"All the labor of man is for his mouth," says Solomon. If this proverb be understood, as it was undoubtedly meant—that the chief aim and purpose of all human labor are to make the homes of mankind places of enjoyment, we see how important the art of household management becomes.

While preparing my "New Cook Book," I was naturally led to examine the subject, and the result was a deep conviction of the need of another work on domestic economy, or directions how to guide the house. This led me to prepare the present treatise, embodying rules and receipts, such as never before have been brought together for the help and instruction of a household.

"Knowledge is power" always; knowledge used for good purposes is wisdom. Knowledge, like gold, must be gained by personal effort; and usually, in small quantities, and by continued exertions, both wisdom and gold are accumulated.

It has been by washing the sands of common experience and gathering the small bits of science and art found here and there on the mining ground of common knowledge, that this large work, containing the pure gold of truth, applicable to all the needs of common life, has been made. A few nuggets will be seen, such as the collected maxims of Franklin, and the "Words of Washington," never before placed within the reach of the popular mind.

In the economy and well-being of the family, personally and individually, improvement should be sedulously kept in view. It is not enough that woman understands the art of cookery and of managing her house: she must also take care of herself; of children; of all who will be dependent on her for direction, for health, for happiness.

Personal appearance is important; the art of beautifying a home is important; the knowledge of ways and means by which the clothing of a family may be kept in good order, with the least expense of time and money, is important; some knowledge of plants, flowers, gardening, and of domestic animals, is of much benefit, particularly to those who 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 mÉnage; 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,[A] 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.

S. J. H.

Philadelphia, October 1st, 1857.