (Fort Madison, IA)

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I DOMESTIC SCIENCE OR DOMESTIC ART WHICH? One day while chancing to pass through the upper corridor, I heard ll faint sound as of music, which continually grew loufler as I strolled slowly along: but alas! the beauty of the heavenly music which I at first imagined I heard. was nothing more than the familiar voices of a mere Freshman and a very, very experienced Sophomore, and I rccogiiizetl them immediately as belonging to Marcella Hesse and Lavina Mt-rtens. At first the conversation was just of the ordinary type. They discussed the weather, the exams, the next movie, a party and all the other things that vt-alous high-school students discuss, but suddenly what is that I hear? I prick- ed up my ears, for I heard two words that fit once startled me into attention, Domestic Science and Domestic Art. And here is the conversation as it came to me. Lavina: VVell, Marc, how's Domestic Science by this time? Marcella: just fine and dandyg I really don't see how anything could be better. Lavina: Say don't let it fool you that way, just wait till you take Domestic Art. Why you will not be able to see how you could ever think your first course was just the thing. Marcella Cangrilyj: You need not try to high-hat me that way just because you happen to be one class ahead of me. Even if I am only a Freshman, don't forget, you're only a Sophomore. Lavina: Here now, you need not fly off about it. But slave to slave, and man to man, don't you really think sewing will be of much more use to you than cooking? FIFTY-FIVE

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FIFTY-FOUR

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L Marcella: Well, that depends on the profession you intend to follow, or what vocation may be yours, fand here's hoping it's a hard one.D But although sewing may be of use, I think cooking is a real necessity in our later life. You know the saying, Man cannot live without cooks,' Cthat means good onesb but Man can live without seamstresses! Lavina: But, my dear, I beg to differ, and I after having taken Domestic Science one year and Domestic Art the next, still insist that the latter is the better of the two. Why, any uneducated person who has studied nothing more than reading during all her days, can read the recipes from the cook-books, follow directions, light the fire, and hokus pokusl place some very tempting foods, whose delicious odors are permeating the air, before a hungry person. Ask him whether he does not appreciate it. Well I guess so. Marcella : B-but Lavina: But what? And tell me what person without any education whatso- ever, can sit down, take material, get to work, and mould that piece of ma- terial into a good-looking garment? i Marcella: But as to the results obtained- Iavina: You would bring that in. Marcella: Yes, there I got the best of you, Ah, hal How about it? After each lesson to have a tempting dish is not at all displeasing, and then we can smack our lips while you poor Sophs stand in the door-way, your mouths watering, your eyes casting longing glances in the direction from whence come the delicious odors. Lavinzt: Sure, but at the end of the year what have yon to show for it? But look at us. At the close of school at the exhibition we display all the results of the past year's work: nice dresses, dainty little aprons, etc. and when we wear them, we can always think of the happy hours spent in that sunlit room, with the continual buzzing of the machine, and the snap, snap of the scissors mingling with the occasional murmur of happy voices. Marcella: O well, let's quit and have it my way. Lavina: But I insist. Marcella: Yes, there goes the second bell already. Here we've stood and ar- gued for at least fifteen minutes. Now get rid of yourself before we find something else to debate. So long. Lavina: G'bye Marcella and next year by this time I hope you'll have the same point of view I have now. It was very foolish indeed, of me to argue about such a trival matter with an insignificant Freshmen. But here I go again. Well, if I hurry, I might make class yet. So long again! As they vanished, I stood for another five minutes pondering over the lengthy discussion. It dawned on me, that it asked which course I preferred, I could state no preference, but if my advice were asked, l would recommend both courses. -VIRGINIA KESSLER, ,30.,., ' ' -ff FIFTY-SIX