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The 614th meeting of the HOME INTEREST was held on 1928 Tuesday, January 3, at Holly Cottage, in place of Avalon. The members were most cordially welcomed by Miss Gilpin, Mrs. Massey, Mrs. Coulter and Miss Brooke.
After a very delicious supper the meeting was called to order by Mr. Harry Stabler, chairman for the evening. The minutes of the last meeting were approved as read. The next place of meeting was next in order and Mr. and Mrs. Farquhar invited the club to their attractive home, Ercildoon.
A communication from Dr. Christie was read expressing his appreciation of the Home Interest in keeping his family as members,
Mr. Bond reported for the Fire Protection Committee, that a representative had been appointed from the two Farmers Clubs and the Neighbors and they had decided the most practical schme was for head individual to arrange his own water supply. Mr. Bancroft said that a group of houses could put in a cistern fed from the roofs. Mr. Ligon estimated that a tank with a capacity of 12000 gal. would cost between 3 and 4 hundred dollars. Mr. Bond suggested having a meeting in each section to discuss the matter. This brought up the need of a chamber of commerce.
Mrs. Halowell reported that she had not found a satisfactory day on which the Home Interest could meet. The 3rd Tuesday in the month was decided on for the present.
The secretary was asked to acknowledge Dr. Christie's letter and to write to Margaret Fussell who is ill.
Something happened to the forethought committee for both William John and Edith forgot their responsibility. Billy soon got his brain working and told us that now was an ideal time to cut ice. Also it is a good time for those who intend to get electricity to have their wires inspected, especially Delco users. Edith most graciously begged off and appointed herself on the same committee for next meeting. The other new member for next time is Mr. Bancroft.
The essay for the evening was to be given by Dr. Christie, but he asked Mr. Bancroft to exchange meetings with him, Mr. Bancroft desired more time for the preparation of his paper, which he will give at the March meeting.
QUESTIONS: Miss Gilpin. What do the patrons think of moving the post office of Sandy Spring. Ans. The general opinion is that it is a pity and will take trade away from Mr. Adams, but that we cannot interfere. Mrs. Massey. How many persons are so fortunate as to have so many nice nieces. She asked for a rising vote of thanks for Mrs. Coulter and Miss Brooke.
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Mr. Janney thinks that the sending of Chrismas cards is quite a nuisance. Perhaps we might think so too if we received many on the order of the amusing card Mrs. Janney read to us. Miss Kirk. What can I do with Lemon Verbena which is sending out long shoots now. Ans. Cut off shoots, plant and sand and water. It will not hurt the plant. Mrs. Hallowell wants to know how she can get electricity down her way. Ans. Mr. Ligon thinks that if Mrs. H. will appeal to the P.S.C. and get them to ask for it that she will be pretty apt to get it. Mr. Farquhar has a good refrigerator and a dependable ice man and wants to know should he change for a frigidaire. Ans. After having an electric machine you will never go bac back to the old way. The Gen. Elec. has the best machine. Mrs. Farquhar. How do you get petunias to bloom now. Ans. Plant seed in August. Mrs. Wetherald says the Potamac Electric has advised her to install 3 no. 4 wires into her home. Is that necessary. If Mrs. Wetherald received any real information about this subject, she did more than I did, but I do believe the opinion was if the difference in the expense of no.4 and no.8 wires was not too great, it might be economy in the end to install the no.4 wires. Mrs. Robert Miller made a plea that anyone desiring to help the Free Kindergarten in Baltimore would take anything suitable for the making of soups to the Sandy Spring store. Mr. Adams would deliver it. Mrs. Harry Stabler. Are they trying to do anything definite about the telephone exhange. Mr. Phil Robison is going there every day and the service will probably improve.
Adjourned to meet at Ercildoon February 6.
C.N.Stabler,
Sec. pro tem.
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The 615th meeting of the Home Interest was held February 6th at the home of Allan Farquhar. This lovely spick-and-span house was a pleasant setting for the occasion. It is so carefully appointed - doors checks on the doors that should remain closed, compact conservatories at appropriate points, cold pantries, shining paint and telephones at all stair landings.
From the kitchen of this model little house issued forth ambrosial foods - the festive oyster, the sliced ham, the hot and steaming roll, the English walnut cunningly imbedded in icecream.
At the meeting Milton Bancroft assumed the gavel with his usual smiling grace. Norris Fussell's term as secretary was found to have expired; and, in accordance with the new scheme of rotation, the place now fell to Braemar. Faith Morris accepted this duty with her usual charming willingness and Edwin Morris took the notes.
The question of changing the date of meeting was again brought up. After some discussion the fourth Tuesday in the month was suggested and, on motion of Edith Thomas was approved. For the March meeting and thereafter the regular meeting day will be the fourth Tuesday in each month.
For the Fire Vprotection Committee, Harry Stabler reported that there had been a meeting of a joint committee composed of representativesfrom each of the farmers' Clubs, from the Neighbors and from the Home Interest. At this meeting a sub-committee had been appointed to formulate a plan. The Home Interest committee asked to be continued.
