Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1925-05-21
:: Uhurrh Arms ::
BETTER HOMES IN AMERICA
RADIO TALKS FROM WEAF
STATION. NEW YORK
By Mrs. VIM. Brown Meloney

the 1875 campaign to raise the stand
ard of American home life America
is growing rapidly in people, in power
in health. in science and in wealth.
The most significant phase OF her
growth is in her homes. 1t was esti-
mated at the close of the war that on
ly fifty one per cent OF American fam
lilies owner their homes. At that time
America was short a million homes,
but since 1919 il is estimated that the
shortage has been largely overcome.
On the whole the standard OF Ameri-
can housing has been raised. This is
partly due to the Better Homes move
ment which started in 1921, and which
aims to raise the standards of living
in America to teach people how to
get the best out OF their homes, the
best into their homes, to get the best
out Of life.
have been asked to tell you how
this great movement, which has been
spread all over America and into for
eign lands, came into existence.
This important educational work
which is now sponsored by the best
thinking men and women of the ma
ton. began in 1921 in a woman's club,
President Harding, who was visitin an
exhibition of a labor-Saving kitchen
expressed a desire 10 see such work
carried on in every town in the Union.
1927 was the year OF the Arms Par
lev. and Mr. Harding was bonding all
OF his efforts for national organization
toward that great movement 50 he
asked me to undertake the organiza-
ton OF trial campaign for Better
Homes. During the first year there
we're s2l small homes furnished and
equipped and opened to the public.
The following year more than 9OO
houses furnished and equipped and
opened to the public The following
year more than 900 houses were dem
onstrated. At the beginning of the 3rd
year the 'Delineator" which had spon-
sored this movement and financed it,
consented to its incorporation as a
public Service organization and re-
linauished entirely its claim upon the
work.
Herbert Hoover was elected pres
;dent of the Better Homes Corpora
ton.
IF YOU are concerned about the
youth of America. consider the work
of the High School students of Port
Huron, Mich. They have set splen-
did example for the Departments OF
Education. Women's Clubs, parents
and the youth of other parts of Amer
lea to follow
With the aid of Miss Elizabeth Car
Isle, a teacher of civics, and Mr.. Da-
Wis, Superintendent of Education, the
boys and girls of the Washington jun
ior High School raised the money to
put on the campaign of 1928. 1t won
the first national prize. The work &C
complished by these young people has
carried the fame of Port Huron over
America. out to the PHILIPPINE Islands,
into South America, and even to the
devastated part of France. This year
saw the Better Homes Demonstra-
ton in France as nearly patterned ait
err the Port Huron demonstration as
possible.
Port Huron now has the science OF
home-making taught in all its public
schools. It has a laboratory for teach
ing the art of living in all its high
schools. Last week ground was broken
for perfect little model house to be
attached the Washington Junior High
School and supported by the taxpay-
ers of Port Huron. This little house
will be furnished as far as possible by
the handiwork of its Junior citizens.
The ultimate aim of the Better
Homes movement is to have the sci
ence of home-making taught in every
school in the land just as those
schools now teach chemistry book
keeping, or the trades.
Therr are eighteen million homes in
America-the largest single industry
in the world, and it is worth the
thought of tie best minds in the land
to increase its efficiency, its satisfac-
ton and therefore its sacred product.
Primarily there must be homes fit
ted for proud race to call home,
and then they must be sufficiently fur
rished and attractively decorated to
bring cheer and pleasure and beauty
into the lives of the occupants. Every
| good home in America is an altar to
God. 1t is fortress for the protec-
ton of the liberty of the world.
AS closing thought I want to
leave with you the words of school
boy of Tennessee, who wrote this
prize winning composition for Better
Homes: "a Better Home is one my
Father is proud to support. my moth
er is glad to keep, ourf riends like to
come to- 1t is place to grow old in"
Fitzgerald finds itself living by
schedule if we keep pace with the
public program with planting Week
"Chautauqua Week" Cleanup Week,
Music Week, and now Better Homes
Week, there's little time left for Or
binary everyday duties that press for