davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08

ment with it now and see if it does not save friction. How do you arrange your day? Think it over and see how much system there is in it and If you cannot bring in little more to advantage. Do you plan out ahead what you shall have to eat and how your daily duties may be conducted or do you leave 1t to chance? Have you regular times for various tasks and go about them methodically? Do you keep things clean and in order or wait until they get soiled and upset before you set about making them right again?
 4; X
 l grant that 1t may seem easier to take work as it comes, but it Is a terrible waste of time and energy. For one thing, you never know what Is to assail you in the way of a duty unless each has it's ap- pointed time and place. To get up in the morning undecided as to whether sweep ing, cleaning, or baking is to be done; to be uncertain as to the cleanliness of any part of your home or of the condition of your larder makes for a disorder of mind which is to me the most fatiguing sensa- ton in the world. You can't blame any part of the household machinery for frie- ton when the engineer has no notion of how to get the best work of it and does not appreciate the value of the oil of system and steadiness.
 If you have never understood the mer- it's of system go over your household and study what would be the effects of meth od Introduce it and after faithful trial ask yourself honestly if you would be willing to go back to the old way. l shall be interested to know.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08

spoken, and the distance from the table in the dining room to the sink in the but ler's pantry was at least thirty-tive or forty feet. What the builders were think ing of when they arranged locations thus l am at a loss to say.
 More puzzing still to me was the fact that the housekeeper had found no way to clear the table except by carrying out a few dishes at a time on a small tray. A dinner wagon. even a large tray mount ed on high wheels, like those of baby carriage. would have made it easy for her to take out nearly all the dirty dishes in single Journey. She was accustomed to modern improvements and new inventions and yet she went on doing her work in the hardest fashion without ever thinking to look for the oil Of common sense which might have saved friction to the ma chinery and to the workers.
 !. m
 Not all the oil consists in appliances for Iessening labor, important as these are The method by which work is done has as much to do with making the wheels turn easily.
 To my own mind system is the greatest oil of all To have not only a place for everything and everything in its place but also to have time when certain du- ties are discharged and to do them then instead of at haphazard Is for me the best way of rendering work smooth and easy. To leave work at loose ends, to put arti- cles sometimes in one place and sometimes in another, for me means friction unen- durable and confusion worse confounded.
 If you have never tried my way experi-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08

| FAVE you ever thought of the kinds I of oil which may be used to help
 domestic machinery move with less friction?
 You notice that I don't say without friction" As long as we are human beings, with bodies which feel pain and discomfort, and such pain and discomfort react upon the mind, we must expect to find that now and then the cogs will catch. the bearings get heated, the machinery lag and drag. Or, to bring the figure from metaphor to reality, we grow tired. work becomes burden, the sharp or Respondent word is spoken, and feel ings are hurt. This is bad enough. but sometimes think that the remorse fol- lowing such slips of temper and tongue are almost the worst evils that result from friction-this and the suffering caused others by our fault.
 <: *
 It Is easy to think of high priced oils for household machinery. We can all fancy how much better We would be and how different we could make our lives 1 and ourselves in other conditions. If the kitchen were more conveniently ar ranged; if the heating plant were less troublesome; if the children were a little older; if the income were trifie larger:' If we could only afford to hire more and better help, life would be easier and the friction would be reduced or abolished.
 So we tell ourselves, but when we look about us we don't find that the neighbors who possess all the things we wish for are much better off than we. They change the place and keep the pain. They long for something different from what they have, and are quite sure that in other circumstances they would be as well off as we believe we would be in their places. So. after all the best thing we can do is to try to discover for ourselves the sort of oil which is needed for our own special machinery. and endeavor to improve ex- isting conditions without wasting time In yearning for complete change. What kinds of oil can we use and how must it be applied?
 In the first place, before beginning the oil, we are wise if we are sure that the machinery itself is in good order. Look about you and see if there are not defects which can be remedied.
 Of course, if you begin seeking for what is wrong you can keep it up in- definitely. Don't bother about what can't be helped. but make sure that there are no trifles bothering you which you can alter. How is your kitchen arranged? Does the table stand in the right relation to the stove? Have you a chair of the correct height to sit on when you work? Are the articles you use most frequently close at hand and together, or, do you have to run from one pantry to the other i, to get what you want to prepare each dish? When you wash your dishes do you follow the best method to save your self extra toll at the same time you get
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08

