davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08

air. In evaporating. the oil loses volatile
properties. but leaves something which abb
serbs and holds the dust. After the cloth
becomes stiff-that il. whom 1t has taken up
all the germ laden dust It can hold-tt is
dropped into boiling water, wrung out. and
recharged with kerosene. The advantage
of the process 10 obvious. Whereas. the
feather duster, beloved Of the housemaid
and the easy going mistress. scatters the
offending particles to settle again and float
to other parts of the apartment. the " dust
less " captures, partly sterilixes. and then
scalds the life out of them. Lot not the
feather buster be so much az named among
US in this warfare. 1t is q menace to do
nestle health, an invention of the adver-
sary Of law and order. Instead of 1t use .
soft cloth, whether oil soaked or not. and
wash 1t often In boiling water.
Care of the Ballroom.
The care Of the bathroom claims q lead
Ing paragraph. know one man whose
family was poisoned by sewer gas flowing
from a defective trap" Two OF the chill
dren died and the rest narrowly escaped
a like fate. The father. horr1fed by the
mishap, stubbornly refused to have bath
room and toilet closet in any part of the
house thereafter. A wiser course 10 to
make sure that everything connected with
the system Of sewerage is in perfect order.
and that it Is kept safe and sound. Then see
that the pipes are flushed twice . week.
oftener in summer. with boiling water.
Take the time Of day when the heat OF the
boiler II at its highest. open the faucet and
send a torrent Of hot water through the
pipes leading from tub. washstand. and
closet. Keep up the rush for ten minutes.
Twice q week pour q good disinfectant con-
tanning chloride Of lime into the traps be-
fore turning on the hot water. Scald out
washbowl ana tub daily. adding soap. and II
the water b hard, add ammonia to the
stream.
Every member Of the household should
have his or her own washcJoth or sponge.
and. whenever practicable, individual
cake Of soap. You cannot lay too much
stress upon this point. 1t is uncleanly and
dangerous to use sponge or cloth belong
ing to another person Our sensibilities
have been shocked and our credulity
strained within the last year by published
reports Of medical experts concerning the
actual perils OF public drinking fountains.
Statistics as to the prevalence Of foul dis
eases communicated by the general use Of
q common drinking cup or tumbler are un-
believable to the average reader. We do
not take them into account OF tho expedi-
ency Of care In tho use Of ones brothers or
sisters bath sponge. Yet the fact cannot
be ignored that q trifing cutaneous disease
may be communicated by the practice even
in clean families. Nor that the insensible
Precipitation and particles Of effets matter
thrown of by the cuticle under friction and
the softening OF hot water. remain. in part.
in the pores OF tho sponge and in the threads
of the crash cloth. and may be deposited
upon the skin OF the next bather. The
soap 10 less dangerous. inasnuch as the
water cleanses 1t, and the alkali neutralises
greasy and acid deposits. Yet have in
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08
Use Soft Cloth for busting.

All the same, she can do much to prevent
the dspredations OF the germs OF which the
hated dust 10 the vehicle. It 10 Byron.
think. who says: " The dust We tread upon
was once alive"
Science has taught us that It was never
more alive than now. Collecting In corners,
It offers . breeding ground for the eggs OF
moths, flies, and other domestic plaques.
Floating in the air It carries invisible germs
Of disease thrown or by lungs and skin. and
dried saliva deposited in gutter and vesti-
bule, lobby. and workroom. It coats fruits.
vegetables and meats exposed upon stalls
and barrows- 1t settles upon cooling jellies
into " cultures and ihfects milk, cream,
and butter. In my talk upon Covers and
Lids" tried to impress upon the house.
mother the imminent importance Of pro-
tecting foods against the inroads Of the
unseen destroyers. In this holy war. the
duster il her best weapon.
We have printed lately sundry interesting
letters relative to dustless busters" Sew
eral Of these advise squares Of cheesecloth.
soaked in kerosene and then dried in the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08
Three Things Required.


