Evening star., 1926-05-28
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES +. TRACEWELL.

Better Homes and Gardens was the
answer to our unexpressed plea. That
literally thousands and hundreds OF
thousands Of persons throughout the
| United States felt just as we did was
shown by the growth OF the publica-
ton, which has been achieved mostly
by "mouth-tomOuth" recommends
| tion.
There is no .One who has been privi-
| legged to watch the growth ana better
ment Of this publication, published at
| Des MOines, with its still very low
price, who has not given 1t place
| in his heart perhaps held by no other
maxaZine.
Those who take Better Homes and
Gardens form the greatest fraternity
| in the United States. for they are
| united by a common love of the finest
| things In life. They require no pledge
| Of fealtN. for they gave 1t without ask
ing when they developed. as child or
'grown.up," a love for the home and
all it stands for.
Truly, the readers Of Better Homes
and Gardens might appropriately par
| aphrase the pledge to the flag repeat
ed by the school children OF the Ma
! tom:
| II pledge allegiance to my home.
and to the Republic for which it
stands. my home indivisible, with lib.
erty and justice for all"
The home does stand for the Re.
| public. AS Washington Irving said
| SO long ago, every man will fight Tor
his hearth, but who will fight for MS
stove. The quintessence OF home life
comes in the possession Ut detached
home. although the steps leading up
| to this have their proper places In the
| uraat tlan ..f Anarican home owner
ship.
| The growth OF Better lfOmes and
Gardens has not been alone In circu-
| lation, but also in quality ana size.
1t started with very poor tltle,
| Fruit, Home and Garden" or sonne
such clumsy arrangement. Ihen IL
evolved it's present distinctive and ap-
propriate name, and i'll various subtle
ways became a frRt.class publication
at a third.class price.
Mr.. Meredith, in other words, as a
man Of the West might be expected
to do, has played fair with his great
| family Of readers. He had q vision
| OF a home magazine for me and for
| YOU, and for our neighbors--one that
| would help us In our average living
rooms, and with our small backyard
gardens.
II we want "up-stage stuff, we still
can 60 TO the beautiful publications
| that abound in 1t. but now we have
our own magazine, properly clothed.
yet not 'all dressed up" with a
friendly clasp Of the hand, and words
Of sympathy and advice.
| Much Of this effect Is. no doubt. the
work Of the editor. Mi. Sherlock.
whose two departments. "Across the
Editors Desk" and Along the Gar
den Path" are always worth while.
We particularly like the latter. A
page Of letters from readers has re-
NAMED one of the most interesting
| features of the magazine.
| Mr. Sherlocks series. Homes OF
Famous Americans" has been q high
| light OF the magazine for many
months. All in all, we know OF no
more happy, honest publication TO
have around the home than Better
! Homes and Gardens.
We sincerely hope that Mr.. Mere.
dith will never allow his magazine to
grow too large, or too clever, or too
elaborate. or too high-brow. or too
IA ncy, or too beautiful. We want it to
stay always the honey magazine Of
our own Home, Sweet Home"