the dishes properly cleaned? In other. words, have you studied efficiency in your household work and put all your machinery in the best possible order2 If not, do that first
 All the little helps you have to your daily duties may be considered as oil to the machinery. Whatever you do to simplify work is also oil to ease the wheels and lessen the labor.
 ]: 1:
 Sometimes I go to place in the country where they seem to do everything in the most difficult way. There Is no running water in the house and this makes it hard for the women who have to carry the pails from the well and heat every drop of hot water used. These conditions it seems impossible to overcome, but the women don't tighten their labors as they might For example. the soiled dishes must be carried from the table to the sink, dis tance of at least thirty feet The sink cannot be moved or the table brought any nearer, but method might be dis covered for making it easier to take the dishes back and forth. A tray would naturally suggest itself. but that does iob SSCiii tp oSNui tO ttiU AeNl iiicl Wllt or. daughters. All plates. cups. and saucers, dishes, etc, are taken to the table in the hands and brought out to the sink in the same way. No one can carry more than a few pieces at time and repeated journeys must be made to and from sink. table, and china closet. For years this plan or lack of plan has been followed and no way of simplifying the task seems to have come to the workers.
 You may tell me that when people live
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08

But what of the oil for you who have always followed systematic habits? What can you use to lessen the friction which still exists?
 For one thing should try to find out If each part of the machinery Is working properly. Is every member of the family doing his or her share toward tie accom- plishment of tho household tasks? Are the children trained in orderly ways so that each one feels responsibility about putting away clothing, etc. Instead of leaving articles strewn about the house for others to pick up? That kind of train ing cannot be started too young If frie- ton is to be kept down to a minimum.
 acknowledge that it Is not always easy to insist upon this sort of routine in a household. Children are naturally un- tidy, at least the ma jority of children are and parents are likely to think that it is hardly worth while to enforce neat habits while the children are young. Yet this IS the only way to get orderlincss into some of them. and l have known cases where even this failed. But begin right and teach the youngsters to put away toys and the like as soon they are old enough to trot back and forth between their playthings and the closet or box re- served for the toys.
 Promptness is another one of the vir- tues which must be taught in the home if the wheels are not to drive hard and fric- ton to ruin the machinery Regular hours for meals and the habit of getting to them on time are essential in any house where it, tt,a ,,,tl. prevail. There are few more valuable oils in the domestic store
 + 4
 Thus far the oils referred to have been of an almost material nature. The vari- ety which perhaps does most to help pre- serve ease of action is a little different. Kindly words, patience. and long suffer Ing, restraint of sharp words. a check upon criticism, all have their parts as lubricants and are possibly of greater power than any other kind.
 Do you, personally, know of anything which makes work hard and tlresome and which takes the zest out of duty like harsh utterances lack of appreciation. carping and captous comments? On the other hand. do not generous praise. commenda- tlon. approval, help to Tighten any labor? What these in others do for you. your words and actions do for those about you. Try to sec what such oil of loving kind. ness will accomplish in making necessary duties easier in helping the toilers forget the heat and burden of the day. and take joy in the management of the never end ing. still beginning work of the home. ] have spoken often of the love which light cns service. Never does 1t show itself more efiicacously than when 1t is applied to serve as the oil which does away with friction in the home and makes all the wheels and cogs run smoothly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08
T Want q Music Box.