My mother wore gloves while washing
dishes. The fingers were cut down tar
enough to allow the use Of the dainty
tips, which were the only part Of her hands
wet In the process. Following her example.
I have never found dishwashing irksome.
have again and again timed myself when
the duty fell to me in the absence Of the
waitress. In fifteen minutes the work it
took her an hour to do was accomplished.
Three things are requisite to the swift and
right performance OF the task: Plenty Of
hot water. at least two pans, and enough
clean soft towels to turn out each piece
dry from the rapid manipulation. There
II no need OF 4 change Of dress. A big
apron protects It and gloves shield the
hands. She Il q slovenly or ignorant per-
former who plunges her hands into the
suds at any stage OF the performance.
There should be no grease in the suds.
The nrst hot rinsing water should take
1t on
A teaspoonful Of washing soda or . dash
OF ammonia in the rinsing water makes
clean work OF grease.
There y to my notion but one proper
method OF washing Dishes. add mourn
fully that In over half . century Of active
housswifsry I have had but one waitress
or butler who did it A. thought 1t should
be done. That was q pretty. bright. Irish
greenhorn." who had never seen q silver
fork before showed her how to wash
It She lived With me eight years, and IN
all that time my china, glass. and silver
were cleansed to my taste. In parting from
her At the end Of that time told her that
she would take good care OF her own store
a. plsnishinG." and why said u
She openeA her Hue syes wider but
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08
RATIONAL SANITATION IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

able quarter. Neither chamber ever had .
ray OF sunshine the year round. One
sickens at the suggestion OF the sluice of
sewer gas which must have shbed and
flowed above the heads Of the sleeping chill
dren. was In no way amazed whom the
mother lamented the ''malariAl tendsncies'
displayed by her darlings. She could not
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08

years back OF " 10 !" run through the lam
fly." Whooping cough. measles. and soar
let fever never re&reated in good order from
the house without numbering Ill the slig1-
bic victims upon the premises.
That was a matter OF course. It remained
an insoaubls mystery that Ill the childrea
should have ' bad colds at the same time.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08

Thank you! Electricity has been har-
messed to so many household implements
that your word will find interested read
ers.
n Junior Members Contribution.
ALTHOUGH I am only IL years old
should like to contribute my share to the
Helping Hand corner. It Is never too soon
or too late. to begin a good work. you know.
Herr are some items know to be true:
"A small handful Of salt in the water in
which potatoes are boiled with the skins
on will make them more mealy.
Potatoes that are to be baked should be
perfectly dry when they go into the oven.
They bake sooner than when put In damp
from washing.
ITO make whites Of eggs froth quickly
In warm weather lay them In cold water
for an hour before breaking. After break
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08

Tho changes In tho weather were freely
blamed for the Epidemic character Of tho
disorder. The idea that q common garden
variety Of cold In the head and sore throat
with or without the complication Il fever
should be catching would have been
hooted out Of court as absurd. Two and. II
the bed were wide. three infants slept In
one bed. Often = fourth lay upon = pallet
upon the floor, winter and summer. where
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08
Mending Wasliing Machine.

Anybody who uses an electric washing
machine land there are sundry patents of it
In the markell will read and maybe profit
by this briedlet Of domestic ways and
means:
Should the leather belt break. make q
substitute Of brssded olothesline. Tie It
very tightly in q double knot. binding the
ends smoothly to prevent fraying.
1T II now ready to be used a. Q belt.
and it works to Q charm. L. n W
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08

Boiled mutton. diced and marinadsa. then
Dreaded and fried Il lift ovsrl.
Mashed and Drowned swsst potato.
Fried salsify.
Cus.ard pudding.
Black coffee.
4 4
TUESDAY.
BREAKFAST.
Baked apples.
Cereal and cream.
Bacon.
French rollA
Toast.
Coffee and tea
LUNCHEON.
Nines Il mutton, In pAte pans. with an egg
upon each Il left evsrl.
swest potato cakes e. left ovsrl.
Baked tomato toast.
Nut cake anateA
Glasgow broth. bassd upon liquor IN which
mustoa was ooilsd.
Pot roast Of besf
Creamsd onsona-
:, lGashsA peeAto.
Apple and t.piosa pnedins.
1anek GolDss.
WEDNnsDAY.
BREAKFAST
OraApe0.
Cereal and cream.
Bacon.
o1seO mad1ns.
IpnUt.
Tea and cokeo.
LUNCHEON.
yF1As3sd besf and sgBA
Rseass &e06setss & In sv9l.
DDeakfAst mu0nA
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08
MARION HARLAND'S HELPING HAM

freezing cream without the aid OF ice some
months ago Several renewals OF inquiries
as to the component parts Of the mixture
said to be efficient In freezing the contents
Of the vessel they surround have been re-
ceived lately. Your confident statement Of
the results Of the experiment IL therefore
opportune.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08

