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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1927-11-17, Page 3Getting Rid of Hoarding Habit The ,old adage, "Keep a thing seven brance of many a radiant spring day years, and you will find a use for it," spent indoors unnecessarily, she was has tricked many a conscientious and ruthless. economically minded housewife into I Four Years Ago. what may t e plainly called the hoard- Slue found her basement stored ing Habit. With the proverbial seven with boxes from . the last moving, years in thought ehe has patiently years ago, kept because in the hazy cluttered her home,burdened herself future they , might be needed again. with the caro of her accumulations S1ie found lamps from the almost for - and deprived herself of the pleasure of . gotten period when oil -lamps were many .a generoue-deed. .Tricketl'she used in the home; a wash -wringer has been,, for how often when the { which had been superseded by the seven yearn have passed has • she one on the eleotric washer; an old found that moth and rust and Chang- laundry stove which for many a long ing stylezi and customs have proven' day had been replaced by a gas burn— her savings useful only as fuel. This habit conies easily to those wholive long, in one house. People er. She found barrels and boxes and bottles and' cans. She did not find these things in the sense that they who make frequent moves acquire;- were new . to her for they were not. rather. the good habit of clearing out year after year she had been pains - their belongings, of drawing a swift 'takingly caring for 'them because line of decision between•} essentials each looked as though it might be and .nonessentials. The woman who good for something sometime. Wliat keeps every letter no matter how she found in her basement. was a fair trivial its contents, the mans who re- sample of her findings throughout the fuses to weed out worthless ties from his rack and suits from his closet, thee child who is not being taught •to discard toys which ho has outgrown, is each storing up clays of discontent and worry for the future. When one begins to analyze this hoarding habit, whether or not one enjoys the discovery, it will be found that it springs not only from an un- due thought for the morrow but is even more often rooted in two other Very undesirable qualities of thought -procrastination and indecision. Vast amounts of every conceivable sort of thing overflows attics, basements, closets and cupboards not because the owner actually thinks they will be useful at a later day, but because she seems- unable to come to any decision as to their proper disposal and so is putting off that decision until a more convenient or a more desperate sea- son. '. Not Economy But Indecision. The spring house cleaning of many a 'worthy- housewife might well be called the annual festival of indeci- sion. She sorts and re -sorts. Many a day does she spend tucked away in her attic "looking over" its. con- tents, ontents, vainly striving to discard and finally ending by keeping them all. "I never gave away a thing that I'did not need it soon afterward, she may say by way of excusing her actions. Occasionally this may be true, but the feeling of freedom which comes from being done with an almost worthless object, justifies an occasion- al regret, and, after all, this may never come. in a home where there are growing children an attic judiciously used is a splendid thing When it is a store- room of real thrift it serves its legiti- mate purpose,.; but when it becomes a storage place for every. discarded ar- ticle, worthless or wortle-while, it is a "snare and adelusion" When the hoarding housewife. begins to wonder why her annual or semi-annual clean- ing is so protracted and arduous, she has but to stop to consider the amount of time she is spending un- necessarily. This habit of hoarding, like any other habit; will never be broken until it is clearly seen to be a bad one Even then it will not be broken by halfway measures or a weak stand. . Anyone who allows the hoarding habit to get hold of her, will find her home always crowded. Castle or cot- tage, it is all the same; the more room the more accumulation. A wo- man known to the writer who had re- solved to break herself of this habit, went from basement to attic, pencil and note -book in hand, making an ac- curate list of every' article, large or small, which was of no immediate use to her, but could be valuable to someone -else. Her stand had been taken, and having in mind the renew - entire house. The attic was crowded with old furniture—discarded rockers, a couch, a baby buggy, pictures,, shades, mirrors—every conceivable sort of household article. More than onertrunk was bulging with garments which slie intended to utilize some- time, In other parts of the house closets and cupboards and book- shelves were crowded and crammed. When he list , was completed she found through the Want Ad. columns of the daily paper