VOL. LIV.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., JULY 29, 1899.
NO. 30
'gxpexizutz BwnvXww-Xs
How Can  the Busy -Housekeeper  Find
Time for the Club?   Name Some
Advantages and Drawbacks to Clubs.
1st Premium.—Much depends upon systematic and good management in this world,
whether it be housekeeping, business or political affairs. There are some housekeepers who
work from early morn until late at night
with never a moment of leisure, yet they accomplish lees than some of their neighbors,
who do not put in nearly as many hours and
yet have time for reading, recreation and
club life. One woman of my acquaintance,
and a farmer's wife too, not only does her
own work and sewing, but always manages to
find time for a vast amount of reading and
literary work, besides helping her neighbors
in various ways. She realizes that we must
choose our duties and that there are some
things of vastly more importance than others.
The wise housekeeper realizes that she owes
her first duty to herself, for her family's sake,
and Instead of being a household elave and
drudge she teaches each member of the family, no matter how young, to do •his or her
share, and at least to wait upon himself. This
of course saves time on her part. Then she
simplifies their manner of living; and instead
of scrubbing continually she covers her kitchen floor with oil cloth, which can be easily
wiped off. Her kitchen table ls covered with
table oil cloth of a pretty pattern. She uses
more vegetables and fresh fruits and simple
puddings, instead of making fresh pies every
day and frying doughnuts or rolling cookies.
She wears colored skirts and simple print- or
gingham dresses, and keeps her children
dressed simply but taetefully to save washing.
In this way and many others she saves herself both time and work and thus finds leisure
for reading and time for the club. One great
advantage to club life for women Is that it
draws them outside of the narrow, petty
groove in which so many of them live and
move. It broadens them, gives them new
ideas and helpful suggestions to think about.
The main drawback to clubs, whether for men
or women.is only when they neglect the more
Important duties and carry club life to extremes. Ooming In touch with other women
cannot help belDg beneficial. If there ls any
class which needs club life more than another
it is the busy wives of farmers. The club may
meet once a week, or fortnightly or even but
once a month, but it can be made very helpful and Interesting, It may be a current topic
club, where no papers are brought ln, but only
news items of importance from news papers,
j* may be a housekeepers club to gain new
ideas, and helpful suggestions, or s reading
club where magazines and papers are exchanged. Perhaps lt will be simply a social
"ttle club of congenial friends, where the husbands are invited to tea; but whatever lt is let
>t be broad and helpful ln Its scope.
Osa Who Enjoys Olvb Life.
SdPremlum.—I believe In clubs. Women
?« find time to attend by curtailing work.
7*8 "owing la  done now  because we buy
ore ready made garments.   Less scouring is
,7*    for    more    aluminum    and    gran-
v     hen ***>  is  Med.   Plated  ware   Is
rtl? '* Pay* to use it, I mean cutlery in
bo" n r" Ga8oHne and oiI 8*oves lessen la-
wlth "a*dens are more frequently cultivated
heln We labor" Hu8bands are better to
^Pwomettnow. Modern churns are speed-
more are fewer old Btyle bedB- and
lm7 w-tre886S and 8PrlnS8'8° less sweep-
theirf ?men "use thelr heads m0le and
and IT " There ,8 Iera 80ft 80aPmade
BlcvM eM0 exchan8edat the soap factory.
*c'e«8aTe hitching and feeding "critters."
Oood sense calls for less pie making. If women crave the Impetus of clubs they may
have them, for they are over the country as a
net work, most as plenty as telephones. No
matter what our great grandmothers did,
we're not built that way; some of the "poor
dears" had to work themBelves into the
grave. I see no disadvantages in clubs if
rightly managed; but don't, dear sisters allow the lunch feature, to swallow up the Intellectual portlou. Women ln general crave
more light and a wider vision. Clubs cherish a spirit of sisterhood. They nip gossip ln
the bud. They break down the barrier of
prejudice; sect has no place in them. In our
club we have Hebrews, Catholics, Protestants,
working women, society women, and mothers
with babies on their laps. We meet on a
level. Nobody asks is she rich?" The ques-
of eligibility Is "has she broad and generous
viewB, and does she crave mental development?" At the summer school on the mountain near Northfield, Massachusetts, this
question was put Into the box: "What
brings people to theBe eummer meetings?''
