Nappanee High School - Napanet Yearbook (Nappanee, IN)

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and arranging the contents of the kitchen, save themselves daily, miles of useless trav- eling to and fro. Every woman knows that a bee line is the shortest distance between two points, and so common sense should teach her that stove, table and sink should lie as close together as possible. The fully furnished kitchen is an official recognition of the importance of good cook- ing to the nation. The health of the peo- ple and their intellectual attainment de- pends largely upon the place and manner in which it is prepared. The smallest detail with regard to the preparation of food,.or the convenience of the person preparing i , is therefore of the greatest importance. The great mass of American people are de- pendent upon the wife and mother of the family to do all the work of the kitchen. The I’nited States Government is now spend- ing thousands of dollars annually in study- ing the kitchen with a view to making this work easier as well as more hygienic. Two distinct types of kitchens are recog- nized by modern Domestic Scientists. One is a large room, serving as a dining room and family sitting room as well as a cooking room. The large kitchen is especially a feature of the farm house, because the serv- ing of a meal to large numbers of work- ing men, such as threshers, requires a large amount of space to prepare the food. In direct contrast to the large kitchen of the farm, in which many kinds of work are done, is the small kitchen, or the kitchen- ette. of the city apartment, which cannot be utilized for any other purpose than for food preparation. Various compromises be- tween these two extremes are found, but science favors a small kitchen in the average house for it is becoming more closely con- fined to its chief service of food prepara- tion. A large kitchen requires greater care in its arrangement, in order that no unneces- sary steps will be forced upon the house- wife. A college girl who had graduated in Domestic Science, came home for a vaca- tion before entering upon her career as a teacher. She took prompt notice of the ar- rangement of the home kitchen, a large sun- ny room built and arranged after the fash- ion of the last generation. The pantry was built on one side of the room, the dining room door on the other. The stove stood at one end directly opposite the sink. The re- frigerator stood against the wall about the middle of the longer side of the room, ami at least ten feet from the table. The mother had been doing most of the cooking herself. The collegian assumed charge with a view to improve the arrange- ment. She began to wear a pedometer to ascertain the distance walked each day in the kitchen. She found that during the first week, under the old arrangement, she aver- aged between five and six miles daily. She decided to lessen the distance between table, stove, sink and pantry. By moving the stove and table nearer the sink, she was able to reduce the number of steps taken for the same amount of cooking, to a daily average of less than two miles. This materially de- creased the amount of time for preparing and cooking a meal and also lessened the physical fatigue attendant. The kitchen is not a hermit's cell, but es- sentially the abode of the brighest spirit of the home, therefore should be plenty of sunshine and light. Windows should extend across one entire end of the room. The walls should be covered with a washable material. Paint is durable for it does not take up moisture, grease or dust. A bit of decora- tion might be supplied by a stenciled design. The same design might be applied to white lawn curtains of the windows which may be pushed together to shut out the glare of the sun. The floor of the kitchen should be giv- en attention in order that it be kept sani- tary. Inlaid linoleum, which is perhaps, all things considered, the most satisfactory floor covering, should be carefully placed under the mop board and in the corners. All kitchen furnishings should be selected and arranged to lessen the physical strain upon the woman using them. One side of the room should be devoted to built-in cup- boards which should extend from ceiling to door, thus prventing the collection of dust. They should be built with snugly fitted doors, to exclude impurities from foods and utensils stored therein. Cupboards should be so partitioned and shelved that the kitch- en motto “Drawers and shelves, shelves and drawers; a place for everything and every- thing in its place,” could be practically ap- plied. The “store shelf” would contain tin odds and ends or things not often used. This shelf would be out of the way but so placed that the contents would be at hand when wanted. The china and silver ware should be placed on another shelf. In the apartment for the knives, forks and spoons, grooves should be made in the wood to keep the silver in order and prevent it from be- ing marred. Two shallow drawers are more easily kept in order than one deep drawer. In these may be kept towels for drying and polishing glass and china, hand towels, various straining cloths and cloths for wip- ing meat. In the drawer, the housekeeper may keep all her aprons that one end of the cupboard may be divided into compart- ments for brooms and mops, a small step- ladder and an ironing board. A wire frame