wonder if there is anyone who has a music box of any kind slowed away in the attic that could be donated to a noun tain community? There Is literary so- ciety for the young people here. but there is no kind of music to enliven the meetings and 1 have often thought what pleasure and benefit it would be if they could have the advantages of some really good music. This is an isolated part of the mountains. and the people have. the games and cus- toms of their forefathers still before them. They have pray parties where they sing to their dances such songs as Wee
 willy Wheat Old Dan Tucker, Turn That Similar Round and Round Dig Sweet Taters in Sandy Land They give dance occasionally with a squeaky fiddle as the orchestra, and have often thought as I watched them how fine and dandy 1t would be if they only had musical in- strument with some sort of cheerful
 lively musc-for young folks will dance the world over! There is an absence of feuds and antagonism here that Is appar- ent in other mountain places. This com munity is industrious. peaceful, and law abiding, but backward, of course. and lacking all the modern improvements of today. as we'll as advantages and pleas- ures. They charivari the newlyweds and the groom retaliates by firing a shotgun over the heads of the assembled guests, while the cowbells, plowshares. tin pans. hunting horns. and conch shells mlngle with the shouts and beating on the door by the young men and the paying and barking of the hunting dogs and colies, with full white moon riding over the woods and the red glowing coals of the burning brush heap at the side of the new cabin make a picture and experience pot easily forgotten by the newcomer in their midst. Later the door isthrown open and the laughing, boisterous crowd invited in to find shy young bride sitting on the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08

and ask some of the good women who read tito send you few bulbs and seeds?' So they gave me several copies of the paper. I cannot tell you how would thank you for any kind of flowers you might send. We so love narcissus and jonquils and Chinese sacred lily. or anything else of the kind. only wish could offer some- thing In return, but I cannot think of anything now but my thanks.
 M. l.. G, This letter, I am sure, will meet with a speedy reply from our readers. The pie ture will present itself to them as it does to me of the young girl and the old peo- pie; the sympathetic miners who wish to do their share In cheering the home sick child and who suggest the help of the Cornerites. Such an appeal Is never made in vain to our generous readers, and I look for earlyscall for the address of M T.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08
Varnish Stain on VoiLe.

Can you please tell me what to use to remove varnish stain from black and white yoile dress? I send a splendid cake recipe to use when eggs are scarce: One cup of granulated sugar, one tablespoon of shortening, either lard and butter, or good dripping and butter mixed; one cup of sour milk to which has been added one level teaspoon of soda, two cups or flour. using part of it to dredge one cup of raj sins or entrants; half teaspoon of cin- namon and nutmeg, pinch of salt. Bake for about thirty-five minutes in stem cake pan in moderate oven.
 MRS. H. A. S."
 Try turpentine on the varnish stain. and if this does not help why not experi- ment with the cleaning fluid recom- mended by Mrs. K. K. in the letter given above? Be sure to bear in mind her eau tion to use it in a room without a fire.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08
Lived on Ran Food.

' About two years ago you mentioned a Mrs. r. M. G.. who lived wholly upon raw food. l would like much to corre- spond with her upon her regimen of diet. If you have her address, would be glad to receive it. F. NJ"
 With the hundreds of letters which come to us weekly it is impossible to keep addresses after such lapse of time as this. Should this letter meet the eye of Mrs. r. M. G., shall be glad to hear from her and to put her In touch with r. M
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08
Good Home for Good Dog.

[" I want to thank you for putting in my request for embroidery and lace. have received many packages of beautiful lace and embroidery, besides other useful things for my wee girlies. have thanked all the good friends by letter except one or two who put no address on their pack ages. so that 1 had no way of knowing to whom to write. trust they may see this so that they may know how appreciate their kindness My husband wishes to ask for good dog to help drive cattle. as he is not able to buy one, but could give one good home and can say the dog would have good, kind master. So if any one has dog for which he wishes to find good home-a good cattle dog-here is the chance. We wish one with kind disposition towards children.
 MRS. D. D. B." It delights me to learn of the generous response to Mrs..D. D. .B.'s request for laces and embroidery with which to trim the frocks of her little girls, and I hope the dog to which she offers home may make an early appearance. It is a good chance for some one who has dog for whom a kind master and pleasant home are de- sired.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08

zines and thank them personally, but wish to express my gratitude to you also
 B. M. w." am much gratitied to learn of the satis- factory response to this correspondents request. Such letters as hers come to me almost daily and never fail to warm the cookies of my heart
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08
.HIS Is the first time have ap-
 peared in the Corner. of which
 I have been a constant and in- farested reader Besides the ad-

