THE COUNTRY HOME [CHAPTER 
vidual, it can be secured by the clubbing of half a 
dozen families. The vestibule of the kitchen should 
be an orderly receptacle for overshoes, heavy boots, 
blacking brush, brooms, and should have its hooks 
for wet wraps and umbrellas. Along one side it 
should have a locker large enough to serve as a re- 
ceptacle for slop pails. These pails are essential 
to receive such waste as will be carried to the barn 
as food for animals. 
When woman has thoroughly realized the fact 
that a home kitchen is the most perfect laboratory 
in the world —for applied chemistry— she will 
lose her distaste for this field of domestic economy. 
This will go far to solve the problem of household 
help. The art of cooking and general homekeeping 
will be looked upon as a scientific achievement, 
and by no means a drudgery to be placed on the 
shoulders of a lower class. 
The dining-room is a social room, and ought to 
be especially cheering. It should be very light, al- 
though not sunny. It should be furnished with 
cut flowers; not to conceal the grossness of eating, 
but because in the orchard and garden are com- 
bined the flowers with the fruit. Diet in a country 
house consists very largely of fruit and nuts and 
[44] 
