Club Minutes: The Home Interest Society, 1902-1906

A housekeeper asks what shall we have for breakfast? The same thing one whispered, which another supposed to be the old standby known as the Egyptian mystery, Breakfast bacon; sausage, chip beef gravy, boarding house hash, eggs on toast, but above all a six o'clock appetite.

The usual Spring question who wants papering done was asked and private arrangements made for joining to secure a workman.

Rose Gilpin, Caleb Stabler and wife Hannah B. and Mary Miller Stabler were visitors. Adjourned to meet at Sunnyside

Francis Thomas, Sec.

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355 Meeting Sunnyside 4/10 - 1903

This meeting was posponed to this date because of the absence from home of our hostess. A good attendance of members and the following visitors were present. Mrs. Mary Janney and two daughters. Newton Stabler and family, Belle [?] Emma T. Stabler, James H. Miller Elizabeth T. Stabler, Lucy Miller and R. Bentley Thomas. As new business the president named a forethought committee for one year Benjamin H. Miller and Albina P. Stabler.

Asa Stabler presented a paper urging us to make a move for the prevention of cruelty to animals. Sue L. Thomas related a sad but amusing interview she recently had with a well known fish woman whose horse attracts much public notice. Sue discovered that the horse had the point of his hip knocked off, was broken winded, hide bound, and hollow cribbed with prominent ribs and trembling limbs. Our sympathies were enlisted and a

of three named to take the subject in charge to see if the law and the needs encourage a permanent committee to work on these issues. Asa M. Stabler, Sue L. Thomas and Francis Thomas constitute the committee.

The age of our members is suggested by the preferences they seem to have for easy chairs instead of a stroll around the gardens and hen roosts. "no walk" is recorded in more minutes than of old and unless we soon reach our 2nd childhood that exercise will become obsolete.

The first question was in reference to working gardens. Only a few gardens have been made on account of continued wet weather. The few early gardens were much injured by the late March freeze.

Benj. Miller got little advice about his asparagus that has not yet been planted.

The principle subject of the evening was the laundry which was introduced by Bentley Thomas.

After much discussion and a vote it was shown that most present believed the project of establishing a laundry was feasible and promising of success. Bentley was one of a committee to visit a laundry at Leesburg that has been successful. He estimates the cost of plant complete $3,000, running expenses $230 per mo. and that 50 families patronizing it would repay that and leave a balance.

Questions. How many times should young chickens be fed? 4 or 5 times daily while very young. Only 3 times when larger. Should have no food before they are 48 hours old.

How to make lettuce head? Tie a red handkerchief around it like Aunt Julia Hood.

Is it too late to manure asparagus? No. Peter Henderson says manure benefits all growing crops.

The time to plant tulips was referred to the committee on red shirts

Radishes, lettuce, potatoes and peas were about the only things

except the beets the president planted by moonlight for Jack Frost's late frolic. The president's peas are just six and a quarter inches high, if the Highland peas are no more than six.

The sec., was advised to hunt his stolen harness at the risk of having his building burned.

Nelie Stabler was advised to cover their lawn very heavily with manure and grass seeds and harrow thoroughly with a sharp harrow. Or plow the whole of it and work it well for two seasons to secure the desired sod.

Mrs. Nellie Farquhar wanted to know the sentiment of the H.I. on the practice of enticing servants to leave their employer. There was very general expression that such action was mean and dishonorable. But when a servant applies to you for work you have a perfect right to offer him what you consider him worth, regardless of where he is now serving.