OCR Text |
Show CHEMISTRY IN THE HOME Chemistry is a subject which most girls Instinctively avoid during their school days. It is all right for the boy who is preparing to be a doctor, an engineer, or he may take it for its general interest, but what earthly good it will ever do her is more than the average girl can see. The truth is that a practical course In chemistry will be more useful throughout her life than many other things which she may deem essential. A required course in household chemistry chem-istry would be of lasting value. Every time the housewife prepares a meal, she has performed a series of chemical experiments. A knowledge of the fact will enable her to be a little more certain of her results. The action of soap and of washing powder is chemical. The effect of these and other agents used in various cleaning processes is something wli'ch the housewife should know, and this is chemistry. Acids are found in all fruits, and we use some of those acids for household purposes, lemon for removing rust spots, or milk for ink stains. Strong alkalies destroy wool. Cheap soups contain free alkail. The housekeeper house-keeper who knows these two facts will act accordingly when she washes the woolens of the household. Salt and vinegar are used to set colors because they form chemical compounds which render the colors fast. There is no mystery about chemistry. chem-istry. It does not require a certain kind of mind to grasp its meaning. II holds a world of interest and 'is extremely ex-tremely valuable. It is a subject which is applied in manifold ways in everyday lives. We may find occasion now and then when we are glad of ou: ability to speak a foreign tongue, but we have a daily opportunity to bt grateful for a knowledge of chemistry The problem of the housewife is to plan the family meals with a view of including all the food principles so that she may maintain her family in a physically fit condition. Washing soda or soaps, containing free alkali, will make silks yellow. Undissolved or in strong solution, it should not be used, as It is injurious to all fabrics, especially wool. A nice breakfast dish is fried sau-sage, sau-sage, with rings of nicely fried ppples to circle the platter as a garnish. Serve with griddle cakes and a cup ot coffee; this will sustain a fairly hard worker until the noon meal. A rich lemon sirup in which chestnuts chest-nuts are cooke.1 until slightly candied Is another favorite way of preparing this popular nut. |