~ large percentage OF housemothers
- In the city use gas ranges, and econ
omy IL SO much in the minds of US
all just now, that the accompanying
suggestions may not come amiss to
the woman who would make every dollar
10 the full work Of one hundred cents:
ION IRONING DAY Save gas by
ouEulng an old agate iron pan over the irons
= kseps the air from them and retains the
beat When I stop to turn an article OF to
fold II. and have to set the Iron down for q
minute or two, 1t goes under the pan Or
although this Il more troublesome-Is set q
keith OF soup or . pot roast upon the irons,
- - to cook it slowly while the ironing is
UotnS on.
Asringus upon buildings and pies will
brown slowly-as 1t shorld-if the dish be
Get under the blaze when one - cooking
Vegetables. 1t will color beautifully. and
thsgs 10 no danger Of searching.
PORK AND BEANS may be baked
Win little trouble and by the use Of very
Ntt3o gas II ono knows how to manage it
<By the way, will send you the recipe II
Jon want IT, While am working / use
. large oven which covers two burners, but
I li0ht only one. and turn It low, for baking
beanA set pan OF raw peanuts on top
Of the bsanpot. and a pan Of crusts to dry.
And they really dry. and don't brown Or.
e have no crusts. ! set q pan Of suet or
other tat to try out upon the pot You
can - the saving there.
al bake the beans all night. which makes
chem just right for breakfast. All who have
eaten them praise my Boston baked beans
And now. won't you say something Of
ash washing? Or don't you class that with
gas economy? Nearly every maid and
mistress dislikes this sort Of housework
! don't. for make 1t AZ easy a. possible
WIZ you give u your IDEAS upon the
subject! A BUSY Member
>HoD Mother Washed Dishes.
Ny opinion has remained unchanged -
to the much despised task Of dish washing
since wrote It out in full many years ago
In one Of my manuals Of practical house.
wlfery. I have never considered it
"meaial." nor yet 20 unpleasant ~ to
msr1t the stigma Of drudgsry. In the auld
lang syns OF southern housekeeping the
naastrsss Of big staff Of colored servants
(whom ahs never called 81 slaves y usually
washed her me CHINA and cut glase with the
silver after breakfast and supper. or ire
Qnsntiy supsrintsuded the operation - con-
Quoted by ne ecaorsd butler. II she did not
actually lay her own hand TO IT,. One OF my
earliest reoollsctions i Of my pride In hav-
ing small towel put into my hands and
being aasowsd to Wipe spoons - my mother
took then from the bet water. THIS was
- Ue4Aea I learned 1rom hQ:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08
MinelinR of Bredths Dm,eerous.

It II not q month since saw q pretty
woman snatch . piece Of cake from the
hand Of q young fellow with whom she was
chatting At table and proceed to nibble it
dain4ily. setting her peariy teeth In the
prints his had left in the dice. To complete
the disgustful play she dipped her spoon
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08

mind more than one case Of cutaneous dis
case contracted by the use Of soap Of fine
quality which had been used by one af-
f1icted by what IL known to the vulgar ~
seven years Itch" The irritation caused
by poison ivy may be transmitted In the
same way.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08

LAttuos salad.
c-acksrs anA cheese.
Corn search pudding.
Tea
DINNER.
Yesterday's soup.
Cold roast beef with horssraAash sauce
Il left ovsrl.
Canned string bsans.
Spanish rice.
Whipped cream pie
B3ack coffee.
rHUnsDAY.
BRnAUAsr
0rapsetuit-
Cereal and cream
Fish cakes.
Cuban banpults.
Toaa.
N and coma
Honey lto eat with biscuitsl.
LUNCHEON
a st9uy day lnnsAosAl
lEuetea broth. In euQaI
Waas6 and sauaaeA
Maple eEsom an1 Wamss 81 1asD91
oseoA
Mse11R
Rueato suup
,anne3oa q bssf. with brown gravy e ls1t ovsrl.
Baked bananaA
Canned ksstA
Batter pudding.
Black eof1ee-
4
FRIDAY.
EREAKFAsT
Oranges.
Cereal and cream
Buteee AsA.
-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08
Who1o wheat hgUoA
Toast
Tea and coffee.

