Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1919 — Page 3

The Housewife and Her Work

(Special Information Servi< l.’nited States Department of AgricultulV» HOMES' MADE BETTER HER GOAL AND REWARD

The Demonstration Agent’s Little Car Often Carries New Life for Discouraged Women.

ARIZONA FAMILY STAYED ON FARM

Extension Worker Shows a Tired Housekeeper How to Lighten Her Home Labors. MADE LIFE MORE CHEERFUL Work of. Home Demonstration Agent ! Not Always Shown on Surface — y Big Results Are Too Intangible to be Listed. Seduced to figures, the work of a iheine demonstration agent or a county ,agent does not always truly indicate the magnitude and the character of the 'extension work under the supervision of the U. *S. department of agriculture aud the Wate colleges. But big movements are made up of countless well-done trifles. . /“Helped 349 women retrlm their hats, showed 150 how to (make tireless cookers.” Nothing seems very epic ’in sodh an account from a home demjousteation agent, and Wlie?e imagiaatirai 4s lacking it appears like petty work for the United : States govern—iment to foster. The toig results, though reiti and important, are too Intangible to ibe listed in any report, and they •often overlooked. . The actual assistance given to a family in western Arizona by the -home (demonstration agent was summarized us “Instrumental in installing a dish (drainer in the ©?s home; helped Mrs. ID. make soi»e home-made furniture.” The complete .returns- would show that by making a wife contented she enabled a maa who was a born farmer to stay a food producer rather .than to move to a nearby city and enter ;a field already overcrowded with workers. In one county <e(f western Arizona the home demonstration agent toid her-lit-tle audience, composed of wives 'txf ranchers: '“■lf any of you would hike me to coine to your home and talk .over r ' your individual! problems, I would be very glad to go.” There was a pause. The extension work was new in that county. It was quite .evident that most of them felit their individual problems were not the kind which could toe solved by outside help. Finally, a dis-couraged-looking little woman, perhaps feeling that she had readied the place where stoe was willing to try anything, listlessly said she would be glad ■♦o see the speaker the next day. Under a burning sun the agent drove her* little machine through thick dust to a dilapidated, unhouielike shack. Worn,out in working against too heavy odds, with little knowledge oft,, housework and no conveniences, . the woman had lost all ambition to Improve her home, and her husband was too busy with farm work. Everything was ut sixes and sevens, and swarms of files added the last depressing touch.

Practical Housekeeping Needed. The extension worker was surprised when she learned that her dispirited hostess was a graduate of a famous eastern college, where she had specialized in music. There was little opportunity now to use her musical knowledge. but there was much for home economics, which had not been included in her curriculum. The dish washing, which the home -demonstration agent's coming had interrupted, was resumed. Anxious to help, the agent hesitated—so cold and slimy was the dish water, and so nauseating the half-washed dishes, which were to be dried on a wet and none-too clean towel. Feeling some apology was necessary, Airs. D. confessed she had lost heart trying to make things habitable. All site did, day after day, was icook. wash dishes, and mind the baby. Her husband had promised not to rent the. ranch agsfln. but to move into town In the spring, and said; she was enduring until that happy time came. Of all the tasks slit?loathed, she said svnile fishing another plate out of the iemi-Hquid dish water, dish, washing tehl first rank. The agent thought ii