a ready market for several good pieces of furniture, some of the best clothing and the remnants of several sets of dishes. The gar- ments which she decided she could actually use in her own home were reserved. During the year she sys- tematically made use of them and al- so of a collection of bargain rem- nants on hand, taking as her guid- ing thought that a present actual need should be supplied before a fu- ture possible one was provided for. Next she acquainted herself with every organization in her town which might make use of her surplus. She found that the Salvation Army and the organized charity association wel- comed any and everything which she had to give. Later her heart wa's gladdened by reports from these gifts. A young .mother with her first little one rejoiced in the rocking -chair. Rough floors were made easier for children to play about on because covered with piece s cut from her worn carpets. A widowed mother trying to support her two children by washing found the wringer a bless- ing, A. children 'home welcomed the children's books she sent. In an old ladies' home the gay, pieces from her long -crowded piece -bag were joyously made into quilts and carpet -rags. A. school library was glad to get a dozen volumes 'which were but ;stowaways on the home shelves. A large .amount of old magazines and papers were sent to a near -by school which was soon to have a paper sale. Some lit- tle girls were thrown into a state of ecstacy by receiving a box of dresses, hats, parasols and odds and ends for playing "dress up." It is quite to, the point of this article to paraphrase Pope. by saying, "The proper study of mankind is his attic." It is likewise quite safe to say that few of us should like to be judged by the heterogeneous accumulation found therein. The woman of our story passes no more fine days'in either attic or base- ment. Throughout the year articles which are to be discarded go at once to some place of further usefulness. Housecleaning season is shortened, moths are discouraged and a keener sense of order prevails. Moreover something fine and worthwhile is be- ing developed in the home—the idea of sharing, of looking out for the needs of her fellow men. F� rNoies• Playing Safe With Mushrooms. Mushrooms make a delicious dish and much has been writtten in recent years on their value as a food.. Many persons at present are able to go in- to the woods and gather them with confidence, thus experiencing the pleasuro of hunting for thein and at the same time adding a pleasant agitation to their diet. Many• others would follow their example if they were sure of being able to distinguish poisonous fungi from .the edible spe- cies. The consequences of a mistake are so very serious that it is utter folly for anyone to gather and eat IMMO . Indian Chief Treasured Perpetual Pass An interesting incident is recalled by the recent celebrations in honor o fthe memory of Chief Crow Foot whose wisdom and farsightedness' was largely responsible for the sign- ing of the famous Treaty Number 7 which threw open a new empire in the west for settlement. It was back in the 'SO's after the treaty with the Blaekfeet Indians had been signed and about the time the Canadian Pacific Railway was push- ing, its lines of steel into the west. Chief Crow Foot had become known to William Van Horne, then general manager of the Canadian Pacific and as a token of the esteem held for the famous chief by the whites, he was presented with a perpetual pass over rooms• from good ones, and deadly mushrooms .from harmless ones. The volume, which is well bound and splendidly illustrated, is sold by the Xiug's Printer, Ottawa, at a nominal price of one dollar. Ornamental Conifers. For nearly forty years tests of many species and varieties of ornamental trees and shrubs have been conducted at the Central Experimental Farm. Summing up the experience of these years, the Division of Horticulture has just issued a bulletin entitled "Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and 'Woody Climbers," which. gives in con- venient form, for any person who wishes to plant his grounds, descrip- tive lists of the best plants to use. One section of the bulletin deals with conifers...,As is well known there are many beautiful native species of these mushrooms unless absolutely certain• trees in Canada, but their very fa- that the kinds picked are Wholesome. mfiiarity often precludes their use Recognlziug the widespread interest fh' this subject, the Dominion Depart - Ment of Agriculture has just publish- " ed a comprehensive volume entitled Mushrooms and Toadstools, written by IL "T. Gussow, Dominion Botanist, and Tire -S. Odell. The authors point out in their introduction that a know- ledge of fungi is the only safe means of distinguishing edible fungi from poisonous, and that all so-called "tests" are myths and superstitious nonsense. The popular claim that a silver spoon or pin dipped into a click of cooked fungi will turn black if ft