Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-06
HOMEMAKERS COLUMN.

ON topics Of interest tothe lAdie
IA soflcited, Address: Edito, HOMHNAKERa
COLUMN. Oxford Democrat. Paris. Maine.
KEEPING A HOUSE COOL IN THE
DOG-DAYS.
There is no precise date for the be-
ginning of the dog days, but in this lati-
tude the close, moist atmosphere, COM
monty known as dog-day weather, be-
gins about the first of August and may
continue well into September. 1t is not
for us to have six weeks OF
such weather. The problem of keeping
the house cool and comfortable in this
hot, sticky weather is not always an
easy one to solve. People who have
large houses, and money enough to
equip them with electric fans and other
appliances, can, of course, keep very
1t is more difficult to
manage small houses, but there are
many things that can be done to make
even the small house a comfortable,
restful place in hot weather.
It is not possible to keep a house
unless the windows are
shaded with blinds or awnings,
and are also well screened. Much may
be done in giving an appearance OF cool
ness to house. All the heavy hang
ings should be removed, and when posi-
BILE the carpets should be taken up or
covered with linen. Cool colors, such
as white, gray, light greens and blues,
should take the place of the warmer
colors. Thin white muslin curtains
soften the light. However, many peo-
pie object to even that much drapery in
summer time.
There are several devices that may be
used to advantage to cool the air. A
modified form of the Tattie employed in
India for this purpose could be made in
any country house. Make frames the
same as for window screens. Tack on
these enough narrow tapes to make q
support for thick bed of grass. Now
cover with long grass fastened to the
frame by sewing with Irvine. These
frames should be placed in the windows
and kept wet. The air passing through
them is cooled. A garden syringe may
be used to spray them with water. AS
these screens are not ornamental they
should be placed in windows that are
not exposed to the public view. Three
or four of these screens will do great
deal toward keeping the air in the house
cool and fresh.
A simpler screen may be made by COW
ering frame with coarse flannel, which
should be kept wet in the same way as
the grass screen. 1t is not so effective
as the Tattie; it also requires more care,
as the flannel dries more quickly than
the grass.
A still simpler device is to have wet
flannel over the ordinary screen, wetting
the flannel from time to time. If one
or two windows downstairs and a
couple of upstairs windows are fitted
with these wet screens they can be kept
open all day, thus keeping the air in the
house in circulation.
Some of the moisture may be removed
from the atmosphere by the use of quick,
lime. Put large Jumps of lime in earth
en- bowls and place about the rooms.
The lime has strong affinity for water
and absorbs it from the air. The slaked
lime may be used on the garden or about
the outbuildings.
Some housekeepers feel that if they
darken the house and close all the
windows, thus shutting out all sunlight
and air, they have done all that is
necessary for protection against the in
tense heat. 1t is, however, important
that the house should be we'll aired and
summed at least once day. The early
morning is best for this. Open all the
windows and blinds and let the sun and
air pour through the house while the
morning work is being done. About
nine o'clock close the blinds and all the
windows except one or two downstairs
and two or three upstairs. In the Oper
windows place the wet screens, or cover
the regular screens with wet flannel az
suggested. When the sun goes dOwr
open all the windows and blinds. II
the grounds and sides of the house car
be sprayed with cold water night ant
morning the air will be measurably
cooled and freshened.
The proper ventilation of the attic
and cellar is very important. A skylight
or window should be kept open night
and day in the attic, except of course
when it rains. The cellar windows
should be open only at night, when the
air is comparatively cool. Open then
at shutdown, and close them about eight
o'clock in the morning. Neglect of this
method of airing the cellar causes {
great deal of trouble during hot weather
If the windows are not closed during the
heat of the day the warm, moisture-lader
air enters the cellar and condenses or
walls, pipes, metals, etc. The colder
the surface the greater will be the
amount of moisture that will condenst
upon it; therefore the water-pipes are
wetter than any other part of the cellar
A few days of neglect will make the eel
lar SO damp that it will not be a suitable
place for keeping food.
BY proper management it is possible
to reduce the amount of heat produced
by cooking and heating. If the house il
lighted by gas use student lamps for {
steady light and for reading and work
lighting the gas only where it is neces
sary to have strong light, or where the
light is required for short time only
l suggest the student lamp because the
light is soft and steady, and it gives of
less heat than any other lamp of which
l have personal knowledge. Candles
should give sufficient light for the bed
rooms. If the candle is placed before {
mirror the lighting power is very mucl
increased.
The heat from the kitchen fire makes
itself felt in the back part of the house
If the house is supplied with gas good
gas range will be found ample for al
kinds of cooking. The heating of water
for the bathroom is drawback, but
there are good gas appliances for this
purpose. If there is no gas then kero
sene or gasoline may be used for the
greater part of the cooking. With care
full planning the heaviest part of the
baking may be done in the range in the
cool of the morning-the one fire answer
ing for preparing the breakfast, heating
water for baths, and doing such baking
boiling, etc., as may be necessary fol
cold dishes to be used through the day.