Mr. Moody sprang to his feet and replied,
"The people want to knowl" Twenty years
ago a stirring letter from my distant relative
Mary A. Livermore set me all aglow with enthusiasm. "Oh, there never was such a time
for women as now. Even the women of the
South Sea Islands are awakening. Do Bet
them to work in your own village, my dear
cousin." L.R. S.
3d Premium.—Time ls found for the club
meeting just as it is found for the many other duties and occupations of this life, by simply taking it Many over-busy housewives
will be found to deride the idea that they
have time for Buch things. These give one
the impression that there would be hardly
time found in which they might die. Theee
will find sooner or later the former probably
their great mistake. It is just as true of
women, as of the rest of humanity, that "all
work and no play" is a wrong plan. While
not quite all play, still club work through
its variety and change is as nearly a play
time as the serious-minded, thoroughly occupied woman of to-day permits hereelf. Not
all women are Interested in the things that
interest the club woman. Let these keep up
sewing circles, missionary teas, and such
things, because, in spite of all the fun made
of such, by the would-be wit of the newspapers, some such outfit is neccsssary for the
home-staying, routine-bowed home-makers.
The advantages of club life are its social and
self-improvement features. It ls true that
anyone with a taste for study and reading can
employ her time to the • same advantage In
her own room as ln the club; but the pleasure
found ln the interchange of ideaB, in short the
social Bide ls lacking to the home Btudent and
it is an Important one. Rudyard Kipling has
said that American women excel all others In
their ability to look as if they knew something. The club may be to some extent bus-
penclble for this, since it surely improves
such, and who will say itis quite profitless?
But there ls more in lt than appearance only,
for beyond a doubt club life Inspires to reading and thinking; a sufficient "raison d'etre."
Any disadvantages there may be, would come
from over-doing the matter, a fault the beet
of Institutions are open to; but one that is
not likely to attach to the average and desirable, for she is that I believe, American
woman. O. R. P.
Tippecanoe Oo.
In our neighborhood are two societies, one
a foreign missionary society, we feel has
done much good work both to the heathen
and ourselves; to them In 8 Christian and educational way; to us In education and benevolence, We know much more of life in foreign countries  than we did.   The other is a
literary club. Each meets once a month,
We have regular and associate members. The
regulars are on program once a year for a
paper on a given subject. The associates are
given current events. I have attended no literary club but our own. Perhaps we are not as
literary as our city friends. We have less
time than they to study, hear lectures, etc.
We must read if we write so as to be interring. There are always some prepared to have
quite a talk and answer to roll call with a
quotation. As club members we read and
think more, are not bo affraid to hear our
voices ln public. How do we find time? We
take it by getting up earlier in the mornicg,
sitting up a little later at night, and arrange
work so we can occasionally have a quiet hour
during the day. In the farm house it is impossible to neglect the work; it must be done.
In this busy, bustling age people do not visit
as they used, so there is not much chance for
social life. We improve a little time after
the literary exercises socially, and go home
feeling that our time has been well spent.
Has club life drawbacks? In many places It
could easily become a detriment to home
life. Many are glad that they can have the
time to attend these places where plans are
discussed to lighten woman's burden, advocate temperance reform, help the needy poor
to help themselves, and many other needed
reforms. The home must be held sacred if
we wish to preserve the youth from the dangers that beset them on all Bides.
Sara Landers.
scales or half bushel, we could see how faet we
are improving, and would no doubt become
more enthused. But if any one will attend a
live club a year, and take an active part, he
can look back over the year and see that ho
haB made quite an advancement. I speak
largely of the incentives to club life because
if appreciated our women will find some way
to get there.
I fear this is true only in our not having so
much arduous work claiming our attention.
It is not always in helping about the work. It
is more often In preparing a convenient way
to go. If both look on the club as a sort of
accessory that must give way to every other
thing that comes up she will not go much.
But if lt Is understood that one day out of the
week or of two weeks, is to be allowed for .
mamma to be her own and some way of going is provided, as when our children drive to
echool, Bhe will attend pretty regularly and enjoy it, and be greatly helped, and her life
made sweeter and larger.
