The Home: A Study for the Advanced Senior Class, M. I. A., 1925–26

THE HOME A Study for the Advanced Senior Class, M. I. A., 1925-26 LESSON IV— THE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION OF THE HOME I. The Lecture: 1. Definition of Terms. The term "preservation" shall mean the pre- vention of the passing away of the home. Protection should mean prevention from dilapidation or decay, and from loss by fire. Home, in this discussion, shall mean a separate residence owned, or the ownership being paid for by the occupant. 2. The passing of the mansion. a. Causes. — Ever since the Civil War in America, the mansion home has been passing into history superceded by the hotel. And since the World War, the private palaces of Europe have been following the same course. The two main forces behind this movement are: the independence of employees, and taxation. Wealthy people finding that they could get luxury and attention at the hotel, cheaper than they could by maintaining the mansion, chose in the direction of the least resistance, leaving the mansion to dilapidaton and decay. b. Effects. — The passing of the mansion has been with a sort of social leveling. It has resulted in a shoulder-to-shoulder touch between dollar-and-cent-royalty and the masses. There are no reserved seats in the lobby, nor is there any front row standing place on hotel elevators. The eat-drink-and-be-merry hospitality has suffered a loss, but the coming-together-to-learn form of enjoyment has made a distinct gain. 3. The survival of the cottage, a. The economic outlook. 1. The ownership — Some people say it is cheaper to rent than to own a home. But the expense of owning a home costing $4,500 is estimated by good authority as follows: Interest on building, $315; taxes. $75: water, $15; heat, $60; light, $30; interest on furniture, $70; wear of furniture, $50; repair on home, $50; insurance, $8 — total expense, $673. Rent of apartment, $65 per month — $780; gain, $107. 2. Home industries. (1) Baking. The following is submitted by the Domestic Science Department of the Brigham Young University: Does Howe Baking Pay? — In dollars and cents — yes, as the following illustra- tions show: One-pound loaves of bread retail at 12c, made at home with retail prices of materials used, they cost 7c per pound loaf. One nine-inch apple pie retails at the bakery at 30c; at home it costs between lie and 15c. Nine pies were baked at a total cost of $1.05 for materials, requiring two hours' time for entire process. This meant a profit of $1.65 or 82V;>c per hour for fuel and labor. Home baking is one way in which the housewife can add dollars and cents to an otherwise inadequate income. (2) Home sewing. On this topic the director of the Domestic Art work at the Brigham Young University, says: Clothing made at home costs about one-third the price of the ready-to-wear clothing. Usually the garment is of a better grade of material which will insure

THE HOME $3 longer service. The material being a better grade, will have greater endurance, the style can be more conservative, as medium priced ready-to-wear garments are usually made to suit the latest fad or fancies. Where the income is small and the number in the family to be clothed from a relatively small clothing budget is large, there is no better way of cutting the expense than to have much of the sewing done at home. A busy mother cannot do it, but if she knows how it should be done, she can choose the color, select a pattern with the right lines, and direct her seamstress. These three, color, line, and fairly good workmanship, will insure a successful garment. 3. What may be done for the survival of the cottage. 1. Build better cottages. 2. Drive drudgery out of the home with household equipments. 3. Hold to the home evening. 4. Keep up cottage meetings, (a) Of relatives, (b) Of friends, (c) Of neighbors. 5. Emphasize home helpfulness in the public schools. 6. Give courses on parenthood in our colleges. II. The Thought Exchange. 1. Problems suggested: a. Give at least five reasons why the cottage will survive? b. Show ths truth or the fallacy of the statement: "Paying for a home is paying rent to yourself." c. What percent of the bread-winning is done by the woman who bakes the bread at home? d. Wherein is putting off home repairs wasteful? e. What would be the probable results of inaugurating a "paint up week?" f. If a group of persons should simultaneously paint their homes, what would be the paint-up effect on the locality? Why? g. Discuss: "Own a home and rent an automobile, or own an auto and rent a home." 2. Problems suggested by members of the whole class. III. Social Period. 1. Material suggested: Humorous home-happenings. a. Original, b. Related, c. Read in class. IV. Announcements and Assignments. Singing: "Keep the home fires burning," or "My mountain home so dear." Benediction. LESSON V— STANDARD MIDDLE-CLASS HOME— PHYSICAL FEATURES DESIRABLE I. The Lecture. "There are few things that concern us more intimately than the homes we live in, and especially those we own." Since the days of Adam, shelter and home comforts have been among the foremost considerations of the race. The physical features here treated would go to make up what might be termed a "standard home," hence our title "Standard Middle-class Home." Let us proceed as if you readers were a young married couple starting out to build a home. 1. Sources of help — The best and safest general advice we can offer is to consult an architect, or a building company who uses an architect, for its plans. Also, visit the houses in your com- munity, new and old for ideas: and, in addition, go to the

