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HOME AND FLOWERS 



by households and in schools should be an- 

 alyzed occasionally. Water obtained from 

 wells should be used most sparingly in com- 

 munities thickly settled, as it is easily polluted. 

 Driven wells, if wells are used, are preferable to 

 any other, although even they may be poisoned 

 by sewage. Driving the well very deep, dis- 

 tillation, boiling and filtering the water— all 

 come to the rescue. Long use of water without 

 seeming detriment, the clear, crystal appear- 

 ance and delicious coolness must not be 

 trusted as safeguards, but the utmost care ex- 

 ercised to secure safe, pure water. 



Women live within the walls of the home 



more than men; naturally they are the ones 

 upon whom fall the burden of providing cor- 

 rect sanitation. They cannot with their own 

 hands dig drains nor bring the water to the 

 house from a wholesome spring, but they can 

 be the promoters of many good things along 

 these lines. 



It is a great thing to cure disease, but those 

 who are, by watchfulness and intelligent care, 

 battling against the minute forms which bring 

 sickness into the home, are as great heroes as 

 those who work to cure after the disease comes. 

 It is tiresome and monotonous to continually 

 fight the enemy of dirt, but the poetry of it 

 comes in the result of health, and the delight 

 of cleanliness. 



HELPFUL SUGGESTION'S FEOM QUE READEES 



*'We cannot expect to save steps without do- 

 ing some head-work. We must first begin at 

 the foundation and manage the construction of 

 our kitchen, so that we have everything con- 

 venient that belongs to the work in the kitchen 

 — such as the water, fuel, vegetable garden, 

 etc. These are the essentials, and ought to be 

 in and as near the kitchen as it is possible to 

 have them. This is the way I have it, and T 

 can prepare a meal in a very short time and 

 with few steps. In my dining-room I have a 

 side table wdiere I do all the work that belongs 

 to the dining-room. I wash the dishes and re- 

 place them on the table ready for the next 

 meal, and if any changes are to be made, I 

 make them in the morning when I wash the 

 dishes, so that w^hen the time comes for getting 

 the dinner, all that is necessary is to go to the 

 kitchen and prepare it, and bring it to the 

 table. I aim to do the most of my work with 

 my hands and head, and thus save steps. If 

 there is a trip down cellar, I always have a 

 load to take down, and one to bring up, so that 

 once going does both. I always was very sav- 

 ing of my feet. Anything that I can sit down 

 to do, I do, and rest at the same time. Let us 

 study conveniences, and plead with our hus- 

 bands for them in our kitchens. Better have 

 a good convenient range and a kitchen cabinet 

 than a piano in the parlor, if you cannot have 

 both. This is my idea of saving steps. I do 

 all my own work, raise large flocks of poultry, 

 entertain a great deal of company, and have a 

 large window full of plants to care for, and 

 always find time to read the papers and books.' ' 



"I would suggest one way of saving steps. 

 While getting one meal, do as much toward the 

 next as possible. There are man^^ little things 

 that can be done when getting dinner, toward 

 supper. T do as much as possible. Many per- 

 sons have a cold supper. In that case every- 

 thing can be done but putting on the table. ' ' 



One of our readers sends us a picture of the 

 old' Senate House kitchen, Kingston, N. Y. It 

 shows the true old colonial furniture in use at 

 the time the building was the state capitol. 

 Compare this with the modern kitchens, pic- 

 tures of which are seen so frequently in home 

 magazines, where there is a wealth of material 

 displayed with which to do work. With added 

 facilities for doing housework, has the woman 



more time for recreation or has living become 

 more complex so as to absorb all the time 

 gained by improvements ? 



'^Your magazine has been in my home for 

 some time, and I have drawn inspiration from 

 its pages to strive for a better garden out-of- 

 doors, and more beautiful window decoration 

 inside. It has also helped me in suggestions of 

 civic improvement for our club. 



' ' I am considered an expert housekeeper, 

 and I rejoice that a department of Domestic 

 Science is to be added to the magazine. It 

 seems to me that good housekeeping is almost a 

 lost art. Between the slavery of the old-time 

 drudgery of housework and the domination of 

 the present help, the sweet art of home-making 

 seems to have slipped out of sight." 



''I would like to organize a club for study 

 and recreation, with other women this winter, 

 and would greatly appreciate the assistance 

 you so kindly offered through the columns of 

 Home and Flowers. 



' * I live in Southern Maryland, a remote sec- 

 tion of the country, and, aside from an occa- 

 sional concert, given, too, by local talent, there 

 is scarcely any amusement or riecreation, and 

 months pass without even the smallest social 

 event to break the monotony. I am sure an 

 organization would prove interesting and bene- 

 ficial to the many intellectual ladies in this vi- 

 cinity. I hope soon to receive your helpful sug- 

 gestions, Bnd I promise to take the lead, and 

 interest as many women as I can. ' ' 



In answer to the above inquiry we refer the 

 writer to the December number of Home and 

 Flowers where suggestions were given for per- 

 haps two meetings. On the text of the work in 

 this issue on Sanitation in the Home, some ma- 

 terial is given here which will help in making 

 a program for at least two meetings. It is not 

 urged that topics on Domestic Science compose 

 the entire program of an evening, but that the 

 study of travel, current events, literature, art 

 or music may afford means of culture and much 

 enjoyment. This may be added to the work in 

 Home Economics, to give variety to the pro- 

 gram. The following may be used as suits the 

 pleasure of the members: 