Tea ana eonss.
LUNCHEON
Remains OF cannelo0. sliced ana warmed up
mefeV.
0axsd swese potatoes
Ium bread ana putter.
Aes ma iettuce saAao
cnsse ana cheese
Coooee ana mAfmaiaoe-
Tea
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08
Importance of Formulation.

importance o. e1tus0uOU.
II there be no peril OF this decided nature
to be Stunned In your home set down ~ .
fixed fact that It - not mice to use your
sisters sponge or your brothers wash
cloth. It II but one remove from tho un-
speakable abominatfon OF cleaning your
teeth with another persons brush. or hay
ing q joint manicure set.
These restrictions are not merely conven-
tional, or the whims Of ovsrfastidiouo in
dividuals who would dictate fashion to the
polite world. Each Is founded in sound
sense and wise sanitation. 1t Is the old
story Of keeping the streets OF jerusalem
clean by every mans care Of that portion Of
the street that lay in front of his own door,
Hand in hand with cleanliness comes ven
tilation of the premises inhabited by human
creatures. Every room in the house should
be aired thoroughly daily. no matter what
the weather may be. Give tho malignant
dust q chance to drift outward through
windows and doors. and Gods light and air
the opportunity of entering and clarifying
the room. That was what the dying Goethe
said: =" Glorify the roomr' The sunshine
is, in itself, a disinfectant. Let 1t reach
the far corners and make interiors to re-
joice and be glad in 1t.
It dispels glooms and moldiness; It substi-
tutes dry warmth for humidity: It chases
malaria back to its lair. and sets tubercu-
losis at defiance.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08

"a ~ = 8 ~ = :
general way) the subject Of one Of
your familiar talks In your Help
~ Hand Corner?
"There are hundreds OF housemothers
Who bestow little thought upon q matter 20
important to the welfare OF the household
that 1t should DO seriously studied by all
1atslligent women.
"Ths Corner is of great benefit to me. -
4 must be to other young housekeepers
who are trying to do their work in the best
possible way. MARY 8. g.:
The papers teem with tales of sanitary
reforms. based upon the discovery Of
abuses Of health and the resources Of SCI
ence for keeping communities clean. there
fore, sane. And all the while tho public
q large pays comparatively little attention
70 the homsly fundamental truth that sani-
tation, like the charity that sweetens the
moral and spiritual world. should begin At
home.
In compliance with the request Of an ss-
teemed correspondent. who. believe voices
the sentiment of numerous housekeepers.
old a. well as youngs we will touch upon
certain measures, precautionary and re-
medal by which tho health OF the family
may be bettered and maintained.
It goes without saying that cleanliness,
declared of old to be next to goodness.
which u the health OF the SOUL Is of para
mount Importance throughout the task. I
have referred before and with emphasis to
Tyndale's admirable treatise upon u" Dust
and Disease" Since dust II omnipresent in
our lower world 1t follows that war upon It
must be incessant Our housewife need not
Ay the hattering JUNCTION to her soul that
she can ever remit her efforts to get rid Of
It. Like the conflict with sin. original and
home made, she must "renew it boldly
every day. until she lays her dustsr by and
lies down to rest, and to be resolved into the
dust she has battlsd with long and gal
lantly.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08
Double Bed Foe to Health.

Another ancient foe to comfort and health
beloved by our forbears who knew no bet
ter and which intelligent, readlnA and
thinking housemothers are now banishing
from the home IN the double bed. It was an
immutab BILE law Of the feverish cold fifty
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08