54 IMPROVEMENT ERA libraries and examine books of architecture and magazines for house plans. 2. Planning the home — a. Accommodations. With the aid of the architect, plan your home as best you can to accommodate the needs of the family, both present and future. A home should be planned to meet as many situations as possible. Speaking generally, a large living room and medium size dining room are desirable. A kitchen, not too large, arranged so that three or four can work at the same time without interference, is good. Plan the kitchen also to save steps. A breakfast room is considered desirable, espe- cially if the kitchen is kept down in size and if the dining room is so arranged as to enlarge the living room. The breakfast room can be used at night as a little study room. Corner bed rooms are desirable, especially for summer weather. Plenty of closet space makes housekeeping easier. Careful attention should be given to wall spaces for furniture. Circulation or accessibility of rooms is also important and difficult to accomplish in planning small and medium-sized homes, for the reason that hallways either have to be omitted or reduced to the minimum in size. Sunshine and proper ventilation add to the livability of a home and results from good judgment in the size and placing of windows. Either too much or too little light is to be avoided. A fire-place is the social center of the home. Usually the plain, simple ones are the best. It requires skill to keep things plain, simple and well pro- portioned, useful and in good taste. A medium size basement, well lighted, is sufficient, unless a recreation room is wanted. Keep your house regular, eliminating freakish and peculiar notions. This will increase the sales value in case you desire to sell later on. Waste space in planning should be avoided. It is a problem however, to provide maximum accommodations in minimum space and thus reduce the drudgery of housekeeping and the cost of construction. Moreover, as a rule, there is more sentiment attaching itself to the smaller, than the larger homes. Owners of large homes often dele- gate part of the work around the place to someone else. Of course, additional help for the mother of the home is often the sensible thing, but the more a man tends to his own place, plants his own trees, — mows his own lawn — waters his own flowers, etc., the more affection he will feel for his home. The writer was interested recently in visiting a section of large homes, where the people are said to be very rich per capita. The chief observation made by him was the absence of children, and the stories of divorces at- taching themselves to the different mansions in the neighborhood. b. Durability. — Durability is an essential part of a livable home. In all probability you will be obliged to practice economy. An architect's services can help you do this. c. Beauty. — Beauty is also a desirable feature and for this item we are almost wholly dependent upon the skill of an architect. 3. Location. An exclusively residential section is safer than one that is mixed with business houses. In larger cities, restricted areas are the most desirable. Zoning is a big protection to home owners, keeping the buildings and businesses out of residential sections. Ordinarily the higher or bench lands are the most desirable for homes. In choosing a location you will also consider accessability to church, to schools and to the center of town (do not be afraid of getting too far out.) As to whether a South, East, West or

