The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-05-28
THE CELLAR CAMPAIGN.
The Season Has Arrived for Its Vigorous
Accomplishment.

Accomplishment.
AS the spring draws On and that
tired feeling so graphically portrayed
by the vendors of various patent medi-
cines takes possession of us, our
thoughts, which fain would revel in
| swelling bud and freshcning green,
must, if we are housekeepers, be
brought to the depths of our habita-
lions, and the needs of tie cellar-the
very source and inspiration of many
Of our corporal woes-receive our
first attention
In the. large cities, where supplies
are bought in limited quantities, the
cellar debris is of different character
from that which litters the ground
apartment of farm or village residence.
Here repOse in mute inglorious ease"
ii5mantled packing boxes, incapaci-
lated coal scuttleS, punctured wash
boilers and dislocated boards, and all
too frequently Il collection of bones
and paylins that the cat has dragged
down unbeknownst to me, num-" and
which from all appearances should
long ago should have been relegated
to oblivion. How, then, can the inter-
asts of health be better conserved than
bJ devoting the first bright sunshiny
spring morning to vigorous onslaught
upon this subterranean catch-all of our
dwellings,?
We can all realize the danger that
lies in wait for those who neglect this
important stronghold of disease. From
an ill-kept cellar rise poisonous ex-
halatiOns that permeate the house. Ma
laria here lies in wait for victims, and
from here diphtheria and typhoid fever
and rheumatism send out their i'm
palpable but deadly miasma. For,
although disease germs may originate
in the cellar, they are no stay-at-homcs,
and soon make their way from cellar to
attic, leaving destruction and even
death in their wake.
Aiming ourselves, therefore, for the
conflict in cap and jacket and Old
gloves, let us head our light brigade
and proceed to fall upon the enemy
right valiantly.
The first attack should be in the ma
lulN vi Il lOllS anu llO llii ltl SIOull
be shown.
If a few potatoes are left, sprout
them, and lay in clean basket or box;
then fall upon all other valetudinarian
vegetables that skulk in corners and
behind boxes and barrels, and give
them decent sculpture in the ash re-
ceptacle. Then sweep down the cob
webs; send the most agile member of
the corps with dustpan and brush into
the bins, with instructions to "spare
not" empty barrels and boxes. Sweep
up the dirt, and let no tender senti-
ment withhold the avenging hand from
veteran and rusty foot tubs, teakettles
and coffee mills.
Boxes and barrels that are not need
ed can be chopped up and added to the
kindling pile; pork barrels can be
emptied and scalded; butter tubs
scraped and washed. Brush off the
swing shelves; wash out the cupboards
where the canned fruit is kept, and
scrub the cellar stairs. Then, with a
bucket of lime and an old broom, if
you have no brush, give walls and cell
ing thorough coat Of whitewash.
That will sweeten the air and bring
cleansing and healing in its wake.
This being satisfactorily accom-
pllshed and a half peck of unslaked
lime placed in an open box to absorb
the moisture from the atmosphere, the
troops may be withdrawn for rest and
refreshments assured that their first vic
tory in the spring campaign is comfort
pbly perched upon their banners.-N.
Y. Times.