Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1919 — ARIZONA FAMILY STAYED ON FARM [ARTICLE]

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.