Evening star., 1923-07-13
Plans for Family Outings

COOPERATIVE picnic is an
~ excellent idea for summe r
outing. 1t reduces the work of
preparation as well as the ex-
pense an ordinary picnic involves.
Two or three families could combine
to give cooperative picnic. Each
one should agree to provide certain
articles of food and equipment. and a
consultation should take place before
hand, so that no overlapping will ensue.
In order to make the most of last
summers outings. one family went
into session with regular committees
and committee work. The father
composed the entertainment commit
tee, whose duty it was to keep track
of trains and boats, plan trips and
similar work. The mother composed
the social committee. She provide ed
the lunches for picnics and invited
the guests. The porch committee and
the flower committee were repre-
sented by the two daughters. and as
both had rather heavy work. they eX-
changed places at the end of each
week. The porch committee placed
chairs, rugs and tables on the porch
every morning and removed the same
at night. The flower committee re-
filled vases every day. and watered
flower boxes and potted plants. The
youngest child of five was made the
comfort committee. whose task il was
to bring fans, footStoolS, cushions and
books and run little errands for the
bigger folks.
a common purse for travelling COM
panlons would do away with a great
deal of confusion and the WEAKNESS
OF settling up after each day of
sightseeing. Every morning each
member of the party should put a
specified amount of money into a
common purse, from which equal ex-
penses, such as car fares. fees. lunch
cons and other items. are to be paid.
Personal expenditures or extras
should be taken from individual
purses.
Simple Weather Prophets.
If YOU are in doubt about the
weather conditions for certain day
observation will reveal that cats are
quite good weather prophets. When
pusS settles down indoor. III the.
morning. expect bad conditions dur
ing the day, no matter how promiS-
ing the weather may appear to be-
Fowls are also useful to watch If
the weather is going to be fine. they
will keep out in the run and be very
active. If rain is coming. they will
remain either in or close to shelter
and will be liStlcSs. Some flowers.
including the scarlet pimpernel. give
indlcations of future weather condi-
tons. Common weeds. such as daNde-
lions and daisies. only open complete
lN when II is likely to be fine for
some hours to come. Watch how the
bubbles behave when lump of sugar
IS placed in cup of tea or coffee.
When the bubbles keep together and
N l., .;,
that rain is coming soon. If the
bubbles break up and disperse rap
idly over the surface. there is every
reason 70 he hopeful about the
weather.
In Your First-Aid kIt.
According to government DOCTORS
before starting on vacation of CON
siderable length of time you should
supply Yourself with firSt-aid kit
which contains four ounces of castor
oil. one dozen compound cathartic
pills, one draChm p"rmn&ganate Of pot
ash. one hOt-water bag, two ounces
of hicarbonate of soda. two ounces
tincture of iodine. two gauZe band
ages two and one-half inches wide
two cotton handaEes three inches
wide. one roll of adhesive plaster one
inch wide. one dozen safety pins. two
ounces of absorbent cotton and one
yard of plain sterilized gauze
Before starting on hiking trip
soak your feet in warm water to
which good handful of ordinary
salt has been added. Dry thoroughly
then rub the soles and heels all over
with methylated spirits and dust with
powdered fuller'S earth or boracic
powder. This will prevent the feet
from becoming hot and uncomforta BILE
throughout the whole day. Should
there be a tendency to blistered heels
moisten d cake of soap and rub it
over the inside of the heel of the
stocking and the inside of the heel
OF the shoe.
To avoid having blistered palms,
which generally appear after rowing
for some time, rub the palms of the
hands very thoroughly with common
salt and then sponge them either with
toilet vinegar or ordinary vinegar.
allowing the vinegar to dry into the
skin. If At the end of In. G"'-. IN
spite of this precaution, the hands
feel sore. the palms should ne ruDoru
with a little clarified mutton fat.
When there is no ice available and