The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-03-13
The Irish Homestead.

The irish Homestead.
The great cooperative movement is
not without its press organ. The Irish
Homestead announces itself as the
organ of Irish agricultural and indus
trial development" Such it undoubt-
edly it. 1t does not, however, confine
itself to teaching the doctrine of CO.
operation, but contains departments
dealing with all phases Of agricultural
development The number before me
has articles or comments upon the fol-
lowing subjects: The Plea for the
Middleman." "Seed termination and
Growth" Live Stock Notes" "Tuber-
culosis," Poultry" Creamery Man
agement," pages for Irish Country
men," It also contains a column de-
voted to to the interests Of 1.-THE Unit
ed Irishwomen." The Irish Homestead
is edited by George w. Russell, a
brilliant writer, the clarity and force
Of whose editorial comments extend
the subscription list to many who are
not Of those directly interested in the
agricultural subjects which are the
maintops discussed in the journal.
The United Irishwomen.
In all his efforts for improving the
conditions of rural Ireland, Sir Horace
Plunkett makes constant use Of the
formula, Better farming, better busi-
ness, and better living"
It Is true that better living" is
placed within the reach of many an
Irish family because of the returns
guaranteed from the better farming
and better business which come
through cooperation, but as Father
Finlay says in the article heretofore
referred to, At an early stage of the
movement scheme Of what was call
ed "home-brightening" was put into
operation in certain selected centers
where successful cooperative societies
had been established. Educated ladies
who had experience in peasant life in
the more advanced rural communities
of the continent were settled in model
cottages. They received the women
and girls Of the locality and taught
them such elements of housekeeping
as would enable them to turn the re-
sources of house, garden and farmyard
into best account Later they became
more intimate in their advice and as
sistance and became instrumental in
the preparation of the family meals,
suggested reforms in the matter of
cleanliness and order, brought about
the larger use Of garden fruit and veg
etables and laugh methods Of preserv.
ing them.
Soon the men Of the family, becom.
ing interested, co-operated in the pro-
cess Of home Frightening. Simple i'm.
provements were made, whitewash lib.
orally applied, kitchen garden cul.
tivated, trees and flowers were plant
ed. and shrubs and roses trained to
grow against the walk. The cost of
this home Frightening scheme was at
first betrayed by Sir Horace Plunkett,
who devoted to it the salary attached
to his Office of vice-president of the
department of agriculture. He realized,
however, that it was essentially a
women's work and should be in their
hands. This led to the organization of
"The United Irishwomen." AS Miss
Pilkington, one of their leaders, says:
"The work which the United Irishwom.
en- propose to do in rural Ireland may
be considered under three heads-ag.
riculture and industries, domestic
economy, social and intellectual de-
velopment. Home dairying can be
much improved, and it is of immense
importance that a sufficient supply of
milk for every household should be
available. Many girls are employed
in shops at bookkeeping, but few ever
try to keep their fathers accounts for
him, although quite capable of doing
SO when they first leave school.
"The branch committee of the Unit
ed Irishwomen in cooperation with the
county committee under the depart.
ment Of agriculture. and assisted by
the farmers societies, could do for the
farmers wife what the Irish Agricul.
tural Organization society does for the
farmer"
Splendid Social Center.
A member of the Kilkee branch OF
the United Irishwomen writing to an
American interested in the movement
says: Our neighboring branch at
Doonaha (about five miles from this)
has combined with the farmers and
others to purchase disused creamery
and make it into parish hall, where
we will hold classes under the various
instructresses supplied by the congest-
ed districts board. the department and
others, and where we will also have
dances, plays. concerts and all the
other things which make life happy for
the country side.
Our branch here had an entertain
ment on November eve. which is an
old Irish festival, as perhaps you know.
We had games of various kinds, and
dancing. including Irish jigs. We now
have a teacher of plain needlework
sent by the congested districts board,
in Doonaha, and hope to get her for