310 Report op Farmers' Ii^stitutes 



the top or bottom of the pictures on a level. Pictures are not 

 necessary to the decoration of the room. Poor pictures are de^ 

 cidedly not desirable. 



'\ Where do family portraits belong ? " The family portraits, 

 through sentiment, belong in the bedrooms if not dispensed with 

 altogether. Use questions to make the women think whether or 

 not they are decorative. 



" What will take ink spots from linen ? " Rust soap or rust 

 eradicator. Cost 10 cents. 



'^ How can biting of the finger nails be cured ? " Usually this 

 is due to a nervous condition which should be remedied. The 

 habit may be broken by covering the ends of the fingers with 

 some bitter hai*mless substance. 



" What are the causes of sour stomachs ? " Hj-per-acidity or 

 hypo-acidity of the stomach, improper feeding and an unclean 

 mouth. 



" What progress has the textile law made ? " Very little. 



" Describe a suitable style for a house dress or work apron." 

 Simple straight lines. A style which can be easily laundered. 



Miss Van Rensselaer, after the question box, took up the re- 

 lation of the college to the institute worker, stating that bulletins 

 of the college would be sent to the workers. She asked that 

 the workers donate items of interest to the bulletins and expressed 

 her desire that the institute force of women take a more vital 

 part in Farmers' Week at the college. She asked that specific 

 questions be referred to the department, saying that their editor 

 would answer requests and keep the answers for printed materiaL 



Mrs. Phelps gave a talk on reading. She suggested that the 

 deterioration in the country was due to the lack of good reading 

 and thinliing. Rural people are losing their power to digest what 

 they read. Books should be chosen more wisely, especially for 

 children. She advised that the books given to children be as 

 written and not revised to words of one syllable. Two types of 

 novels were discussed, those that make us think and those that 

 stop thinking. 



Mrs. Morgan's talk, " Glorifying Our Work," was as usual an 

 inspiration and was thoroughly enjoyed by all present. 



This completed the women's work of the Normal Institute. 



