Flies and Dust by MRS. MARIA MEAD

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 7, 1914

Flies and Dust

By MRS. MARIA MEAD

MRS. MARIA MEAD

WHILE the mill is grinding, I will throw in a grist.

Much has been said and written about flies and dust, but the subject is in no-wise exhausted; and having waged war against these enemies all my life, I wish to do what I can to help others in their struggle against these foes of humanity. I cannot give in scientific terms the exact results of harboring these family pests, but laying claim to a spark of common sense and the experience of fifty years' housekeeping, I give a recipe for their elimination.

Use prevention instead of so much cure. If you do not feed flies, they will not trouble you. Every door and window should be kept screened. As soon as possible after each meal, all food should be cleared away. Do not shake the crumbs from the tablecloth at the door, but brush them off, and either feed them to the chickens or burn them. Leave no milk standing uncovered. Empty no dishwater or slops near the house. Do not let your children run about with a "piece," or lunch, between meals. Three meals a day give sufficient nourishment for any child. Also train your children to go in and out of screen doors quickly and to shut them carefully, as well as to keep their faces, hands, and clothes clean. If these precautions are taken, there will be no necessity of being wakened in the morning by flies tickling your nose or eating their breakfast off your face. How restful it is during a hard, trying day to be able to sit down for a few moments in perfect peace, with not a fly to torment you.

And now about dust. Dust and flies are like the Siamese twins. They go about hand in hand through life, and even in death are not divided. There is no more necessity of our houses being filled with dust than with flies. Both are enemies to our well-being. The first lesson the young wife should teach her husband (if his mother has failed to do so) is to clean his shoes well upon the scraper and mat at the door. The scraper and mat should be the first articles purchased for housekeeping. The

next purchase should be a whisk broom, to brush all dust and dirt from the clothing before entering the house. This can be hung by the door. Never shake or brush any garment in the house. How many tired and worn-out mothers there are, barely existing, because the husband and children are careless, and in their home exhibit a "don't care" spirit. "Order is heaven's first law," and "cleanliness is next to godliness." The man or the woman who is lacking in these two essentials would hardly be able to enjoy heaven, if entrance for such were possible.

Brainerd, Minn.