into the cream upon hss piats aAA aAs .
mouthful Of II.
I'm bred" do you sayf called Il snly-
indecent and insanitary to . aogreo OK
which even . fast young woman Of the pro-
gressive century should have 6ome apprs-
citation
To breathe upou an edible = - eeavey to
It particles nom your breath Thsy may
not b dslsAsz3ouA They AZ net nhsay to
b. bsnsna1al. They are part ee0e@ body.
And We are not eanniba2A
II use great plainnsso q spsseA - - ~
cause I eomprshsnd moro clearly than
can express In print the unhsalthfsalness OF
Drinking from . vessel into which another
has brsathed and eating what other lips
have touched. ! verify bollovo Tat more
daosass0 are conveyed through the uaang1inG
Of brsa&hs than By the contact ef hands or
b. msans Of germs carried b. clethdng.
The wi9o mother will not ~ . 6svegish
child k1n her upon the lips. Nor win she
permit two healthy children 70 share the
same bed. A half century ago II HUSBAND
and wife occupied separate bsd0 II was
anesrsd At - forsagn fash1oo. unbeoom-
ing the customs Of republican America"
Now the exceptions are the old 1aslAoned
1ollk who psrsiAt IN prsferrin9 the broad.
unwisady couch 70 the Hight bras or snam-
elsd single bed with elastic spring naattress.
Beds Should Be We'll Aired.
Every morning the bed should be stripped
AZ soon a. the late occupant rises. Bolster
and mattress should be beaten ana laid
upon chairs to air and COOL The covers
should be shaken In the air and disposed In
such q manner that the air may freely visit
tham. The mattress should be turned and
laid on ent1 to allow free circulation Of the
morning breess. Three hours At least
should elapse before the bed - remade. II
takes fully that length Of time to dlsstpats
the odor and warmth imbibeo duE1nO the
night
Stop jars, etc. which cannot conveniently
DO removed from the bedroom should have
close tops and not be uncovered until they
are taken from the chamber.
There should be absolutely NO. odor in .
bedroom!
Smells" as we ought to know by now.
consist Of infinitestimal particles Of matter
floating in the air to the nostr1ls. When
bedroom has the unpleasant stuffy "
smell with which We are but too familiar it
= unclean and needs publication at once.
Glorify it by sending the pure outdoor
air sweeping through it. and. II you can. let
the sunshine 60 with 1t upon the pious mis-
sion. By the way. sensitive olfactories are
the most valuable auxiliaries the house
mother can have in this same matter OF
sanitation. Never try to kill an evil odor
By substituting the finest artificial perfume.
It u disguise, not Punishment. Make clean
work Of the duty by running the 81 bad
smell to earth and getting clear Of II en-
tirely. Suffer no temporizing with the de-
mon. II there be a lingering suspicion Of
dead and gone meals in the hall open all
the windows. II the fiercest tempest of the
season be raging. Freezing IL less deadly
than stagnant air surcharged with germ
breeding atoms.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08

pulasd out at their early bedtime. accommo-
dated . couple more.
We shudder now at the iniQuity Of the
trundle bed. which held its own for genera-
uons We recount how 1t was made up has
tily in the morning while stin warm with
tie heat Of the bodies 1t had held overnight
and pushed under the tail four poster to
stay thsEs. decent1y concealed. until night.
We rejoice 1t our egnAneipat1on from the
horrors OF an ignorant ags. A. time went
on apd medical science heightened nar and
dark cornssU We learned to lower from the
top tho sash Of q window remote from the
hsd and admit an inch or two Of night air
even In winter. while We aespt under two
pairs Of blanksts upon . feather bed. There
are stiu rational beings who would catch
their dsatA Of pnsumonia +" Wsre they to
leave . window wide opsn. On . stormy
nish&
Outdoor Sleeping Popul@.
The +" fad " Of sleeptne out Of doors all
ths year. protected from rain and snow by
q wind shield. 10 gaining favor with every
passing month. Faith In the method exsm-
plinss the truth that one cannot have too
much air while sleeping. provided tho COW
ere are warm enough to protect the body
AEV01 okkAAAA0SDD Inc Au0B0 WIZ ulR9 C4r0 Oh
all they can inhals and the blood will b.
enriched by the steady supplies Of oxygen.
Each member Of the family should have Z
single bed. Tho most robust cannot escape
the evil effects Of the exhalations from the
porss Of his bsd6ellow, and inhals with i'm
punity the breath charged with stomachi
UAseo and often tainted by catarrhal s1uda-
t1ons. This 10 not parior talk. It - less
olBsuave than the conditions deplors-
An ultra -1enttmental woman was describ-
Ing to M the sequel Of Z lovers quarrel che
had with her husband {" who always re-
NAMED my loverl'c after they had been
married ten yeara. Ths finale ran thus:
-" He had come in to the late supper I took
plsasurs in having ready for him. no matter
whom he got home. After We had made up
our quarrel sat upon hiD knss and ~ ate
loo cream from his spoon. turn ana turn
about, and We were perfectly happy"
It IL not uncommon even In our onught-
sned time to hear friend or relative sayt "
don't mind drinking after you" in takins
IT, tumbler from the other'N hand. Il ID
really esteemed by some a. q compliment
Tns spectacle Of two boys taking alternat b
bites Of an apple shocks few beholdsra
have heard educated. refined church mem
bers decry the introduction Of individual
communion cups AZ /" almost sacrilegious. y
One stickler for customs a. delivered BY
the saints" told M. that '' We are told thal
the cup Of blessing" etc. Thu Bible
speaks nowhere Of communion cups"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-08

whore they got the poison. II
was 30 hea1thyr'