The Meeker herald., 1906-07-07
KILLING HOUSEHOLD TASKS.
Energy Spsnt by Farmers Wives That
Night Be Saved by Propaa
Provisions.

Although the United States n 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 q 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-
venience 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, ut loss of from 80 to 500 per cent.
of energy In fruitless and uninteresting
drudgery, is largely accountable for the
number Of country women in the insane
asylums
1T is easy to draw mechanical exam
Piles of waste Of MOTHER says Mr.. Pies
sey, writing to the Woman's journal
of his project. land, strange to say. al
most as easy to point out the. mechan-;
ical corrections of 1t. For example. how
many farmhouse kitchens have pump
on one side or even in the yard, and a
cooking stove in recess corner, and
how often mother either lifts her pots
and kettles over the intervening space
and back. or. worse. transfers water by
the two quart or even quart dipperful.
Five hundred per cent. waste of me-
chanical energy, to say the least. when
running water and faucet handily
placed. with a 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 dishwa shing and dishwiping.
In large family literally hours of the
day are consumed ina back-breaking
process that legitimately should take
only few minutes al the most. say, for
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 a parlor, for al its 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
I'LL devised approach through the kitch-
en-. and almost generally even thrown
by careless ysAeainst q plaster ceiled
and papered wall as the box overflows;
whereas. no wood should enter the
kitchen except through trap from the
woodshed into closed box,
'Too frequently cupboards are mis-.
placed. Ill planned and remote Only
rarely Are tools and utensils arranged
about the table or workbench 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 shelves at the. stove or sink are put
behind awkward swing doors.
Practically nothing has been made
in the farmhouse Of the simple device
Of stone weight elevators, and mothers
back breaks in the Juggling Of boxes and
pals and baskets up and down, from
cellar to garrett"