,~HIS Is the first time I have ap- 6k peared in the Corner, of which
 have been a constant and in-
 ! terested reader. Besides the ad-
 dresses for which ask I have other helps to pass on. Reader can re- move the gum from her carpet with ben- zine or with the cleaning compound for which send a formula. This will take grease spots from any kind of goods without injury. I also send a recipe for Italian spaghetti. We have had nearly every other kind and like this especially. Can any one send me bulbs of the. large leaf ornamental plant called elephants sar?- I can send in return cuttings of roses or various other things if I am told what is wanted. Here is the formula for the cleaning compound One pint of ben zine. three drams of alcohol, three drams of chloroform. two drams of sulphuric ether Keep tightly corked and do not use near fire. My recipe for Italian spa ghetti is as follows: Cut one pound of beef into cubes and fry brown in ho' dripping. Add one medium sized onion. sliced, fry to light brown; put in three whole cloves and three or four tomatoes and cook for fifteen minutes. Draw to a cool part of the range. add salt pepper, and a little water and cook for an hour. Have ready a large vessel of boiling salted water. put in half pound of un- broken spaghetti, and boil rapidly for fifteen or twenty minutes, or until ten der. Strew grated Roman cheese thickly over large platter, cover this with the drained spaghetti and the meat prepara- ton, put in more cheese and spaghetti Roman cheese can be had only at Italian grocery stores. One pound will go long way as the cheese is hard and dry. put 1t through food chopper and keep it in glass jar with white cloth laid over the top. It will keep indefinitely and is far superior to any other cheese for use in all such macaroni dishes.
 MRS. K. K"
 You have certainly won your welcome on your first appearance and hope you may come often again. The addresses you asked have been sent you by post. but am my possession. regret this the more be- cause for other requests, for it, as well as various letters which have come deal- Ing with her case. Part of these shall DPint and trust she may see them. Ihope you may get the bulbs you wish and am sure the recipes will be valued by the Cornerites. That for the Italian spa ghettl is going into my own scrap book 1t once.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08
Magazines to Cipe Apay.

If Catholic woman or girl would like number of fine Catholic magazines and is not able to subscribe for such wish she would communicate with me. l have some to give away. Mfss NJ"
 We have many Catholics among our readers and will gladly give the address of Miss NJ. to any who wish it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08

DINNER.
 Black bean soup. Chicken pudding lleftoverl Sugared sweet potatoes. Fried eggplant. Apple tart. Coffee
 FRIDAY.
 BREAKFAST. Oranges. Cereal. Parsley omelet. Quick biscuit Coffee.
 LUNCHEON. Baked eggplant and cheese [leftoverl. Scaloped sweet potatoes [leftoverll. Toasted biscuit Ileftoverl. Gingersnaps
 DINNER. Celery soup. Scaloped oysters. Baked tomatoes. French fried potatoes. Squash pie. Coffee. SATURDAY.
 BREAKFAST. Grapes. Cereal. Bacon and fried peppers. Rolls. Coffee. LUNCHEON. Celery omeet. Creamed potatoes. Whole wheat mullins. Jam. Crackers. Tea.
 DINNER. Tomato soup Ileftover]. Baked Hamburg steak with fried bananas. Brussels sprouts.
 Fig pudding.
 Coffee.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08
To Brighten q Sick Home.

"I am going to ask the dear friends of the Corner If they can help to brighten
 . sick home by sending some flower seeds and bulbs. I am young girl with the care of my grandparents. and as trey must live in the mountains get lonely sometimes and homesick as well. We nave plenty of water and good soil here, 10 I could grow flowers and they would e such joy to my grandmother and to Ene, too. We are too poor to buy bulbs, Yet those are the kind of flowers she loves. Some miners said-to me the other day, Little girl. why don't you write
 to the Helping Hand Corner in the paper
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08
Offers Reading A'atter.

