Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1919-04-01
Home Identification
(By Elizabeth Homes In the Jackson
County Farm Bureau News.)

Since the home is given distlnc-
tive place in the Farm Bureau organ
izatlon, we do we'll to stop and con-
slider the possibilities which lie unde-
yeloped in the home, for greater use
fulness, convenience and attractive
ness.
Is your home so arranged that its
activities may be performed without
waste of strength and time? Let us
sit down and study the house in
which we are living and see If 1t can
be improved la any way. Is II con-
venient? Is 1t attractive? II so,
why? Is there anything we can i'm
prove or must we submit?
II the present arrangement is not
desirable, II It is not the best adapta-
tion of space to the family's needs,
then set about to correct 1t, II pos
sible. And with the change, the up
heaval. the wedding out, endeavor to
make the home more attractive, the
commonplace more beautiful.
| have in mind a delightful illus
tration OF what can be done along
this line In this instance woman,
with true feminine aptitude for the
beautiful, found self1expression in
planning and working, with help, of
course. to make her home truly
beautiful home. She began with the
inside. The old house was surprised
to find itself with a bathroom, a
modern kitchen, with sink and run
ming water; also many other useful
and labor saving devices. Every
room was transformed to bring out
its best usefulness and attractiveness.
And this was not all. The outside
received its share of attention. After
water power was developed, the front
and side yards we're plowed up, and
soon in place of the weeds and fox
tail was a smooth green lawn, with
flowers bordering the paths. Morning
glories and nasturtiums were trained
upon the front fence, shrubs were
planted with the flowers along the
side fences, and a rose garden on one
side presented an attractive sight.
The Objectionable old woodshed was
covered over with vines, so that IL
added a picturesque touch. Altogeth-
er the change was so manifest that
1t proved an inspiration and delight
to others.
Perhaps in some cases where the
water supply is limited such extern
sive developments would not be pos
sible. But, no doubt in each and
every home In Jackson county there
is much that can be done in the way
of Improvement and Identification.
There are so many things In the
average home which have no beauty,
according to the best standards. Per-
haps they are retained to fill some
vacant space. 1t is better to have
vacant space than an ugly object
/ Nothing is more inartistic than a
crowded room. A room with few
good things in II is far more beauti-
full than a room which looks crowd
ed Nothing should appear which
has not distinct use or marked
beauty. The impression of crowd
ing is especially emphasized If the
walls are full SO much depends on
the hanging of picture, the placing
of vase or bit of statuary; the
general adaptabiIity of the furni-
ture
The Home Study Tour presents
splendid opportunity for co-opera-
tion, exchange of ideas, and dissemi-
nation, generally, of all useful house,
keeping knowledge. Really seeing
what others have done and are doing,
suggests such possibilities right In
our own home, both inside and out. |