a perfectly justifiable hatred bect it-<‘ ■if the way her hostess did. it. The visitor asked if she had ever tri<‘(l itsing hotter water, placing the dishes in a wire drainer, pouring scalding water over them, and then placing the drainer in the open window for the sunshine to dry the dishes. “No; and I’m not going to spend a dollar on a dish drainer when 1 Am go‘ng to town in the spring,” was the reply. A Way Ready at Hand. “But you could use that wire waste basket,” persisted the agent. “You need your minutes for other things. Suppose you time yourself when you tio the dishes your way the next time, and then the time after that follow my suggestions and see how many minutes you can save.” The next day, with new interest in her voice, the rancher’3 wife telephoned the agent she imtl found shv coulo save at least ten minutes at each dish washing by using the new way. That was thq beginning. The housewife began to demonstrate to her neighbors this easy way of drying dishes. And she was willing to listen to whatever else might be suggested. In the beginning the extension worker found that anything calling for money should be avoided. The ' husband wa% a “good provider,” but did not believe in a woman handling money. The agent took pains to point ■out'tactfully at every opportunity the (advantage of having his wife satisfied 'in the >C6«a®-try. _ About this time a tetter from a c©4■lege friend threw consternation into i the little shack on the ranch. It aaaottounced that they uiaight expect a visit from Mrs. LA's college roemaftte, whom she had not seen siaofe she graduated. It -was decided that the only available spot where the guest could sleep •would -be ope end of the perch. This was boarded off. Somte cretonne and .unbleached muslin, together with some packing boxes, were turned into presentable furniture for the “guest room.” By this time, his eyes opened by the extension worker, Mr. D. saw Che 'difference a few conveniences aud comforts made in his wife’s happiness and the whole family’s comfort.* A Home Made Over. The home on the irrigated ranch took on a different atmosphere. The college friend came, made ay enjoyable visit, and weuL No longer was “When we move to .town” the main topic of the rancher’s wife. At first it seemed as if it would be ah Impossible thing to get the family to keep household accounts, becafise Mrs. D. had no share in the funds, and until she did her interest in her home would be only perfunctory. But eventually even this was arranged. When spring came the rancher and his wife had not only decided not to move to town, but had determined to purchase their irrigated farm, so they might be sure of staying there all their days. The fttinily has grown, and as much or more work needs to be done, but by efficient methods and home conveniences it occupies only part of Mrs. D.'s time. This tale is one of thousands that might be told of the work of home demonstration agents.

MAKE GOOD PICKLES.

Use some of the vegetables you salted down last summer for pickles this winter if your supply is low. Freshen them in plenty of water, and using any good pickle recipe, proceed the same as if the vegetables were freshly picked.* Relishes and pickles add a zest to an otherwise insipid meal.

Full-Time Use From Jars.

As jars are emptied, fill them with appl.es. If you have a surplus. They will come in handy for sauce, pies and puddings In the between-fruit season this spring.

Cover Bread Dough.

While rising, bread dough should always be carefully covered, otherwise the surface will be hard.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER. IND.

WILL LIVE FOREVER

Glory Won by American Marines Imperishable. Famous Prussian Guard Fled Before /Them at Chateau-Thlerry as Sheep Before Wolves, and World Was Saved. From Arbela to Argonne,- from the >da.v when Alexander’s phalanx bore down the Persian lines to the day when the American marines scattered the best of Germany like smoke, the Imperial guard of mighty sovereigns has been the keystone, the central fabric, the very basis of military power. Destroy the guard and the morale of every royal army vanishes like mist before the sun. Fierce was the fighting on Arbela’s plain, and vain the onsets of the Macedonians until the Persian guard gave way—and night saw the Persian empire In the young invader’s hands. __ Spain’s resistless infantry shook I lie earth till the Spanish guard was mown down by Conde at Rocroy. At Austerlitz the Russian ranks held fast till the czar’s'gigantic guards were cut through and scattered. And the soldiers at Waterloo, outflanked, outpumhered, would not yield till the guard gave back upon the fatal slope of Mont St. Jean. So went »Jie story through the ages—and the last chapter of Imperial guards and guardsmen's glory is a fittiQjg epilogue. Down through the ravaged fields of France came the Imperial guard of Prussia, and the wearied, wornout men of France gave ground In gritn despair. The guard was coming. The guard was conquering. Paris in a few more hours, and' victory—a Prussian peace, won by Wllliahi’s matchless guards. Then, across thq wheat fields -and hills, came the Inter lean marines—young fighting devildogs from overseas. What to them was the glory of the guard? Whet cared they for the tall. Imposing figures, the uniforms, the macbinelike advance of William’s incomparables? The American marines went into a sheepfold—and the fate of all the world hung In the trembling balance as the struggle raged. “We saw a few black dots break from the guard and struggle down the hill; then a dark blot on the hillside; then the guard reeled and Its whole great mass came staggering down. All 4a lost—the guard recoils.” So spoke the historians who watched at Waterloo. So It was at Chateau-Thlerry. First a few gray dots broke from the far side of the wood ; then more and more; then, panic stricken, reeling, whipped, the Prussian guard came madly out and onward and away. The guard recoiled — the day was lost—Germany was lost —the empire of the world was lost. When the guard breaks, the doom < of any king is sealed. It was so three thousand years ago, and what may be ! the last tale of the wreckage of an Imperial guard Is but the final confirmation of the old, old story.

