Tradition Broken As
Arrangement Proves a Success
"Modern men make good husbands," says Miss Bessie May Allen, director of the home
economics department at the Central State Teachers college. Miss Allen speaks as an authority, for since the
first of January three of the senior home economics majors who are married have been living at Sims practice
house with their husbands. They are completing their residence at the cottage this week.
"The men are such good sports. They have been interested in homemaking, not only in keeping the
'home fires burning' but also in the more intricate details of meal preparation, budgeting, and even arranging
table decorations." said Miss Allen. "In fact, the only thing I haven't seen them do is iron."
Men in Women's Quarters
Last fall found Miss Allen and the seniors, Lillian La Marche Korzilius, Elizabeth Johnson Paulson,
and Gloria Heimbruch Schultz, all of whom plan to teach next fall, facing a unique situation. The experience of
living in a home economics practice house is a requirement for a degree in home economics at CSTC. What was to
be done with the husbands while the wives got this phase of homemaking training? Well, Central State Teachers
college is making history, for these three co-eds decided to bring their husbands into the practice house with
them. So far at is known this is the first home economics practice house in the Unites States that has men living
in it, and the arrangement broke tradition here.
Husbands Co-Workers
Gloria, Elizabeth, and Lillian divided among themselves the duties performed by four girls, the number
usually staying at Sims cottage at one time. One agreement they made with the director was that if their husbands
were able and willing to help, they would be allowed to do so.
As for living at the cottage with their husbands, the young women remarked, all in
unison, "What a
relief to have a husband to help with fires, walks, meals, and marketing!"
As for the husbands, they seemed perfectly satisfied with the arrangement. "It's fun living in a whole
house instead of a two-room apartment," said Ed Korzilius, who is a senior
conservation major at CSTC. This is a
lesson in community living that has worked fine," explained John Paulson, a college
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sophomore majoring in science. "We enjoy living with people our own age who have the same interests."
Louis Schultz, who works for a business firm in Stevens Point and is the only one of a group who isn't
attending college at the present added, "It certainly has been a good experience. I have learned a great deal about
homemaking.
Married Last Summer
The Paulson and Schultzes were married last summer while the Korziliuses celebrated their fourth wedding
anniversary during the stay at the cottage.
To the women, it's been a treat to be able to cook for more than two. "The oven is a joy," said Lillian
as she displayed her masterpieces, luscious devil's food cake, golden meringues and mouth watering cookies. They
enjoyed the use of an entire, the serving of meals for more than two at the table, and the fact that everything
stayed more orderly in larger quarters than in cramped two-room apartments. They all agree that it was easier taking
care of only part of the household duties instead of all of them as they would at home.
Guest Forgets to Come
Many amusing incidents have taken place during the couples' stay at the cottage. For instance, although
it wasn't so funny then, they laugh now about the time that they planned a formal dinner to entertain one of the
illustrious Ph.D's of the faculty. According to true absent professor tradition, he suffered a lapse of memory and
failed to show up, while the delicious meal wasted itself away in the warming oven. "We ate it, though," said the
cooks, "as we can't waste food these days."
An ancient washing machine which has been in the practice house for several years, was the source of many
a laugh. Korzilius said: "We thought Noah brought two of everything into his ark, so we were wondering where the
other washing machine it." For the benefit of future "home ecs" a new machine is on order and has been since last
fall.
How About A Degree?
All in all, the men are very much impressed with their stay at Sims cottage. They're wondering whether "we
might be granted an honorary home economics degree for all our experience," said Paulson. Miss Allen might not be averse
to this, for she said, "The home economics seniors used very good judgment
in selecting their husbands."
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