Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1914-03-12

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 bust
ness, and better living"
1t 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 coEa
through cooperation, but as Father
Finiay says in the article hertofore
referred to, " At an early stage of the
movement a scheme of what was cali
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 CT
cleanliness and order, brought aFbut
the larger use of garden fruit and Veg
etables and laugh methods of preserv-
ing them.
Soon the men of the family, becpm'
ing interested, co-operated in the pro-
cess of home Frightening. SimIle imf
provements were made -
orally applied, d Kitchen gardeW oNf- 1
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 aG
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
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:
1.-THE work which the United lrishwom-
en- propose to do in rural Ireland may
be considered under three heads-ag'
riculture and industries, domestic
economy, social and intellectual de-
yelopment. Home dairying can be
much improved, and it is of immense
Importance that a sufficient supply OF
milk for every household should De
available. Many girls are employed
in shops at bookkeeping, but few ever
try to keep their fathers accounts Tor
him. although quite capable of doing
so when they first leave school.
1.-THE branch committee of the Unit
cd Irishwomen in cooperation with the
comfy committee under the depart
ment of agriculture, and assisted by
the farmers societies, could do for the
farmers wife what the Irish Agricui'
tural Organization society does for the
farmer"
Splendid Social Center.
member of the Kilkee branch of
the United Irishwomen writing TO an
American interested in the movement
saws: "Our neighboring branch at
Doonaha (about five miles from this)
has combined with the farmers and
others to purchase disused creamery
and make 1t into parish hall, where
We will hold classes under the various
,nstructresses supplied by the longest
ed districts board, the department ana
others. and where we will also nave
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
Kilkee later on.
Tomorrow we open our Girl club
for winter evenings here in Kilkee,
and in the same rooms. we provide hot
breakfast for the farmers and drov-
ers who come in with cattle, on fair
DAVIS at cheap rates. We also serve
hot cocoa to the school children who
need il, every day at luncheon hour"
And so the salvation of Ireland is
after all being worked out by big
cooperative scheme in which local So
cities, the wholesale society, the agri-
cultural department of the govern
ment, the /. A. o, s., the Irish Home.
stead, and the United Irishwomen ali
are playing important parts.