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“exhibitions of their skill, shooting up of towns” etc., were frequently seen all over our country. Another asked about train robberies, which he thought were a daily occurence. They could hardly believe that one could travel many miles over our coun- try without seeing a cowboy and without much danger of a hold-up. They had received their information from the “Cinemato- graph.” Everywhere the moving picture is a factor in the education of both the old and the young. Its first aim has been heretofore, entertainment, but it has also been a means of scattering information both good and bad. And much information found in the “movies” shows the worst to be found in this world, rather than the best. Not only are people in other lands apt to acquire incorrect notions from the moving pictures, but the people in our own country, especially children, are apt to get a wrong impression of life and to become so infatuat- ed with all that is sensational that their or- dinary life seems uninteresting . One of the foremost questions in the minds of the Amer- ican people today is how to avoid this evil. On the other hand, all moving pictures arc not intended for children. Neither is all literature. That this fact is realized is shown bv the fact that in a city of northern Illinois, placards were recently seen over the doors of several moving picture shows which read, ‘‘Children not admitted today.” An ordinance to prohibit children from the pub- lic moving picture shows was recently intro- duced in the city of Bombay, India, at the same time a plan was brought forward to give clean plays in the schools, for children. Likewise, in America men and women are asking for legislation against the “movies”. Bills are being brought before Congress ask- ing for the censorship of the film as it is be- ing placed before us today. The leading magazines are full of arguments for ami against them and many are putting lists of the best pictures before the people so that they may take advantage of them when they have the opportunity. In many of the larger cities, steps are be- ing taken to provide films especially for the young. Some picture shows make a special- ty of films for children. There is also a National Board of Censors, which criticizes about ninety-live per cent of the films produced in this country. It does not discard all films which are not produced for children but it does remember the fact the children under sixteen make up fifteen per cent of the “movie” audience. Its work is chiefly in preventing the manufacture of undesirable films. As a result of all this agitation, the film producers are being compelled to put out better films. “The screen play has made all the world a stage”. What could not this powerful agent, the moving picture, accomplish in bettering the condition of mankind, mental- ly, physically and morally if correctly man- aged? Certainly it would be an important factor in the moulding of the future Amer- ica for the young American of today is dis- tinctly under the influence of the picture show and he will be the man, the citizen of tomorrow. Another point to be considered is Ameri- ca’s influence through the ‘‘movie” upon the little foreigner in this, his adopted home. .Millions of them come to our shores each year .Many of them cannot read nor speak our language, nor can their parents. Nat- urally they turn to the “movie” for enter- tainment. It is one thing they can under- stand in a strange land. They can see be- fore they can speak and the “movie” speaks. What has it to say to these, who in a few years, are to become naturalized citizens of the Cnited States and help to make her laws? Shall the institutions of America be represented by vulgarity, crime and “all the vagaries of a low-toned and sensational order or by that which speaks of that which is highest and best in our upward striving?” Shall America stand as a light to all peo- ple in this thing, or shall she wait until some semi-barbaric nation sets the example? It is for us to say. The Modern Kitchen Mary Prick The kitchen is the workshop of the home for it is the room in which most housekeep- ers spend most of their waking hours. Hence it should be the lightest, airiest and the most cheerful room in the house. It is safe to say that much more attention might well be given to the matter of kitchen conven- iences than they usually receive. There are very few housekeepers, indeed, who could not, by intelligent forethought in planning

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in the cupboard affords a place for pots and pan covers which should be placed in an up- right position, thus making it easier to make one’s own selection. The ordinary way is to place them in open racks against walls which are against sanitation. The kitchen sink is a very important part of the kitchen. In some expensive kitchens, sinks are made of concrete but an iron enam- eled sink is as serviceable as any. II' the sink he used for cleansing dishes, there should be a drain board on each side, which will provide a place for the soiled dish and also for the cleansed. A rubber mat placed in the bot- ton of the sink will serve as a valve to re- tain the water and will also protect fine china ware from breaking. In the past, sinks have been placed low but now they are placed higher for the comfort of the worker. A lit- tle cupboard built in above the sink will pro- vide places for soap, cleansing powders, sil- ver polishes and other cleansing materials. The kitchen table is a very important ar- ticle. It should be at a convenient height. Some of the newest tables, especially those of metal, can be raised or lowered by adjust- table legs. Where the old fashioned low wooden table must be used, it is suggested that it be heightened by placing a hollowed- out wooden block under each leg. These I locks will prevent the table from slipping. If the table be placed on rollers, it will les- sen the number of steps necessary to be tak- en between the stove and cupboard. It may contain a number of drawers with compart- ments. A valuable addition to the kitchen furni- ture is a high chair or stool of white enam- eled metal, which brings the worker closer to the table for rolling pie crusts, mixing cake or any other work usually performed while standing. The kitchen would be incomplete without mentioning the stove. Gasoline, kerosene, wood, gas and electric stoves may be used in the kitchen. Some housewives prefer one and some another, but the cleanest and most easily regulated are the gas and electric stoves. Care must be taken in making the range convenient. An elevated oven over- comes the necessity for stooping over to baste roasting meat or to attend to baking. Every woman wants a modern kitchen. The equipment of such a kitchen as I have described is not extravagant and it possesses the essentials for convenience and sanita- tion. It is easily kept clean and free, the ob- jection of being oppressively without strain or blemish which is made against white enamel. The best type of modern kitchen has charm as well as convenience, and does much to give to the important art of cook- ing, the dignity it deserves. f 'Lis Foul Play Zae Lehman The contract was made and signed. Mr. Trie, a lawyer of Mansfield, Ohio, had en- couraged one his clients, Mr. Kandell, to make an investment of a thousand dollars in an oil well, in the region of Beaumont, Tex- as, and Mr. Trie, himself, had also invested in a well not far away from the other. The fields were said to be new and good and there was every prospect of success. One morning, Mr. Trie received a letter from Beaumont, which stated that his well was dry but that the well of his client had struck it rich. ‘ This must not be,” thought Mr. Trie. ‘ I cannot afford to lose my money like this. Bet me see, 1 wonder if I could change those papers.. Yes, so I can, and easily too, thank goodness. Those wells are so far away from Mansfield that my man wont know anything about it.” So. Mr. Kandell was told that his well was dry, but that the lawyer’s well was in prime condition and that much oil was being drawn. Of course Mr. Kandell was sorely disappointed as this sum of money had been the savings of a lifetime. Several months had elapsed, when a sing- ular opportunity was offered this particular client to visit and look over the oil fields. After first seeing a friend in Chicago, he started from that place to the Texas oil fields. After the exchange at St. Louis, Mr. Kan- dell began a conversation with a gentleman just in front of him on the train. After an exchange of names, Mr. Kandell found that Mr. Hamilton was a very pleasant compan- ion and he entered into a lively conversation with him. “And how do you feel now, Mr. Kandell, with your little flood of silver?” asked Mr. Hamilton. “T live at Beaumont and happen to know the condition of your well. You will be a well-to-do man pretty soon.”