contaiihs poisonous ones, is entirely without foundation. Other tests are equally fallible, ' The hest command- inent fora mushroom gatherers isi "Eat no fungus of any kind; unknown "to yeti. Msume not the slightest risk, and make pure that all spepimens cal- lected are said to eal," fp:Ma to .ob• tain this certainty is simply and clear- ly ,."told In the book whtcb will enable the reader to distinguish bah WSW when the cultivation of trees is being considered. Yet no trees are more successful in taking away much of the bleakness of our whiter landscape. Some of the best hedges aro made of. evergreen conifers, and they help to soften the hard lines about a resi- dence whit hour winter does so much to emphasize when there are no ever- greens. The conifers, tool, a,;e very important for use as windbreaks, their value for this purpose being miost appreciated in the Prairie Pro- vinces. A long list of conifers are described 1n the bulletin, which is. gvailable at the Pubitcations Branch, Department of Agriculture, Ottawa: Handling Honey, The care of honey from the time it is taken from the bees until it is of- fered for sate is of the utmost import- ance, for if it is not harvested at the right time and properly stored It soon deteriorates. The time and manner of extracting 4* described in a t - the railway company's linos. This pass became Crow Foot's most trea- sured possession and he exhibited it with pride among his tribesmen. In some old reoords of the Company Is proof of the old chef's gratitude. A letter to VanHorne reads as fol- lows: 'Great Chief of the Railway "I salute you" 0 Chief, 0 Great. I am pleased with railway key, opening the road free to me. The chains and rich covering of your name, its won- derful power to open the road, show the greatness of your Chiefness. - I have done. "His "Crow X Foot Mark." minion Department of Agriculture Ahoy! Jack Frost bulletin on Bees and How to keep Them, is of the greatest importance. It is essential also to store the honey in a dry, cool place where there is. sure to be little or ,no change in tem- perature. Honey 'readily absorbs moisture from a damp atmosphere and if stored in a damp place will quickly ferment. Comb honey must be handled care- fully to avoid breakage. It must be stored in a warm, dry room. If stored whete the temperature varies con- siderably, it is likely to granulate. Clean Bags Necessary for Potatoes Experiments conducted under the direction of the Dominion Botanist, and described in his latest report, have shown that it is imperative that all sacks used as containers for po- tatoes` should bo thoroughly washed before using, in order. to' ensure com- plete removal' of injurious substanu% clinging to their inner surfaces. Po- tato shippers often put up their stock in bags which have previously con- tained certain salts, fertilizer in- gredients, fungicides, and commodi- ties of general consumption, and it is astonishing how m ny of these com- modities have an injurious effect on potatoes. . Even tea, coffee and c coa, potato starch, corn meal, and bran, which do not in themselves injure the tubers, by virtue of their power to retain moisture induce an enlarge- ment of the lenticels and also provide admirable media for the development' of rot -producing organisms, which en- ter through these orifices. Such chemicals as Epsom salts, sodium, nitrate, potassium nitrate and coarse common salt have a particularly in- jurious effect on potatoes, especially where damp storage prevails. The use of new sacks will, or course, ab- solutely preclude ' injury from this source. The report of the Dominion Botanist may be obtained' from the Publications Branch, Department of Agriculture, Ottawa.—Issued by the Director of Publicity, Dominion • De- partment of Agriculture, Ottawa. If Mr. Mussolini wants to please everybody he'll make his latest de- cree, barring speeches, retroactive to include most of his own. Making the House Snug and Cozy or Winter country. One does not want, of course, to seal up the house like an Eskimo's igloo, but doors or windows which are specially oxposod to snowy blasts are better protected with a sceond door or window. Storm doors de not always look attractive, but there is no reason why they cannot be made so, with a good coat of paint or a bit of decorative hardware in the way of ,hinges and knob., In fact, a storm door may give a colorful note to the exterior in the winter when blinds and awnings no longer decor- ate. Double windows can be 'hinged on, so that they may be turned back when the other windows are to be opened for ventilation. Ventilators in the upper part of the house, or In the cellar, should be pro- vided in the winter with suitable closings, if warmth is to be con- served. It is surprising how, even in the mildest cliunatos, shutting the ventilators during the cold weather will keep floors and walls warm and add to„ the -general comfort of the , house, Paper laid on floors under- neath carpets insulates splendidly against the cold, and extra sheets of paper used for shades over unused windows in attic or cellar all help to keep the cold out and the warmth in. When It comes to producing an at- mosphere of charm and cheer, the woman of the house wil have her say, and will be likely to "say it" with . plenty of color. . One is immediately).