" have number of magazines any of your readers may have by calling for them. MRS. F. F."
 Another offer of magazines, shall be happy to supply the address to any one willing to call for the periodicals.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08
Color for Baby Girl.

What is the correct color for a baby girl. pink or blue? A READER,
 Punk Is the color for the girl. I fixed this in my mind long while ago by two methods. the simpler being that boy and blue begin with the same letter. The other way to recolleet it Is that blue Ia supposed to be the soldier color for Amer jeans, as testified to by the song. The Boys in Blue.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08
Receipes Pleasant Surprise.

''1 am writing because I want you to know l sincerely thank you and the dear people who. in answer to my request some time ago for reading matter. have gra- ciously answered my request. When 1 came home from work yesterday l found the magazines here and I assure you that I was pleasantly surprised. l shall write to the good friends who sent me the maga-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08

her sufferings proves the interest and sympathy her case has awakened. Ap- parently there are many other women similarly afflicted who wish to console and encourage her in her trials. l am sorry that the counsel l gave in my reply to her complaint sounded cruel" for nothing was further from my thoughts than harshness But have known many cases like hers which were not founded upon any deep seated or undiscovered disease, but were due rather to self-indul- gence, to lack of vigorous interests. to a tendency to consider ones selfish ease rather than to brace Lp and seek oppor- tunities to do for others I fully agree with the first correspondent. who coun- sells good, wholesome food, fresh air, and diversion All these are most valuable, and if Mrs. M. M suffers actual pain of any kind, she should seek expert medical advice. This, however. she stated she had already done and 1t was because of the failure of physicians to help her that she turned to the Corner for counsel 1 hope some of that which has been be- slowed may be of real service to her. and I am sure we shall look with interest for further communications from her,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08
Adpice to Nervous Woman.

The letter from Mrs M. M touched me so deeply that am hoping line from me on the subject will not be violating
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08
Kaiser Potatoex

The following recipe for kaiser pota- toes may interest you Five good sized boiled potatoes. diced small: one small onion. grated; four pulyerized soda crack CTS. Butter pudding dish, put In layer of potatoes, onion, and crackers. with salt, pepper, and little Jumps of butter. powdered over with cracker crumbs. Make four layers in this manner with d generous sprinkling of paprka on top; pour over all half cup of milk and bake half an hour. This is delicious.
 NJ. I. C." Thank you much. New ways of cook ing potatoes are always welcome.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08
Spiced Applc Butler.

Will you please send me recipe for spiced apple butter? The kind want Ia dark brown in color. MRS. II. H. R."
 Boil cider down to two-thirds its orig inal quantity and put into 1t as many peeled and sliced apples as the liquid will cover. simmer. stirring often, until ten- der; strain the fruit out, add more apples. and continue to cook until the elder Is ab- sorbed. Set aside in a stone crock for twelve hours. cook again until soft and brown, add spices to taste and pack in stone jars. It is impossible to send rec- ipes by mail, regret to say.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08

LUNCHEON. Baked bread and cheese. Fried potatoes. Lettuce. Canned peaches. Crackers.
 DINNER. Brown potato soup [leftoverl. Veal curry Ileftoverl. Boiled rice. Chilled bananas. Tapioca pudding.
 Coffee.
 * j:
 WEDNESDAY.
 BREAKFAST.
 Grapes. Cereal. Bacon and fried peppers. Graham gems. Coffee. LUNCHEON. crisped dried beef. Baked potatoes, Quick biscuit. Honey
 DINNER. vermicell soup [stock from veal bonesl. Stewed chicken with dumplings. Rice croquettes [leftoverl. String beans. Brown betty.
 Coffee.
 <: as
 THURSDAY.
 BREAKFAST Oranges. Cereal. Scrambled eggs. Quick Sally Lunn.
 Coffee.
 LUNCHEON. Philadelphia scrapple. Toasted Sally Lunn Ileftoverl. String bean salad [leftoverl. Crackers. Cream cheese. Jam. Tea.