The Portland daily press., 1879-07-07
AGRICULTURAL.
Keeping Cool.

annual articles which go the rounds of the
press IN July and August, on the subject of
Letting in the sunshine" A district
school teacher, a minister who has been
making pastoral calls in darkened rooms,
hurriedly lighted after he has taken seat
or perhaps city editor, tired and heated by
his walk or ride home and the various la aors
and perplexities of the day, finds the inside
OF his usually pleasant parlor dark. He
gropes his way into the library; it is dark
also; the dining room is dark, the sitting
room is dark-the whole house, from attic to
ditchen, is dark. He knows by instinct
where to find the easy-chair, while if he
would be patient and sit a while he would
soon feel the delicious GOODNESS; his ewes in
few moments would become used to the
shade, so much so, in Iced, that he would be
able to read book or paper, for the room is
not really so dark as it appears to him.
dazzled as are his eyes with the outside
glare.
However our male friend does nothing so
sensible He throws open wide the outside
doors, draws up the blinds, lets down every
window, pushes back the shutters, takes off
his coat, and, with palm-leaf fan in one
hand and pen in the other, while the spirit
moves him, writes an article for women
didactic in the extreme, on Letting in the
sunshine" 1t is published; other papers
copy, or originate fresh matter in similar
style, and for time the press teens with
the subject.
Such articles have no influence whatever
upon common-sense, practical housekeep-
er, who knows from observation, intuition
and experience that such course persisted
in for few weeks during midsummer would
fade the carpets, ruin the curtains, hy-specl1
the tinted walls and frescoes, mar the gilded
picture frames and take the color out of the
upholstered furniture. l should like to
know what the Venetian blinds inside or out
are designed for, if not to shade and darken
the rooms?
No amount of argument seems to weaken
the settled conviction and ideas of MANY
men on this subject, and yet they do not
carry out these same principles in their own
affairs. They would not think of hanging a
new beaver or broadcloth suit on a nail on
the side stoop, where they can get sunlight
and dust and fly visitations and wind. If
such will not damage the parlor, neither will
they hurt the clothing
never shall forget little incident that
occurred in my younger days. We had in
our house, on the farm, very nice spare
chamber, used only for visitors. One Sum
mer, when was about twelve years old a
mother and grown-up daughter made us a
Visit, intending to stay only a week. But
the young lady took a violent cold, and the
mother also became i'll, so much so as to re-
quire medical attendance, while the short
visit was heightened into six weeks. The
weather was very warm, flies were numer-
GUS, and as we had dense, swampy woods
quite near the house, mosquitoes were ex-
ceedingly troublesome. 1t was no use to
close windows, curtains, blinds or doors.
Our visitors complained of the heat and
threw them all open again; spread fiypapers
in any convenient place to kill flies: insisted
n hnnfIra nrfc 10
squitoes, but yet could not be persuaded to
shut out the hot air during the day, or to de-
slst from keeping lamp burning all night
We were glad when they were gone The
walls had to be retinted, the CARPET was
faded, the furniture fy-specked, the blue
curtains were streaked with varying shades
OF dull brown, while, in fact, our pretty
spare room was not to be compared with
what it used to be. However, it taught me
a lesson l shall not readily forget.
OF course sunshine is good but like all
good things it must be used sparingly ju-
diciously and sensibly. Water is good, and
some reckless people have died from the
effects OF taking a draught too suddenly
while heated. 1t is absurd to assert that we
cannot have too much of the glorious sun
shine, while so many are stricken down by
its direct rays. The owner of greenhouse
knows very well that during the Summer
CfCly pttl1C VI grass IllllSU Dc llDcfaIlV
smeered with whitewash, OF the plants
would wilt and die.
Common-sense, practical housekeepers are
agreed upon one plan of arrangement for the
heated term. 1t is somewhat as follows
varying according to circumstances. The
family will rise early and partake of break
fast, while all the doors and windows shall
be as wide open as possible. The bed cloth
ing Will be spread ON chairs, or over the bot
tom posts of the bed, with the pillows in the
windows to air. Under good management
the beds could be made by eight O'Clock. the
rooms made tidy, the wash pitchers filled.
the windows and blinds closed, the parlors
busted and made dark. and the outside air
shut out. AS quickly as possible the dining
room should be swept, busted and closed up,
The work should now be concentrated into
the kitchen and cellar, while by carefully
closing the intervening doors, the different
rooms may be always cool and delightful.
where weary and overheated man, or child,
may pass afew restful and cooling moments.
while the dinner is being placed upon the
table. After the sun has gone down, the
house may be opened, and the cool evening
ar allowed to enter. Lamps should not be
lighted unless the doorWays and window
openings are provided with mosquito netting,
as gnats, flies, mosquitoes, and numerous
other dlsagreeable insects will come in.
attracted by the light, and which, having
once entered, will remain all night, disturb
ing the slumbers of the lawful inmates.
The time is very short between the dusk
and bedtime, so that not much gain is made
in sewing or reading by lamplight in the
Summer season. 1t is much better for the
family to group together on the front stoop
or in cosey room, and while the shades of
evening gather, mellowing and softening the
spirit OF each individual, let them hold
friendly conversation upon the topics and
news OF the day. 1t will be time upon
which, in after life, the grown-up boys and
girls will look back with tender tear of re-
greet, that its pleasant hours are passed, and
which will have its ameliorating and refin-
ing effects, long after father and mother
have gone to their long home.-Mrs H. II.
I. in Boston Cultiudt0r.
Curing Sitting Hens.
The old-fashioned mode of curing sitters
rUaC tn dIInIy fIav,, al r