- drawn mmediately)drawn to the. house that is light and bright, the one that shows colorful curtains peeping from a window, or gives a glimpse of old -gold or crimson within. Colorful curtains are one of the best means of giving atmosphere There are a number of practical points to be considered in getting houses ready for the cold of winter, and, besides, there are ways of creat- ing au atmosphere of warmth and coziness that will give one much sat- isfaction and enjoyment. ` The man of the house will be in- terested, of course, in the practical side of the problem and to him will• fall the task of looking over the heat- ing arrangements. No matter what system is used, hot water, gas, coal, wood or oil -furnace, or stove, an ex- amination will be rewarded by dimin- ished fuel bills. Going over the equip- ment to see that everything is ship- shape, that devices are regulated pro- perly, that draughts are working as .they should, is a part of this neces- sary survey. The man who is skill- ful with tools can do ,much of this tinkering himself. Many times when a furnace does not draw well, the height of the chim- ney is blamed for this condition. But it happens that in some cases the fault lies with the pipe or funnel that leads from the furnace to the chim- ney. Giving this pipe more of a pitch, so that it rises as it approaches its outlet, is often a satisfactory remedy that saves rebuilding the chimney or adding to its height. If the chimney does seem at fault, how- ever, a survey can be made success- fully by using a mirror, shifting it to an angle which will catch sunlight and throwing the r.eflectiou down into the chimney to locate the trouble, which may be a fallen brick or an ac- eumulatiou of soot. Conserving Heat. With the heat the best that can be supplied, the next step wil be to see that the house itself is going to make the most of the warmth, and conserve 1 it for the rooms. Cracks and leaks about doors and windows can be closed easily by weather strips of several kinds. Storm doors and dou- ble windows are also a good invest- ment in the very cold sections of the A Fair Pipeful drapes can be used to good advantage Business Women's Need hangings to suggest the cosiness both within and without. Heavy too, in the winter, for then they don't seem. stuffy. If they do shut out too much light, in certain exposures, fab- rics of lighter weave should be sub- stituted. Adding Warmth and Comfort. Heavy overstuffed furniture is at its best also in the winter months. Velours and plusbes by their very texture add warmth and comfort. Arrangement of the lounging pieces, the big armchairs and couches so that they are in the warm corners and along the inside walls rather than the outer ones, is a point well worth re- membering. Tables and stands, book- cases, ookcases, a desk or a chest can be put on outer walls, and placing a table by the window gives one the chance to feature two attractive winter furnish- ings - potted plants and glowing lamps. Is there anything quite so friendly as a pot of bright red geraniums smil- ing through a window in winter, or a lighted lamp shining out into the night? Plants can be arranged on stands nea ra window or on the ledge itself, to furnish a bit of fresh green and color when all is snow-covered outside A room well lighted at night, with soft shades to diffuse the il- lumination, gives an appearance of warmth that is altogether delightful. Fortunate indeed is the house that has chimneys that allow for hearth fires. Quite unmatchable is the gleam and sparkle et an open gra, and the fittings about the fireplace add to the picture too. Even the wood basket, or box, has its place in the scheme of things and if it has become dull and drab from use, it may take on new interest painted orange, red, yel- low or light green. Because it is not always possible to have an open hearth, substitutes have sometimes to be chosen Such "tre- mendous trifles" as bright pottery,- shining ottery;shining brass or bronze create pleas- ing effects. A copper kettle, for ex- ample, has a woy of its own in giving atmosphere, though it may sit on top of a modern gas heater. Mirrors brighten up the house too. Cushions, scarfs, drapes and runners, may be used to "echo" color here and there and make the house thoroughly en- joyable throughout the winter months. Varied Furs Used in Winter Wraps In the latest fur novelties are gray gazelle, golden seal, gray mole, dyed kid and shaved lamb. Ono also that is particularly good for sports wear is an all-over mottled skin called ocelot. Natural broadtail, antelope dyed a deeper -than -natural shade; unborn calf skin, the new Beistchwanz, or