The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-24
USING Tnr GOOD AZ HAND.

USING THE GOOD Ar HAND.
A family IN New Carlisle, Ind. living
near the village Of Bootjack found
themselves I'm possession Of fine old
house and much more vegetables. fruit
and products from their farm than they
could use. with no market or income
from them. tells bulletin issued by
the American Society for Thrift. The
house was situated on the old stage
line where many tourists and travellers
passed. The reads from Michigan City.
Valparaiso and In Porte came together
at. that point in the form of boot5ack,
and in the days when that contrivance
was used to remove a mans boots there
used to be three taverns along this
road. So this family combined their
need, and that of the hungry travelling
public, the house and the garden pro-
Ducts. put out prominent sign. The
Bootjack him." and in seven weeks after
making this start they found they had
served about four hundred dinners.
Fried chicken. new potatoes. fresh vege-
tables, home grown Strawberries. cher
rfes, ETC., home made cheese made rich
with cream, practically everything
raised on the farm supplied the table to
the great satisfaction Of both patrons
and owners.
A similar case is that of woman
who. lived near the center Of . small
town where all the surrounding country
came to market and shop. The wives
of the farmers usually finished their
shopping in an hour or SO. but their
husbands were not through with their
bargaining, or possibly wished to walt
for some meeting later in the day or
entertainment in the evening. Where
to spend tho long intervals was a prob
lem with the wives and mothers. espe-
cially II they brought children with
them. Obviously a waiting room. at
least. was very much needed. So this
woman renovated her old fashioned
ps rlor. took up the carpet and put In q
couple Of small rugs, comfortable
chairs, a writing table, and a CRIB. This
hcme-like. hospitable waiting room was
soon well patronized and a source of in
come to q woman who did not have to
leave her own home to earn it.
There are many small towns which
have no waiting room or rest room for
women where this plan might well be
carried out. A conveniently located
rest room where CHEEKY hospitality is
extended without any suggestion of
curiosity or too much personal interest
evinced unless desired, would be a great
boon to many towns Of about 1900 in
habitants. In such places the visitor is
often worse OF than on the country
roads where she may at least rest un-.
der a friendly tree by the roadside.
Some Of the new county court houses
are providing a rest room for women
which in some degree meets this need.
The story Is told Of an old man who
called to his death bed his three stall
wart but shiftless sons. trying with his
last breath to admonish than for their
good and a reform Of their useless past
ION this farm" he began, treasure"
they strained for his last words. and
caught the word dig" These words
could be given only one construction in
the minds Of these young men who had
never loved work. They Immediately
began and they did dig.-they turned
over every Sfot Of the rich soil. and they
dug deep. No gold was found. but a
little later seed was put in this well
prepared ground. and legitimate treas
ure was found in the abundance of the
products from the land which the aged
man had not been able to use. and at
the same time the boys learned the
value of systematic and regular work.
As a rule it is not opportunity that Is
lacking, but industry and thrift.