10 ~

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Home Making Circa 1920
(Playing ~ "Long, Long Ago")

My mother attended junior high at the oldest junior high school in the South,
East Side Junior High, Chattanooga, Tennessee. An historical sign
on the front lawn designated the school as such; later both my sister Pat and I attended.

Mother was sentimental and a big saver (as both her daughters became), and among the things
she had kept was her Home Economics book from East Side. Entitled Science of Home Making,
by Pirie, the introduction to the book was signed "San Antonio, Texas, September 20, 1915."
Mother, born in 1909, would have attended East Side about 1921-1923.

Because I so enjoyed reading that book, Mother gave it to me after I married
and some years before she died. The book's big draw ? It is hilarious! Boy, do we live
in wonderful times! I am sharing some parts with you, feeling it will surely bring a big smile,
if not some laughter, and also help you to appreciate what we have today. Of course,
the older you are, the more you will identify with at least hearing of some of these things.
Younger people will read in disbelief! At times, I will share some memories or inject comments;
everything from the book will be in quotes.

(Please read all the way through; I'm saving the best for last!)

THE HOME AND ITS CARE

"The Importance of Air ~ .........We must have oxygen to keep the body fire burning;
if the supply is deficient the digestion is slow, the lungs cannot throw off the wastes;
headaches and drowsiness follow, and the general health becomes bad. ......An electric fan,
if properly placed, is useful in securing good ventilation. Windows should be planned to afford
a good circulation of air ..... Full-length window screens are of the greatest aid in securing
good ventilation, as the windows can be opened at the top without fear of letting in the flies."

(Remember the 'good old days' when we left the windows open whenever the weather permitted
and the doors were left open with screen doors? Can't you still hear the door slamming?
Nowadays, our tight homes keep the pollen out but we have symptoms from the house's being
too tight. Do you remember when you could hear a phone ringing in a house when you were
on the sidewalk or the street?)

"Rugs ~ Rugs should be used instead of carpets as they may be easily removed for cleaning.
The rug should lie on the floor so that its length is with the long lines of the room. .....
As the floor should be the darkest color in a room, choose subdued colors for it......
A simple fiber rug makes a cheap floor covering."

(I recall so well that in the spring, when the weather looked promising, Mother ~ with our help ~
would hang those large rugs across the clothesline, and we would beat them to try to release
the captured dirt and then let them 'air.' About this time, we also took our winter heavy clothes
out to hang on the line to 'air.')

"Curtains ~ A window is made to let in light and air. A curtain is used to shut out the gaze
of the passer-by and to soften the lines of the window, but it must not interfere with
the purpose of the window. ..... A material that does not catch dust and that is easily washed
or cleaned should be chosen."

(Mostly, I remember that in my earlier years all our curtains were lace. Periodically,
Mother would wash them and take them out to the backyard to dry on 'stretchers.'
Did you ever participate in putting lace curtains on these stretchers to put them back
to the correct size while they dried ? I'll never forget the feel of pricking my fingers
on the tiny nails around the edges.)

"The Kitchen ~ ... The windows should be planned so as to give plenty of air, but care
should be taken to prevent a draft over the stove. .... and a good supply of running water
are other necessities. If possible, have a faucet over the stove to fill kettles. An enameled
or soapstone sink is preferable to a black iron sink which rusts and is hard to clean.
The space below the sink should be open, and the floor should be protected with a rubber mat. ....
Unless the kitchen is heated by some other means, use a good wood or coal stove for winter;
in summer a gas or blue flame oil stove or an electric stove is to be preferred. Whenever possible,
use an elevated oven to save stooping. A coal or wood stove may be mounted on brick or iron. .....
On a porch or on the outside ledge of a window, a box may be fixed which can be used
for keeping food cool. It should have screened sides, and a curtain next to the
house to keep the hot air out."

(Can you remember your family's first refrigerator? I can. Before those days, I remember
Mother putting out the sign every day to tell the ice man how much ice to deliver. He brought it
around to the back and lifted it into the "ice box" with those huge tongs. When I was
in the third grade, we finally got our first refrigerator ~ a Leonard ~
and, believe it or not, I can still remember the excitement!)

Now for the best, as promised, which I saved till last.

"The Bathroom ~ Every dwelling, no matter how simple, should have a bathroom.
If there is running water in the house, the bathing problem is easy, as a bathtub and toilet
can be installed for sixty dollars (yes, $60~ my comment) or even less. Choose a porcelain
or enameled tub, and place it far enough away from the wall to enable one to clean under
and about it easily; or have it flush against the wall with a solid base resting on the floor.
The floor of the bathroom, if not tiled, may be covered with linoleum. A small washable rug
should be provided. Shelves of glass on metal brackets and glass towel rods are the
most hygienic for the bathroom."

"The Toilet ~ Although it is best to have the toilet, or water closet, apart from the
bath it may be put in the bathroom. (Do I hear a big chuckle here? ~ again, my comment.)
Choose a bowl that is quite low, and with as little wood about it as possible. ......"

"The Stairs ~ If the house has more than one story, stairs are a necessary evil and
must be planned for comfort in climbing. ........"

~~~

Well, this covers only a few highlights found in the first thirteen pages of the book. My intention,
of course, was not just to quote some things from a very old school book, but to give you
a few smiles and some appreciation of our modern conveniences. The book has almost
400 pages and contains, among others things, many recipes that I suspect Mother probably used.
They are, of course, written with directions for the equipment available in those days.
Some of our family's favorites from "way back when" that I recognized in the book, are
Bread Pudding, Rice Pudding and Divinity. (Who makes that candy anymore!
But, I recall how much fun it was to help Mother.)

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