The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1926-04-23
The Decline and Comeback
of the Modern Home
By w. 0. SAUNDERS
Copyright 1876 by ". q. Saunders,

think the decay oi the modern home must have
begun with the era plush upholstered paror furniture
when the craze OF every housewife to buy suite
OF the ugly unsantary stuff put il i'll the best room,
pull down the shades lock the door and keep everybody
out OF the except the preacher and Magges Beau
because the awful stuff would stand neither sunlight nor
moderate use Besides. it collected and retained tons OF
dust.
One room i'll the house was spruccd up and highly
ornamentcd as show place for the occasional guest
while the family made out with any old thing Ill the
rest OF the house No wonder the girls stayed out half
the night tie BOYS all night and the old man joined tive
lodges so as have place to almost every nSht
in the week. No wonder homc-liic went to pot and
everybody took to the Movies or the open road when
the Cinema and the Flivver came to their reliet.
But times have changed The old plush upholstery.
ceases to exist except nremote rural regions ana III
humble homes down by the rail road tracks Within
remarkably few years we have seen The modern nome
become the most beautiful the most comfortable, the
most delightful and the most desirable place on earth
Hardwood floors and enamced walls Withstand the
scufing feet and grimy hands oi needless little 1ok'
Comfortable chairs that opc may sit on without car
and trembling have taken the place OF the st1t clumsy
back-break;ng things that once clucred the house
The What made Of SpooS and carry COL
lection OF Slldcu pllC COlcS' IOll|H '"''' ''' f'f
flowers has been replaced by entertaining phono-
GRAPH a radio set or a player piano. n COLLECTION ol
readable books newspapers and periodicals has taken
the place OF the Plaster OF Paris Indian and the
Chenille cover on the table in the center OF the ROOM
There is telephone to make instant communication
with all ncghbors possible. There are beds with springs
that don't sag in the middle and with mattresses that
don't have humps like camclS.
. cIe orb in n
impossible old oil lamps of other days lherc IS
refrigerator the back porch, all instant gas tdec
or iirclcss cooker in the kitchen and electric wash
ing machine out back il the washing is done at home
One doesn't have to grope his way thru halt an acre
Of darkness to smelly little hrec-holc discomfort
station on the back OF the lot wait his turn TO take
slopdown in a basin in the kitchen Saturday nights
or wear his patience feeding fuel wood TO lire
,acc or sheet iron heater. Even modest homes to-
dav arc cquppcd with hot and cold running water
I,vorics bath tubs and steam or other smpificd heat
ing apparatus
And if the kids bring in lot OF dirt Oh their 1ect'
vacuum carpet cleaner attached to all electric Lsrl
socket cleans ii up in ffy without breaking moter
back
What could be more timely then than Better
Homes edition OF The Independent, devoted largely 10
advertising and special articles that suggest ways anu
means of making home ever dellght1ul anu III
vitinp place for all the family This then IS Better
Homes Edition. may you find something Ill o' '"''0
to you in your efforts make Better Home io
self and yours.