FoodNet

Handbook of domestic science and household arts for use in elementary schools

1900

Page 130

Presented as published in 1900. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
II. Where a microscope is available, the teacher might, by the use of prepared slides, give her class some idea of the nature of germs. Lesson III Building and Furnishing Location of the Bedroom. — The location of the bedroom is a matter for serious consideration. It should be so situated that it receives the sun during some time of the day. East rooms are preferable, for they get the sun during the morn- ing airing and cleaning time. Next best are south rooms. All rooms cannot be east or south rooms, but a house can be planned so as to get sun into most of the rooms. As important as siin is fresh air. If it is impossible to have opposite windows in the bedroom, the house should be so planned that the windows of each bedroom are opposite to windows in an adjoining room or hall. It will then be pos- sible to allow the fresh air to sweep through the rooms as often as needed. There should always be a window in the bedroom closet. This should be in the wall opposite the door of the closet, thus securing a draft when the door and window are opened for the daily airing. Quiet is another important consideration in locating the bedroom. Other things being equal, the bedroom should be in the part of the house most removed from the noise of the street. A little additional care in building, in the direction of deaden- ing partitions and floors, would serve to keep from the bed- room many of the disturbing sounds within the house. It is a great advantage if, in planning the house, a place can be provided for airing mattresses. Because of the weight of the mattresses it should not be necessary to THE BEDROOM 271 carry them far. A sunny porch, out of sight of the street, and opening by a door or a long window from the upper hall, is the best place for such airing. This porch should be furnished with hooks for attaching clothes lines. On the lines, pillows and the lighter weight bed furnish- ings can be aired. Finishings of the Bedroom. — Having located the bedroom, attention must next be given to the finishing. In covering the walls, the first consideration should be that of cleanli- ness. If paper is used, it should be frequently renewed. Paint is desirable because it can be washed. Calcimining is cheap and easily renewed. The woodwork should be plain, and so made as to shed dust instead of collecting it. Closet shelves should be removable. If there is a chest of drawers in the closet, it should stand well up from the floor, so that the space underneath can be easily cleaned without removing the drawers. The floor should be so made as to look well without a covering. Hard wood is best, but soft wood painted is better than the costliest carpet. The Furniture of the Bedroom. — The necessary furniture of a bedroom consists of a bed, a dresser, a washstand, a towel rack, a table, and a few chairs. A screen and a clothes rack for airing clothing and bedding are desirable. All of these should be of light weight, and should stand high from the floor.