In French and in English.

An amusing verbal war has arisen over the propriety, meaning and extent of the French phrase “mon Dieu I” NqMwo interpreters appear to be able The phrase In English would be “my God!” but the shades of association connected with the French form and with the English form differ so broadly that exactly equivalent expressions and usages of the phrase are difficult to reach. In French IL may be an Innocent exclamation, but In English-speaking lands it may be flat blasphemy. The variance seems to spring from the varying religious experiences of France and England after the Protestant reformation. In medieval Europe the presence and action of God In the religious plays habituated the populace to speak of him quite familiarly, and the sense of reverence for his name grew faint. In England, however, on account of the influence of Puritanism and then of Methodism, a great reverence for his name arose, and use of the term “my God!” became distasteful to fine natures. But “mon Dleu!” somehow sounds inoffensive. —Spokane Spokesman Review.

Spitzbergen Possibilities.

“Spltzbergen (to the north of Russia) ought to be a region overflowing with animal life and the resort of countless millions of birds beyond those that actually breed there today," said Sir Martin Conjvay at the Royal Geographical society, London. “It ought to give occupation and an excellent livelihood to a considerable number of hardy folk, who, if they lived and fed rightly and were properly housed, should not find the climate too extreme for a quite tolerable human life.” " . The ravages of Irresponsible hunters, added Sir Martin, ought to be restrained by a small force of honest and efficient naval police equipped with a few seagoing motof launches.

Gas as Fuel.

Experiments in England with ordinary producer gas as a fuel for Internal combustion engines has shown that as the size and power of the engine increase the loss on producer gas diminishes. The fact that coal gas, although of lower calorific value than gasoline, gives better results, is accounted for by the pressure of the gas In the bag. which delivers this fuel to the engine with little or no “back .puti,*. ; :

PETROGRAD CITY OF MISERY

Incident Recorded toy Maxim Gorky Reveals Frightful ’ Donditiopa in - the Great R usstan Capital. Maxim Corky has wrlttfn several Sketches of human interest bearing on T’*enrs tn the Russian revolution, which appear In a recent number of the Suddeutsctien Monatshefte. Among them the following adventure of a young woman In the streets of Petrograd’ late at night, written tn Gorky’s Ch ara cf eristic style: " A young woman tells me: “I was with my sick sister until late and left her at midnight to go home, just when all the lights in rhe streets were extinguished. The streets were dark and ghostly figures stood in doorways —one could not tell whether they were watchmen o> robbers. As 1 hurried along I suddenly heard heavy steps behind me. I looked around fearfully. A man In military uniform, slender and with pale face and hollow eyes, was following me. “There was nobody else in sight and no signs of a cab. The man .continued me like fate. My God, 1 thouglit, is he going to rob ine or. perhaps, do someiTiing' even worse? I took my gold bracelets from my arms and hid them in folds of my dress. He ap proached me. and in a soft, sad musical voice, said: ‘“Madam/ „ . • “I made no reply, but hurried on. He, however, kept pace beside me. “‘You are afrgid of me?’ ‘“Leave me, leave me!’ 1 cried. 7“He laughed—a forced, tragic laugh, and . said:

“ ‘Don’t you see I simply want to ask for alms? I have not had a bite to eat in two days. 1 am an officer and a respectable man. But, by God I if I don’t get anything to eat I will not be responsible for myself. Help me, 1 know you can.’ ” “I looked steadily at him n|ow. Never will I forget those hollow, hungry eyes and the teeth showing under a small black mustache. I opened my purse and put some money in his extended palm. “ ‘But where are you going to get something to eat at this time of the night?’ I said. ‘All stores and shops are closed. Come with me and I will prepare some coffee for you. I also have some bread.’ ’’ “He shook bls head. “ ‘No,’ he said sadly. ‘I cannot do thatl want no one ever to know.’ “He bowed graciously and stepped back. “ ‘And what will you do for food when this little money is spent? What will you do tomorrow?’ *“I thank jfou. Pardon me —oh, tomorrow? Tomorrow!’ “He kept on repeating the word as he left me, and soon his figure was like a ghost disappearing into the darkness of a tomb.”*.

