Notwithstanding  the  varied  plans  for  obtaining  their  meals,  the
women  living  away  from  home  showed  remarkably  good  judgment
in  the  choice  of  food.  Mrs.  Ellen  H.  Richards  began  her  pioneer
work  for  the  promotion  of  public  instruction  in  dietetics  over  twenty-
five  years  ago,  and  throughout  this  period  Boston  has  profited  by  a
great  variety  of  educational  activities  in  this  field.  In  the  absence
of  studies  of  dietaries  in  other  sections  of  the  country  it  is  impossible
to  make  comparisons,  but  the  results  of  this  investigation  indicate
that  these  educational  efforts  have  brought  some  good  returns.  The
menus  show  a  healthful  variety  in  the  diet  selected,  but  no  instance


174  FOOD    OF   WORKING   WOMEN   IN   BOSTON.
was  discovered  of  the  deliberate  and  intelligent  effort  to  procure  a
propejly  balanced  ration  at  minimuiJi  cost.
