36 



HOME AND FLOWERS 



attends school, and what can a busy woman do 

 toward improving them? One woman can do 

 much, but perhaps several united in the effort 

 may accomplish more. 



It is not unlikely that a bee might be made 

 in some districts, or a few women unite to make 

 an attractive school home for the children. 



The work of cleaning a schoolroom belongs 

 to one hired for the purpose; but it is rather a 

 common thing to find that the schoolroom is not 

 mopped more than once a year, while a kitchen 

 floor which may not be used by a fourth as 

 many persons is mopped every day or two. The 

 dust from chalk, from the clothing, and from 

 the persons of the children is exceedingly great. 

 This collects in the rough floors, in the cracks 

 and about the school furniture, and is not only 



A CHANCE FOR LVIPROVE.MENT 



untidy, but a dangerous source of disease germs. 



The public school can not discriminate in 

 attendance except in pronounced cases of dis- 

 ease. Children of all kinds and conditions are 

 associated together. This we believe to be good 

 for the child, since he must learn to meet all 

 kinds of human beings in active life, and become 

 hardened to knocks which the world is sure to 

 offer. However, the fact remains that the best 

 and most wholesome conditions should be placed 

 about a child to protect from infection and 

 contagion. 



School desks should be occasionally washed 

 thoroughly, for sleeves of all sorts and condi- 

 tions pass constantly over their surface. The 

 drinking-cup and the water-pail may be sources 

 of trouble. We do not pass a common cup 

 around the table for the members of the family 

 all to drink from, neither should we expect the 

 children to drink from the same cup in a school- 

 room. Each mother might wisely supply her 

 child with a cup to be kept perhaps within the 

 desk. The water-pail, which is a part of the 

 schoolroom equipment in many places, should 

 be keDt covered. 



Have the children attractive surroundings at 

 school? House-cleaning days at home are a 

 source of discomfort to the members of the 

 family. The stoves are down, the carpets up, 

 the pictures taken from the walls, the curtains 

 removed. Are there any curtains in the school- 

 room? Is the stove neat and blackened? A 

 carpet is probably impracticable, but the floors 

 should be kept in good condition. A schoolroom 

 too often presents the appearance of a home in 

 the house-cleaning days. 



In many districts an effort is made to obtain 

 a few good pictures — better than many inartis- 

 tic ones — pictures within the comprehension of 

 a child. It is difficult to estimate the value 

 of good pictures upon the life of a child. They 

 may be well selected, though not expensive, in 

 order to do for the school what is possible to 

 expect. In short, give the school homelike, 

 cheerful appointments if we would have the 

 children happy there. 



QUESTIONS ASKED BY OUR READERS 



"Is there anything which can be used to 

 hasten the action of yeast in raising bread? 

 What is the best yeast to use? Is there any 

 difference in flour, in the quantity to be used, 

 and in the manner of mixing?" 



The quantity of yeast and the temperature to 

 which the sponge is exposed determines to a 

 great degree the length of time required to raise 

 the bread. A little sugar placed in the cup in 

 which the yeast cake is dissolved slowly will 

 give the yeast something upon which to start 

 its growth. Home-made yeast is preferred by 

 many for use in bread, because cooked flour 

 makes the bread sweeter, preventing aciduous 

 fermentation. It also will cause the bread to 

 rise sooner. So far as possible, care should be 

 taken in mixing the bread to sift the flour 

 lightly into the liquid in order that the particles 

 may be fully moistened and expanded. This- 

 gives a better opportunity for the thorough 

 passing of heat through the loaf, thus changing 

 the starch and rendering the bread more nu- 

 tritious. There is a difference in the moisture 

 contained in flour. A little more winter wheat 

 flour must therefore be used in a recipe than if 

 other flour is used. 



One reader asks whether the use of fat in the 

 food is injurious to health. 



The amount of fat to be used in the diet 

 depends upon the person and upon his occupa- 

 tion. With many the tendency has been to 

 discard this element of food too much; some 

 fat is necessary to maintain the body in a 

 healthy condition. Together with the sugars 

 and starches, called carbohydrates, fat supplies 

 the body with heat and energy. Fats also aid 

 in digestion. The manner of cooking fat de 