Canadians and the Arctic.

Vitiijaimur Stefansson Is a Canadian Icelander. He Is of subarctic descent, born in Manitoba. His name does not appear in the exploration records of any “Who’s Who” published in Canada. He is known to most people as the man who discovered the blond Eskimos. But this was the least achievement, says the Canadian Courier. What Stefansson and Captain Bernier. Canadians, have done most of all is to demonstrate that Canada bas an independent original claim to the fruits of exploration in her own share of the arctic. Canada has the world’s record for arctic coast line. Russia and Scandinavia have ail that Canada has not.. .Canada’s of eminent domain In the arctic is marked by the British flag; and if his advice is followed by the government trade may follow the flag, even in the arctic. W’hen we come to commercializing the fnuskox the Peace River valley will have become the middle of Canada.

One More Great Diamond.

Since Captain Wells picked up the 20-ounce* crystal on Tom Cullinan’s field in the Transvaal in 1905, the Cullinan diamond weighing 3,025% grains uncut, there has been no new addition to the roll of the world’s big diamonds until the just reported finding of a 388% carat stone at the Jagersfontefn mine on Orange river. This is a true “Jager” Irf the language of the trade, a soft blue-V’hite, and said to be nearly perfect. What cutting will do with It can hardly be guessed. In cut form the weight of historic diamonds, barring the Cullinan, ranges up from the far-famed Kohlnoor, 106% carats, to the Nizijm, 277 carats. The Jubilee is 239. the Victoria 288%, the Regent or Bitt, 146.

The Great Bell at Metz.

As for Metz, there was a sound In the fortress town which dominated all others. La Mute, the* great cathedral bell, pealed forth victory and deliverance. She rang the knell of the town in 1870. when the Prussians came marching through her streets, and ever since every child has known that If deliverance came, then would La Mute be heard ringing Lorraine back „to France. For over 400 years l»a Mute has rung for all the joys and sorrows of the Messtns. for she Is the last of a long line of famous bells cast In the Metz of medieval France. —Christian Science Monitor.

Adaptability.

“You ilsed to be. something of. a alnger.” “Yes.” replied Uncle RIH Bottletop “An’ prohibition won’t stop me. Fm learning to warble "The Old Oaken Bucket* Instead of ‘landlord, Fill th* Flowing BowL' ”

A Bird in the Hand

(bpeclal Irnorrnation Service, Lnired Siatea Department of Agriculture.! ONE TYPE OF POULTRY FOR EACH COMMUNITY

The Community Breeding Club Promotes and Develops One Breed and by Centralization improves the Marketing Conditions.

COMMUNITY CLUB GAINING FAVOR

Each Member Can Work Out Problems in Direct Co-opera-tion With His Neighbors. HAPHAZARD WAYS REPLACED iPowls of Generaj Purpose Type Are Most Popular—Advisable for Farmers tp Get Backing of Local Business Men.

