The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1904-08-09
KILLING HOUSEHOLD TASKS.
Energy Spent by Farmers Wives That
Might Be Saved by Proper
Provisions.

Although the United States is pre-
eminently the paradise of labor saving
devices for women Rev. e. P. Pressey.
of Massachusetts,, is of the opinion that
not nearly enough has been done in the
way OF easing domestic conditions for
them. AS an illustration OF what can
and should be done, says the New York
Tribune/he hopes to establish model
farmhouse with labor saving devices for
the prevention OF what he terms moth
ercide."
Mr.. Prsssey considers that the farm
house kitchen has not improved In con-
venienee for so years, and that the fact
that some things are done as they must
have been done at the first advent of the
race, at loss OF from 80 10 800 per cent.
Of energy in fruitless and uninteresting
drudgery, is largely accountable for the
number Of country women in the insane
asylums
ut Is easy to draw mechanical exam
pies of waste Of mother, says Mr.. Pres
sey writing to the Woman's Journal
of his project. "and, strange to say, al
most as easy to point cur he mcchan-
ical corrections OF It. For example. how
many farmhouse kitchens have pump
on one side. or even in the yord and a
cooking stove in recess corner. and
how often mother either lifs ser pots
and kettles over the interv ring SPACE
and back, or, worse, transfeIs aier by
the two quart or even quart Giprerful.
Five hundred per cent. waste cf me-
chanical energy, 10 say the least, when
running water and a faucet handily
placed with slight hose attachment,
are always attainable In time on the
poorest farm
Take another even less excusable
example Of even greater and more no
ticeable waste and more palpable drudg-
ery-the dishwashing and dlshwiping.
In large family literally hours of the
day are consumed in back breaking
process that legitimately should take
only few minutes al the most, say, for
a family OF Is. There are devices, very
simple and inexpensive, for not mere
ly cleaning dishes but even sterilizing
them. so thorough and efficient are they.
"In the average kitchen, but for the
presence Of cook stove and things get
ting ready TO eat, the room might as
well be shed or parlor for all it's be-
Ing built for dispatch OF business.
Parings and waste are brought in to
necessitate constant sweeping. and other
litter, and especially wood, is toted
across to a misplaced woodbox with an
III devised approach through the kitch-
en-, and almost generally even thrown
by careless boys against plaster ceiled
and papered wall as the box overflows;
whereas, no wood should enter the
kitchen except through trap from the
wootshed into a closed box.
TOO frequently cupboards are mis-
placed Ill planned and remote. Only
rarely are tools and utensils arranged
about the table or work bench for the
swift convenience OF the hand, but are
hung on nails and hooks. with the main
idea of getting them out of the way OF
other things, or, stupidity of stupidities!
when washed, heaped together on q
clean shelf in the back of the pantry,
whittier mother hastens so times day
TO select her tool as need arises 20 feet
away by the sink, stove or kitchen table.
Again and again things that belong on
open sbe!"es at the stove or sink are put
behind aw ward swing doors
Practically nothing has been made
In the farmhouse of the simple device
OF store weight elevators, and mothers
back breaks in the Juggling of boxes and
pals and baskets up and down, from
cellar to garrett"