more mature broadtail, natria, rabbit and astrachan aro the favorites in sports coats. Chinchilla is an old In clothes are -being met by such creations as this navy blue cloth of'. supple qualities. The gored skirt: achieves the flared motif that is ultra - smart. Taking Care of Hou_sehold Linen Every woman homekeeper takes a delight in her linen, but too often treats it badly by lack of realization of the care and ,protective measures it requires. Many people blame the fabric when it begins to show signs of early wear, Generally speaking, the cause i, to be sought in the laundering and prob- ably it will be found that strong soap, soda, or soap powder have been used. Soda has the effect of dissolving the gum which binds together the fibers of the flax, and naturally, the linen wears badly. Rinsing, too, is of the utmost importance, for if soap is left in after washing, for if soap is left ing causes a chemical action between the soap and the gum, and a change in color takes place which no amount of boiling will afterward repair. From a famous Irish linen mill comes the statement that the follow- ing mixture for stiffening linen is much to be preferred to starch: Dis- solve 1 ounce of gum arabic in half a pint of warm water. For use, add 1 tablespoonful of this solution to a quart of water. This mixture may be kept in stock. If the household soap is suspected of containing free alkali which will spoil the color of the linen, give it a test with litmus paper. Dis- solve the soap in water and in it dip a piece of red litmus paper. If the paper changes to blue, then free al- kali is there. Careful laundering, however, is not enough. The linen cupboard must bo beyond reproach, too. Extremes are bad for linen. A damp atmosphere will surely bring mildew, while the heat of a cupboard that contains a hot-water tank will turn it yellow and give it a tendency to become dry and brittle. Choose the happy mean and store linen in a cool room and in a chest or cupboard to which no ray of light can penetrate. Only so will it keep its snowy color. If linen is used only occasionally, it is a mistake to put it away with starch in it, for this will rot it. The treatment of stains needs very careful consideration, for strong chemicals destroy the material. It is as well to remind women that many of the big linea firms have research departments, and if stains have proved obstinate and immovable, ads vice may be obtained from these de- partments upon application.. An- other service not too well known is the needlework laundry, which is in- tended for the first washing of elabor- ate handwork. It is handled by an expert at very reasonable cost, and favorite that holds its own and bad the result is well worth the bother of ger is the newest among the season's the resu furs used especially for trimming. I I Next in importance to the all -fur wrap is that triiumed with fur. TheBait new coats are almost invariably trim- 1 The Saskatoon Western Producer (PM.): When the Conservative Con- vention is reviewed, one must come to the conclusion, although no par - in furs are using most of the natural titular mention was made of the shades.. Black foie is always epic, es- matter, that it is the desire of the peciahly on black cloth. The new Conservativo party to recapture the golden seal is used effectively on a Government of Canada., it was ap- straight, Clark seal coat for formal clay parently not the purpose of the gath- time wear. Darker fur is used for ening to develop an organization and it; high, close fitting collar, and the lay plans for the promulgation of med with it. For this' use fox still I holds the lead. All colors are fas- hionable in It, but the best designers golden shade is used for deep cuffs, which share slightly at the upper edge. There is a distinctly marked differ• once between the designs of wraps for daytime and evening, the one be- ing madeon long, straight, simple lines, the other with diverse treat- ments. A lady, after attending a society function, feeling indisposed, ordered knot' chauffeur to drive to her doctor, „ The doctor diagnosed her case very notOnly roll rout' own but grow your ower tabae quickly. "hour have cal gil<' n chi l,; In Old t2trebec you can 5 „ r`'ht home, get and most of the villagers and, fanners do so, Ilaptzste and his wince s he sand, "drive straig , supply is pictured here as seat at St. I-leuri de Taillell, P.Q. dressed, and go to bed," great Conservative principles, what- ever hatever they are, but to arrange a series of bargain sale principles upon which a pow er-grabbing organization could be built. The work was done in the Committee on Resolutions. That was the important body and the members were earnest. » lniagine sitting 111 that great roo>r, with one hundred and forty-nine other schemers )rying to dig up bait for the vote -fishing two et three years from nowt 4. London golf club is known as tint "Plying Golfers," Maybo tts moiak hers are after "birdies° a*4 "eagtsri.* t�,