The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-03-04

As IL becomes more and more
n apparent that winning this
war is going 70 require tne
sacrifice Of great many OF the
conveniences and luxurles that
have become part Of the "Ameri-
can way of life" there Is gen
eral concern about how We are
going to get along.
For instance, suppose all the
plants making electric refrigera-
tors and radios are converted
for the manufacture OF airplane
parts. Suppose, too, though It's
almost too sad TO contemplate,
lot OF the folks making MOVIES
are drafted into the army or es-
sential industries so that we
couldn't have so many new pic
lures. And it might even come
to pass that transportation
would be rationed and some OF
US would have to walk more; or
defense industries might re-
auire 30 much electric power
that we might have to cut down
on current for domestic pur-
poses.
Thinking on these posi-
bilities recalled to Mr.. Mac
Whiggan his boyhood DAYS
when the family refrigera-
tion was provided by ice cut
on the river or lake In win
ter and packed in sawdust
In the ice house; when
there were no picture shows
and the nearest thing to
the radio was the squawk-
ing photograph with which
Thomas Edison was expert
menting, and the kerosene
lamp provided illumination ade-
quate for the requirements of
those days.
That. he recalled. was a simple
but adequate life, with plenty
of Who'll e ONE entertainment.
The days which began at $50 or
8 o'clock and sometimes ear
lier. never were long enough.
There were chores to do before
the two mile walk TO high
school. There were more chores
after wood to split and
carry in for the big stove in the
kitchen; chunks to be piled on
the enclosed back porch for the
heater in the sitting room or
the fireplace in the parlor.
After supper instead of the
family scattering to the movies
or club or highway dance hall
after a quarrei as to who should
have the car. the MacWhiggan
family gathered in the sitting
room. After lessons were out
of the way and father had look
ed over the daily paper which
came by mail and was a day
late, he might read a thrilling
story from Golden Days" or a
couple of chapters in the latest
book from the Sunday school
library. While this was going
on Mother MacWhiggan usually
was occupied with the mending
basket.
Sometimes the evening was
varied by opening the psrlor
and everybody would gather
around the big fireplace. the
youngsters lying on the floor on
their stomachs and roasting ap-
pies. Departure from this fam
lily routine was the monthly
"soclsble' at the church or an
N"AaiA'thA a. lHe opera
House. probably the Swiss Bell
Ringers, or a lecture by Russell
Conwell on Acres of Diamonds.
or other Of the popular lee
turers on the Chautauqua course.
And the Chsutauqua study
course. by the way. took up some
Of the time for the older
groups.
A ehore that WAS done of
necessity but detested was
cleaning and filling the
lamps. That task fell 70
the oldest of the family be
cause it required a precision
OF sort. II the chimney
was not well cleaned or IN.
wick properly trimmed. yisi-
oiiitS would be impaired
when the family gathered
Tor the evening.
Always the routine was hroL,
en- by the Saturday night bstb
ritual Water was heatea or
from the EARTH
kind ~ -.