El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-29

II CONO1IY in the home may be said
n to begin with the purchase of sup
~ plies, for If proper care is not
taken I'm this detail no amount Of
after care can replace the loss sus-
tanned HOusekeepers should paw the
closest attention, not only to the quail
ty Of the articles purchased, but also
10 the quantity delivered, In view Of the
results of the Investigations which are
still In progress in some parts of the
country regarding the use of faulty
weights and measures. Clement DFis-
coll, commissioner Of weights and
measures iu New York says that short
weights and measures cost the citizens
of that city at least $4,000 last year.
/ The shortages ran from g to 70 percent,
I according to the material purchased
and the place at which it was sold
short Measures Used.
In the sale Of fruits and vegetables
there seems to be no limit to the con
trWances Tor short measures. Baskets
are often found which are full size in
appearance but have false or raised
bottoms, which take off a quarter Of
/ their apparent contents. This is also
the case with wooden measures. There
are scales which seem to weigh cor
reetly to the eye Of the customer, but
really average the loss of several
ounces to the pound.
This shortage IS not confined to food
stuffs- Tt is just as frequent in dry
goods stores. Some Of the yard sticks
Of an inch short, while the tacks placed
along the counter for measuring are
frequently half an inch short of the full
yard. SpOOls Of silk and thread have
been found to run several yards short
Of the number accredited to- them and
the same is frequently true Of tapes
and ribbon sold by the bolt
The United States government, as
well as the local authorities are max
ing valient efforts to secure fun weights
ana measures throughout the country
To aid this purpose every household
should be equipped with accura tie scales
and set of standard measures To
large degree the reform of this evil
rests with the women Of the country
1t should receive constant attention
because carelessness in this particular
affects not only the individual home
economy, but the welfare of the entire
nation
Food should BE Pure.
In the purchase Of food the points for
consideration are its purity and its nu-
trlLYe value The most expensive foods
are not always the most nutritious. It
ls not always wise to Judge by first
appearances. Everything should be
thoroughly examined before purchas-
ing. lady noticing basket Of sound
apples rather dull and cloudy in ap-
cents, was the answer. And these"
she asked, indicating a basket filled
with apples which were shiny ard ROSY
Those are p cents answered the
order Afterwards IN going to another I
part # the store she saw a boy seated |
ny a barrel or the dull looking apples. I
He was taking them out one BY one I
and polishing them with a filthy look I
ing cloth, AFTER which they were placed l
in basket ticketed % cents. The VrO- I
man who purchased that basket received |
10 cents worth Of fruit which had been
rendered less sanitary by depriving it /
Of Its natural bloom, although she fg-
noranty paid 10 cents for the process.
Yet the majority Of women paid the I
ditIerence for the attractive looking /
fruit
Whenever possible. supplies pur- /
chased In quantity save both money ]
and time ID the purchase Of food. how /
ever. the matter should be carefully I
considered as very small quantity OF I
spolled rood VIII counterbalance the /
saving Perishable food should be pur- /
has exceptional facilities for storing III
lnder present day conditions it is fool I
Ism Tor woman with q medium sized {
lamlly 70 purchase large quantity OF /
meat at one time, because 1t VIII have /
10 be preserved IN some way which Z
costs both time and labor It Is I
peter 10 buy less meat substituting for
II some other kind Of food. There are /
many food products. however. such as 4
sugar, cereals. dried fruit and canned
goods which viii not deterfOrate by be-
ing kept for some time and these the
wise housewife always purchases in
quantities.
Cooperative Purchases.
me women or small towns and sub
uros frequently cooperate in the pur-
chase Of supplies If several families
unite In sending a weekly or monthly
order, they can secure much better
prices than If each ordered. separately I
The dealer economies also in the eX-
pense or service and separate wrapping /
Despite the ridicule which the Ameri-
can humorist has already begun TO turn
upon this cooperative method Of food
g la IN
time and is rapidly gaining In pOpu-
larity. BY receiving the market .renorts
from the nearby cities, the hOusekeepers
are able to keep themselves informed
aS 10 the prevailing prizes, and are less
likely To be OvercharFed.
Every Good buyer owes Il to her own
house I'D, as well as to the general
public, to purchase food only where
there IS the strictest enforcement Of the
sanitary regulations. The possibilities
Of illness through careleSsness in this
respect render It only economic pru-
fence While most people turn dis
sustedly from noticeable Indications of
filth, there are habits existing in many
stores which pass unnoiced. though I
most menacing TO public health. The
meat block may be uncleaned. oysters
nay be opened into dirty buckets. the
grocer apron may serve as towel or
handkerchief and many similar matters Z
equally unpleasant TO mention may
,ause IN epidemic of disease fin some
lnsuspecting household.
Sanitary baking.
Most Of the shops where bread and !
bakery products are sold are clean and
ttractive in appearance. but often the
opposite would be found true Of the
bakeries themselves. Those who buy {
lread for home consumption should as
ure themselves that II is manufactured
lnder proper sanitary conditions. Pur-
.hasers should also require their bread I
O be handled I'm a hygienic manner in
Is delivery. Several states are consid- e
ring a law requiring that a loaf Of j
read be Immediately placed IN a pa q
'er bag after 1T is baked. One baker I
n a small city tried this plan last 7
ear but gave it UP for lack OF en- q
oura cement He said that people {
wanted TO see their bread. and the pa {
Ter bag entailed an expense he did not
eel justified in continuing. But the c
Wrapped loaf Of bread is now becoming q
ecOgniZed as sanitary economy and il / G
yin soon become popular. s
The economical housekeeper will al a
rays attend to the buying in person t
nd inspect each article selected The fl
ealer undoubtedly prefers the trade D
( the customer who gives her order E
yer the telephone OF sends IL by a child I .
r a servant. But the woman who does I y
his does not give her family as good ]
esults for the amount Of money ex- i