Happy ls that community that enjoys a live
club.
' For beautiful thoughts mate beautiful lives,
And every word and deed;
Lies in the thought that prompted it,
As the flower lies in the seed."
BBVUW.
I do not think it is common for people to
purpoeely neglect the social and mental life.
I remember the surprise and embarrassment
a very earnest soul once showed at my asking
him if he took a paper for his wife. He was
a good loving husband, but had not thought
of lt.   He promised to subscribe for one.
May I not aek our faithful, earnest wives
one question? Do you spare one hour a day
to reading? And two hours every fortnight to
sociability with neighbors?
Lets see, we sleep 8 hours of every 24, or
ought to. That is one-third of the time. Yet
there are left 16 long hours to do something
with.
Isn't it force ot habit that is responsible for
our neglect of mental and social growth? I
remember once when a little boy my father
Bent me on a big horse two miles to Oarmel to
get his shoes mended. When I reached Oarmel, I found I had forgotten the shoes. I had
no other business whatever, and I felt utterly
chargined. Is it not poeeible that many well
meaning people go though life so absorbed in
the physical needs that when they reach the
"other shore" thoy will be surprised and disappointed that they have missed the real purposes of life almost entirely? They had not
caught on to the great fact that the true purpose of life Ib growth In the mental and
spiritual personality.
The good Father haa so arranged that one
caD't miss life's purposes entirely. But what
a mistake to go through the world of opportunities forever keeping tho grots physical In
front of us, obecurlng the golden fields of
social and intelluctual joy and growth.
I once taught echool ln a farming community, and did not try to make many acquainted till near its close. When I found a
number of nice congenial people whose company I might have enjoyed all that winter.
So it ls that In social life, like trade life, one
makes a mistake if he fails to develope his
"home market:" to learn the social resources
of his home community.
I once had printed this motto: "Blessed is
that home that shelters a friend."   So let me
say, "happy Is that life that finds a congenial
soul."
I    If education could only be measured by the
No. 178. Aug. 5.—If you had ten thousand
dollars to invest in a farm for a home, in
what portion of the United States would you
prefer to locate, and why?
No. 179, Aug. 12 —(For children under ten.)
Name the books that you have of your own.
What papers come to you through the Post
Office this year? Of all the books and papers you have ever read, name one or two
books and one or two papers that you liko
best.
No. 180, Aug. 19.—(For students of an Agricultural class at Purdue ) Name some of the
opportunities and advantages offered to both
boys and girls In the four year course, the
two year course and the winter course ln Agriculture at Purdue University.
No. 181, Aug. 2G.—Give experience with
irrigation, for crops, garden or fruit. How
do you manage It, and how does it pay?
Premiums of $1, 75 centa and 50 cents will
be given to 1st, 2d and best articles each
woek. Let copy be as practicable aB possible
and forwarded ten days before publication to
Oarmel. E. H. Ooijjhs.
POSTAL CARD CORRESPONDENCE,
Fayette Co., July 22.—Laet week we had
some fine rains. Oorn is growing rapidly.
Wheat about all threshed and is of good
quality, yielding 18 to 25 bushels to the acre.
No hog cholera; cattle in fine condition.
Butchers paying 3 to 4 cents per pound; hogs
4 cents per pound. Geo. W. E.
Oqlk Co , Ir.ts., July 22.—Haying about
done, fair crop and secured in good shape.
Oats just about ready for the binder, very
heavy, a little rust in heavy lodged places.
Oorn a little late, but looking fine, 8ome
stalks show taseel. Some hot days the past
week. Two and a half inches rain week ago
to-day.   Pastures weedy.   All well.
Chas. B. Spring.
In the heart of George Vanderbllt'a estate
near Ashvllle is a plot owned by an old negro
who lives there and refuses to eell. He says
he haa been bothered all his life by bad neighbors, and now that he has a good one he will
not move.
 -«•»-	
The new clock being constructed for Liverpool street station will be one of the largest
in the world. It is designed to show the correct time to the whole eighteen platforms in
the station. The case would comfortably
hold a dining party of four or five.