Mrs. Hale's Receipts for the Million ...

live in the country; and more important than all, is a knowledge of the best means of preserving or restoring health. Then there is the very important matter of home happiness to be kept in view. Amusements, accomplishments, elegant arts, manners, modes of conduct in society; all these are necessary knowledge. And to crown the whole, those indispensable rules and maxims of moral improvement, which are the foundation of good in the character and life of rational, immortal beings, must be made familiar. All this has been attempted in "Receipts for the Million," as every person may see by examining "The Table of Contents" and the "Index."

The aim of both my works on domestic matters has been to awaken the attention of my own sex to these subjects, belonging, so unquestionably, to woman's department. The home administration is in her hands; how salutary and powerful this may be made in its influence on humanity is yet hardly imagined, even by the most sagacious and earnest advocates of woman's elevation.

Would that those of my sex who are urging onward, into the industrial pursuits, and other professions appropriate for men, might turn their attention to improvements in domestic economy. Here is an open field, where their heads and hearts as well as hands may find ample scope and noble objects. The really great woman never undervalues her own sphere. Madame Roland excelled in her mènage; Mrs. Somerville is eminent for domestic qualities; Mrs. Sigourney is a pattern housekeeper; and a multitude of other names and examples may be met with in my recent work, where genius is found adorning home pursuits.

There should be Lectures on Housekeeping, and other subjects connected with domestic life, instituted in every Ladies Seminary. This would serve to remedy, in some degree, the evils that now attend a boarding-school education. The grand defect of this is, that teachers too often leave out of sight the application of learning to the home pursuits of young ladies. So when these return to the parental roof, they give themselves up to novel reading, as their chief mental resource.

A better time is coming. Women, capable of using their faculties for the improvement of society, will not much longer remain in the castle of indolence. Miss Nightingale will find followers. And as the active pursuits of women will naturally centre in the domestic circle, great advances in the art of making home the place of happiness must be made. May this book help onward the good work.

Philadelphia, October 1st, 1857.

"A Biographical Dictionary of Distinguished Women."

S. J. H.

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House Cleaning - Repairing Furniture Cleaning Stoves and

Grates-Mending Glass, China, &c.-Coloring and Polishing

Furniture, &c.-Removing uupleasant Odors-Fires-Water and

Cisterns-Carriages and Harness-Washing-To remove Stains

-To clean Silks, Lace, &c.-Paste, Glue, and Cement-Dyeing

-Blacking for Boots, Shoes, &c.-To destroy Insects-The

Kitchen, &c.....
Page 9 to 88

PART II.

HEALTH AND BEAUTY.

Rules for the preservation of Health-Simple Recipes efficacious

in common diseases and slight injuries-Burns and Scalds-

Fevers-Plasters, Blisters, Ointments, &c.—Poisons and Anti-

dotes-Baths and Bathing-The Toilet, or hints for the preser-

vation of Beauty-The Dressing-Table......... Page 89 to 150

PART III.

HOME PURSUITS AND DOMESTIC ARTS,

Needle-work-Explanation of Stitches-Preparation of House-

Linen-Patchwork - Silk Embroidery - Fancy-work - Ink —

Birds, Fish, Flowers, &c.-House-Plants-Window-Plants-To

manage a Watch......

Page 151 to 187

live in the country; and more important than all, is a knowledge of the
best means of preserving or restoring health. Then there is the very
important matter of home happiness to be kept in view. Amusements,
accomplishments, elegant arts, manners, modes of conduct in society;
all these are necessary knowledge. And to crown the whole, those in-
dispensable rules and maxims of moral improvement, which are the
foundation of good in the character and life of rational, immortal beings,
must be made familiar. All this has been attempted in "Receipts for
the Million," as every person may see by examining "The Table of
Contents" and the "Index."

The aim of both my works on domestic matters has been to awaken
the attention of my own sex to these subjects, belonging, so unquestion-
ably, to woman's department. The home administration is in her hands;
how salutary and powerful this may be made in its influence on humanity
is yet hardly imagined, even by the most sagacious and earnest advo-
cates of woman's elevation.

Would that those of my sex who are urging onward, into the industrial
pursuits, and other professions appropriate for men, might turn their
attention to improvements in domestic economy. Here is an open field,
where their heads and hearts as well as hands may find ample scope and
noble objects. The really great woman never undervalues her own
sphere. Madame Roland excelled in her mènage; Mrs. Somerville is
eminent for domestic qualities; Mrs. Sigourney is a pattern housekeeper;
and a multitude of other names and examples may be met with in my
recent work, where genius is found adorning home pursuits.

There should be Lectures on Housekeeping, and other subjects con-
nected with domestic life, instituted in every Ladies Seminary. This
would serve to remedy, in some degree, the evils that now attend a board-
ing-school education. The grand defect of this is, that teachers too often
leave out of sight the application of learning to the home pursuits of
young ladies. So when these return to the parental roof, they give
themselves up to novel reading, as their chief mental resource.

A better time is coming. Women, capable of using their faculties for
the improvement of society, will not much longer remain in the castle of
indolence. Miss Nightingale will find followers. And as the active pur-
suits of women will naturally centre in the domestic circle, great advances
in the art of making home the place of happiness must be made.
May this book help onward the good work.

Philadelphia, October 1st, 1857.

"A Biographical Dictionary of Distinguished Women."

S. J. H.