When one speaks of Petaluma, CaL, his imagination immediately pictures flocks of single-comb White Leghorn hens. Tlie mention of the Little Compton district of Rhode island is synonymous with Rhode Island ileds, while Vineland, N. J., spells singlecomb White Leghorns to poultrymen. Community centralization for the promotion and improvement of one breed of poultry in each of these cases has-' resulted in the development of exten-; give and profitable poultry industries. The United States department of agriculture commends the idea to other communities. One Standard for Community Hens. Boys’ and girls’ poultry clubs in various sections of the country have been an education to bqth young and old and have acted as pioneers for the subsequent formation of comiifu 1 ’ nity poultry breeding associations. Each member is interested in the betterment of one breed and can work out his local problems in direct cooperation with his neighbors, the common interest of the locality being centered in the Improvement this breed. With the growth of the business the district soon becomes known asa source of large supplies of fowls aTid eggs for market, eggs for hatching, breeding stock and day-old chicks. Increased interest in the farm hens and the practice of approved poultry management always replace the previous haphazard, shiftless methods of handling fowls after the co-operative community club has been organized. The Farmville (Va.) Barred Plymouth Rock association is an interesting example of what can be accomplished in community hen raising. During the first five months of its history this organization sold $7,5d(J worth of poultry products. The club has now been Incorporated with capital stock of $1,500, and hires a manager to handle Its business affairs. The last report from this association shows that the members had on hand 6,000 Barred Plymouth Rock hens, while they had marketed 1,000 capons during the spring. Seventeen counties in Kentucky have organized community poultry clubs recently and have distributed 83,000 eggs among their members for the foundations of one-breed flocks. Christian county, Kentucky, has already established itself as a White Leghorn district. Hens for Community Clubs. The fowls of the general-purpose type, such as Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes or Rhode Island Reds, are most popular for the use of community poultry clubs. Most of the members of the associations are farmers who Wish to raise dual-purpose fowl which are adapted for both egg and meat production. However, some specialpurpose egg clubs have been formed, such as the Franklin county (Virginia) White Leghorn association, composed of 75 members, which markets its eggs in New Yotk. There are six similar White Leghorn county clubs in Tennessee, which also ship their eggs t,o New York. How to Start a Club. In organizing a community poultry club it is always advisable for the farmers to get the backing of the local business men. Generally - when the tradesmen are shown that the “gettogether hen club” will be an agricultural asset ,to the community they are not remiss about aiding the enterprise. Funds secured from _the business men may be devoted to the purchase of purebred stock for distrlbu-

tion among the farmer members of the organization. • The local banks In Overton county, * Tennessee, have been.of great assistance to the home poultry club in that they advanced SI,OOO for the purchase of breeding pens. consisting of ten, hens and one cock each. These pen» of breeders were distributed among the association members, each personi who took a pen agreeing to return toj the bank after the first year 20 pulletsi in payment for the 10 hens or pulletsi and the male bird. These 20 purebred! pullets, with two male birds, were then divided into two pens and given l ., unefer the same conditions to two newi members the following. year. This endless chain system Is to be continued for a period of five years. Inorder to repay the original loan with! reasonable Interest the chib members* are obliged to Sispose of their mongrel} hens when they have ceased to ba nfoTfucUyo, while additions} funds which accumulate over and above theoriginal allotment of SI,OOO are deposited at the bank to further other club activities.

Shows Are Helpful. . " - , Annual poultry shows have been at-y 'tractive roundfup features of the on«£ erations of several o£ the community, dubs. Fowls raisedr by The members of the association are exhibited in competition for prizes presented by, ilocal merchants and business men fix the sections where the shows are heloT These exhibitions, in addition to being; of special educational value, als<x effective in promoting friendly tition among the members of The club. Instructive lectures on poultry management usually are delivered at these gatherings by representatives of the state agricultural college or other qualified parties.

WINTER CONDITIONS

In the spring the production of eggs on the farm is an, easy matter. Fowls which are at liberty to roam find an abundance ofgreen and animat feed o'fi their range, which with grain furnishes a perfect ration for laying hens. In addition to this they get plenty of exercise and fresh air. There is a valuable lesson here that every poultry keeper can learn from nature. So far as lies within his power the poultryman should aim to make winter conditions springlike.

Cheap Containers Best.

The cost and treatment of containers have much to do with success. In marketing by parcel post. A container should be cheap, neat, and light. The amounts involved in most parcel-post shipments of farm produce do not warrant the use of an expensive, heavy package because of the first cost and the charges for postage. The container should be adapted to the particular produce shipped and should be whole and clean. i The trouble of returning empty containers often influences people to discontinue pareel-post marketing. The city dwelleF often has little room to keep containers, and It is not practicable to return them singly, for the cost of postage is high on small shipments. Then, too, it .is often inconvenient to take a bulky package to the post office station. If the customer can not conveniently store them and return three or four at one time the producer should, if possible, use containers that are cheap enpugh for a single service. Containers should never be bought with price as the oifiy consideration, however, as they should be strong-enough to carry the contents safely. For many shipments cheap splint baskets are satisfactory and cost is so small as to make the return of them unnecessary. Any plan concerning the return of containers should be clearly understood by both producer and consumer before shipments are made.

Raising Ducks.

If ducklings are raised under it Is advisable to confine the hens |Ud allow the ducklings free range, as gie hens are apt to wander too far with their broods.