The Forethought Committee made graceful speeches. Edith Thomas said there is nothing new under the sun and this is never so evident as when one is on the Forethought Committee. Milton Bancroft slid out by saying that he had had the forethought to be appointed chairman and that therefore he could not serve.
The Forthought committee for the next meeting is Allan Farquhar and Elza Thomas.
We then had the great pleasure of hearing a talk by Arthur Christy on National Defense. As a matter of convenience, the speaker requested that since he had not been able to get his data on national defense in the shape he desired, that he be allowed to paraphrase the title of the subject by striking out the words "national defense" and substituting therefor the words "the history of the X-ray."
He warned the audience that the subject might contain long words and hard ideas - like the opening sentence of an essay which defined Conscience as the Catogorical Imperative of the Superempirical Reasoning.
The discovery of the X-ray was the culminating achievement of a century of great scientific Discoveries.
The X-ray is the result of passing a high voltage
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current through a vacuum tube. It therefore depended upon two previous discoveries; 1. The invention of the mercury pump in 1722 by the great evangelist Swedenborg. This in later years was perfected so that a vacuum could be obtained, thus making possible the vacuum tube. 2. 5he discovery, in 1832, by Farraday of the high voltage current.
In 1856 a man named Gessler made the following discovery: when he passed a high voltage current through a vacuum tube, he found that from one end of the tube particles of matter were shot across it, striking against the far side. This movement in the tube he called the Kathode ray.
It was later discovered that where the Kathode ray struck the opposite side of the tube the X-ray was generated. This was the discovery of Roentgen - November 8th, 1895.
The X-ray has the property we all know of going through all substances if not too great in thickness. This property is due to the short wave-length of the X-ray. Dr. Christy pointed out the wave by which we receive our wireless is a long wave - longer than light. The X-ray is shorter than that of light. The wave-length of the so-called cosmic ray is even shorter than that of the X-ray. It will penetrate as much as six feet of lead.
Dr. Christy's recollections of the use of the X-ray during the world war were absorbing. He explained how they placed the wounded men on a table and looked through them to find pieces of shell, writing on the man's skin the position and depth of the steel.
He closed with this story. A man went to the door of a deaf old lady's house. This dialogue followed:
Man. Madam, your house is on fire. Deaf Old Lady. No, we don't want any today. Man. But I say your house is on fire. Deaf old lady(closing the door) Is that all? Man. Well, it's all I can think of right now.
Arthur said he couldn't think of anything else either and sat. down.
QUESTIONS
Mrs. Farquhar What can I do when a neighbor has a pony that tramples over the lawn and flowers? Ans. (Mr. Hartshorne) Put up a fence. The others will not take offence.
Edith Thomas announced a hot supper at the Lyceum on the 13th of the month.
Mr. Hartshorne: If ice house is full of ice and snow, when is it best to cover it? Ans. After a cold snap.
Mrs. Weld. What can I do when a dog chases my sheep? Ans. You have a perfect right to shoot the dog.
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The 616th meeting of the Home Interest was held April 2nd at the home of J. E. Janney. A delicious and soul-warming supper was served which placed the assembled company in an alert, vivacious and snappy frame of mind - producing later a pleasant meeting which held the interest of all.
For the Forethought Committee Elza Thomas read some "Do's and Dont's". Sand removes moss. Nothing is gained by starting a garden too early. Paint up. Clean up. She read a charming poem upon the purchasing power of a dime. Also this story. Public Speaker - "There is so much noise here I can scarcely hear myself speak." Voice in the Audience - "Cheer up, Governor, you ain't missing much."
Huldah Janney was appointed to write a memorial to Olivia Lansdale.
Milton Bancroft spoke upon the subject of the newly-organized Community Council. He read the constitution and by-laws adopted by the Council at its meeting March 30th, 1928.
This constitution and by-laws provided that the council should be composed of three representatives from each of the three adjacent election districts - and that each of certain named clubs and organizations therein should nominate from their membership men whom they deemed fitted to be on the Council.
The Home Interest was greatly interested in this Council and after some discussion held an amicable ballot to decide who should be nominated from the Home Interest. The fact that all ballots in the Home Interest were usually amicable was commented upon - and this was held by many to be the secret of the benign charm of our gatherings together.
As a result of the ballot the following names were put in nomination for the Council:-
First District
W. J. Thomas R. H. Lansdale Milton Bancroft W. J. Thomas. [?]gate Garland Ligon alternate
Second District F. L. Thomas J. W. Jones Garland Ligon
Third District Granville Thompson Robert H. Miller Rust Canby
On account of lack of time Milton Bancroft's paper on Landscape Gardening was postponed until the following meeting. Milton's face was wreathed in smiles. The chairman appointed Garland Ligon and Lucy Moore on the Forethought Committee for the next meeting.
Before adjourning the Home Interest went into executive session and elected Mr. and Mrs. Ivan C. Weld to the Home Interest.