Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed. Words printed in italics are noted with underscores: _italics_. The cover of this ebook was created by the transcriber and is hereby placed in the public domain. THE HOME _Shall the home be our world ... or the world our home?_ THE HOME ITS WORK AND INFLUENCE BY CHARLOTTE PERKINS GILMAN NEW YORK CHARLTON COMPANY 1910 Copyrighted 1903 Republished, November, 1910 by THE CHARLTON CO. Printed by The Co-Operative Press, New York City To every Man who maintains a Home-- To every Woman who "keeps house"-- To every House-Servant, owned, hired, or married-- To every Boy and Girl who lives at Home-- To every Baby who is born and reared at Home-- In the hope of better homes for all this book is dedicated. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTORY, 3 II. THE EVOLUTION OF THE HOME, 14 III. DOMESTIC MYTHOLOGY, 36 IV. PRESENT CONDITIONS, 62 V. THE HOME AS A WORKSHOP. I. THE HOUSEWIFE, 82 VI. THE HOME AS A WORKSHOP. II. THE HOUSEMAID, 104 VII. HOME-COOKING, 124 VIII. DOMESTIC ART, 143 IX. DOMESTIC ETHICS, 160 X. DOMESTIC ENTERTAINMENT, 184 XI. THE LADY OF THE HOUSE, 206 XII. THE CHILD AT HOME, 230 XIII. THE GIRL AT HOME, 252 XIV. HOME INFLUENCE ON MEN, 272 XV. HOME AND SOCIAL PROGRESS, 300 XVI. LINES OF ADVANCE, 323 XVII. RESULTS, 342 TWO CALLINGS I _I hear a deep voice through uneasy dreaming, A deep, soft, tender, soul-beguiling voice; A lulling voice that bids the dreams remain, That calms my restlessness and dulls my pain, That thrills and fills and holds me till in seeming There is no other sound on earth--no choice._ _"Home!" says the deep voice, "Home!" and softly singing Brings me a sense of safety unsurpassed; So old! so old! The piles above the wave-- The shelter of the stone-blocked, shadowy cave-- Security of sun-kissed treetops swinging-- Safety and Home at last!_