Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1880-12-24
A Cooperative Home.


operative principle, to enable the me-
chanics and.employes IN the factories at
that place to enjoy the benefits and
comforts Of home life, and at the same
time secure them at low cost. All
members of the home share in the pro.
fits of the stores connected with it. or in
other words, get their goods ut first
cost. Mrs. Bristol, who visited the in
stitution, thus writes to the vening
Post:
'The Social Palace at Guise is an i'm
mense brick edifice in the form of three
parallelograms, each of which encloses
an interior court paved with cement
and covered with a glass roof. The
court of the central part of the edifce is
about a hundred and fifty feetin length
and sixty in width. Around the entire
circumference ofthese courts are three
tiers of galleries, upon which open the
doors that give entrance to the family
apartments. and also the windows Of
the interior row of rooms, hese gal
leries are very pleasant and attractive,
being arranged in manner that pre-
vents accidents to children. protected
from all inclem.ncy of weather, cheer
full with the light Of the spacious glass
roofs, and fresh with the perfect venti-
lation afforded by the grated openings
in the court from the underground gal.
leries. and the circulation of AIR through
the large corridors opening upon the
galleries and connecting the wings with
the central portion of the ediice. Here
the visitor who takes advantage of the
delightful promenade which the CALLER
les afford, will he likely to meet in the
morning, children from one to two
years Ofage tOddling alongin all liberty
and safety; or if it is afternoon one may
chance upon groups of young girls sit
ting together, their hands occupied
with some light employment as they
converse. Here, TOO. in the early part
of the day, one is certain to encounter
many of the women of the family home
As they hurry along the galleries and
corridors intent upon their daily voca-
ton. Most OF these women look strong,
tidy, healthy and cheerful, and like
nearly all the women of French peas
antry, they are brown and rudy. wear
caps of white muslin as the ordinary
covering for the head indoors and out,
and protect their dresses with the large
aprons common to domestic service.
They have.E ian executive or cuisines
like air, Yet never forget their saluta-
ton ofpoliteness as they pass you.
Many OF the windows of the home,
those which open on the exterior of the
facade, as we'll as those which command
a view of the central courts. are beauti-
full with pots of magnificent geraniums
There are more than 1900 of them in
the Social Palace. space and light"
says N. Godin, .'are the first stimulants
to the healthfulness and cleanliness of
the Home Hence there are no dark
closets or corridors at the Home. From
every point of view these windows com.
mand pleasing prospect.
The rooms of the Unitary Hahitation
vary in their dimensions, SO that the
workman is able to select such as will |
comport with his means. The convent
ences Of water, ventilation, space. light |
and the pleasures of the galleries and
courts are alike on every story. At the
top of the editice are large graneries or |
store rooms for the convenience of each
family, and under the entire palace are
cellars divided into compartments, with
doors numbered and walls clean and
white.
During my stay at the palace entered
many of the apartments. and whenever
! walked the galleries had an oppOrtu-
nifty to look through the large open
windows into the interior row of rooms.
Many are handsomely furnished and
are kept with great neatness: others are
more scantily furnished, and some are
less tidy in appearance. The inequali-
ties which nature established between
human beings ale not less manifest in
housekeeping than in other depart
ments of activity, and the United Home
at present offers no exception to this
rule, other than that the conditions of
the home life and the conditions of the
institution, modify the degree of dispar-
ity: since any marked phase of untidi-
ness would be certain to fall under the
of the vlgilant director of
the establishment, NJ. Fabre, and would
become a cause for exclusion.
The stores of the ASSOCIATION are IN
the lower story of the central part of the
building, and are attended by women of
the household paid by the association.
These stores are supplied with whatey-
.r is necessary for ordinary need and r
comfort. One fails to discoy. =
er any trace of confusion in the daily
and operations of the So :
,ial Habitatlon. This is due, probably
o the perfect system adopted by the
he managing council and the vigilance
md good humor of the head agent
)ne fails also to hear the noise which
night naturally be expected from tami-
les living in such close proximity.
This is due in part to the architectural
and in part to system
which relieves the family from most of
he causes which produce noise and con-
usion and implants in the minds of
ach desire for the well being and
omfort of all: for the two primary
auses of noise and disarrangement in
ne home ST the worklngman are cooking y,
nd washing, In the Unitary Home the M
ecessity for cooking in the family
partmentS is very much lessened:
read being in ample quantities at the
ores of the institution, and fruit being
rought from the country every morn
" to the doors of the edifce.
he family washing also can be accom-
ished in separate building furnish
with every convenience for the
,rpose. Here, in the early part of the
eek, women are found busy at this SER
ce. which is rendered so easy by the ST
nvenience of arrangement that it
ems nllifp diyeStea of lie old tina o.