No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 163 



cooking is taught. Each teacher can work out for herself a scheme 

 similar to this true history of one country cooking school. 



The CHAIRMAN: I now have the pleasure of presenting to this 

 audience at this time, Mrs. Mary A. Wallace, who will give her 

 views on the subject of "The Country Home, Its Sanitation and Con- 

 venience." 



Mrs. Wallace then read the following paper: 



THE COUNTRY HOME, ITS SANITATION AND CONVENIENCE. 



By Mks. Mart a. Wallace, Elhcood City, Fa. 



The habit of making excuses or apologies, is proverbial among 

 women, and I presume I am no exception, for the reason that I feel 

 that an apology is due to 30U members of this Institute, for my 

 presence here on this platform. 



Last summer, when I received a message from our Director of In- 

 stitutes, Mr. Martin, asking if he might place my name on the pro- 

 gram for this meeting^ suggesting the subject which you see out- 

 lined, and urging me to respond promptly, as he was then making 

 it up, I immediately, without giving the matter any thought what- 

 ever, replied that he could do so. Later, however, when it dawned 

 upon my mind, that this would not be an ordinary farmers' institute, 

 but an institute of Farmers' Institute Managers and Lecturers, I 

 was appalled, as I then realized that most of you are, what might be 

 termed "old" in this work, and more capable of discussing the sub- 

 ject than I, who am so "new." But it was too late then to retreat, 

 and so I am here. 



I am not here, however, in the interest of architects and con- 

 tractors, to urge the building of new homes, with all the modern 

 up-to-date sanitary arrangements and conveniences, but will talk 

 for a few minutes about the homes we have already, the old homes, 

 perhaps, many of which seem to have been built without any regard 

 to either sanitation or convenience. 



We are told that God made the country, and man made the city. 

 Such being the case we dwellers in the country are God's tenants, 

 and, therefore, it is our imperative duty to do everything we possi- 

 bly can to assist in keeping the country in as pure and healthful a 

 condition as when the Almighty turned it over to mankind. 



Then, too, farmers should beautify their homes, no matter whether 

 it be a cabin or cottage or a mansion. There should be trees and 

 shrubs and flowers and grassy lawns all about the homestead. 