THE HOME 55 4. North front is the best, it does not matter very much provided you have the advantage of necessary skill in planning your home. The home should be planned with reference to the front of the lot it occupies. A width of 50 feet is a very satisfactory city lot. You can get along with 40 or 45 feet if necessary. Better place the house well to one side to make room for a drive- way. Special consideration should be given to the grounds. A lawn, a flower garden, a play ground which, of course, may cover the lawn area, and trees, are desirable. Attractive and useful hardwood varieties are the best in the long run. Keeping a home up. The satisfaction you will get from your home will depend largely upon the care you take of it and the amount of your time you are willing to put into it. Make the little repairs and the larger ones without delay. For want of a nail, a screw, a paint brush, do not let the house grow old before its time. Keep the grounds in tip-top shape and you will enjoy them. Summing it all up, whatever goes to make a home livable is desirable. II. Thought Exchange. 1. Problems suggested. Just three questions. Do you want to go on paying for a home that will never be yours? Do you want to raise your children as unwelcome guests in another man's house? Do you want to sub- ject yourself and family to the many disadvantages of renting? Renting leads in one direction, home ownership in the other. 2. Problems suggested by members of the whole class. Here are some of the benefits of buying a home, expressed in verse form. THE HOME OWNER'S SONG OF SATISFACTION While we were buying our home, we learned to save our money. We increased our credit. We were happy in knowing that we were providing shelter for our old age. * * * * I was recognized as an ambitious, far-sighted person, worth employing, and because I felt successful, (knowing we were getting ahead) I became a more contented, better workman. * * * * All the while we enjoyed outdoor work beautifying our grounds (which was good for our health.) * * * * We were proud to entertain friends (which was good for us socially) , and we were comfortable and happy. * * * * Now that we own our home we no longer pay rent, and so, (having ac- quired the saving habit) , we are accumu- lating for an income. * * * * I have a foothold in the community because people depend upon me to pay my debts, to keep my job, to help build up the town where our home is, as a good citizen should.. * * * * I would shoulder a musket to defend my home, but rather would I help to establish lasting peace to keep my home safe. v * * * * My wife and my children and I all delight to make our home beautiful. Every day the name of home becomes dearer. Every day we are glad, my family and I, more and more glad that we bought a home. * * * * Why don't you, too, buy a home?

56 IMPROVEMENT ERA M„w„*,„/\ ^M=^////mm)r=^//W//77^ ? /#HM|t—f' 'OUCH' m 47-0"- Floor Plan, Standard Middle Class Home, House for Kimball ft Richards III. Provide Social Program for the Next Meeting. IV. Announcements and Assignments. Singing: "Home, sweet home." Benediction. LESSON VI— THE STANDARD HOME MAKERS I. The Lecture. To establish homes of the highest standard, requires wisdom and knowl- edge and power beyond that possessed by the world today. A glance at the condition of the world as regards marriage and family life proves the fact beyond question. The Latter-day Saints, through modern revelation from God, possess knowledge which eminently fits them to be the Standard Home Makers of the world, to establish homes possessing every element necessary for the complete development and happiness of the family organization and of the individual members of the family, both now and forever. See D. £J C. 132:8-19, 20; Gospel Doctrine, pp. 347, 348. The powers and responsibilities of the man in the home: 1. The man is the head, the governing power, doubly so when he holds the Priesthood, the God-given power of presidency. In all home affairs and family matters there is no other authority paramount. — Gospel Doctrine, p. 359. 2. His responsibility is to provide and maintain the home: to protect it from

THE HOME 57 evil and danger: to direct its general activities for the benefit of all the members; to establish the general rules for the government of the home; to establish the religious observances, and by example and precept teach the laws of the gospel and maintain them in the home. (See Doc. and Cov. 59:7. 21.) The position and responsibilities of woman: 1. Woman is the central figure in the home. She is the home maker. God himself ordained her to mother the race and keep sacred and happy the place where husband and children are sheltered and nourished and prepared for life's battles. 2. "Woman's place is to secure the order, comfort and loveliness of the home." — Ruskin. 3. The woman is largely responsible for the atmosphere of the home, be it peaceful, helpful, purposeful or distorting and enervating. Woman is the helpmate of the man. — Book of Moses 3:18; Genesis 2:18; Gospel Doctrine, p. 3 63; Young Woman's Journal, Vol. 25, p. 519. 4. Woman is obedient to her husband: Book of Moses 4:22; Gospel Doc- trine, p. 3 60. 5. Woman is largely responsible for training of children in their early life. 6. Woman's greatest achievement is motherhood. Motherhood lies at the foundation of the happiness of the home and the prosperity of the nation. — Gospel Doctrine, p. 3 61. 7. "Children are a heritage of the Lord. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are children of the youth. Happy is 'the man that hath his quiver full of them. They shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemy at the gate." 8. The debt men and women owe to God for mortal life is discharged by giving bodies to the spirits who are ordained to dwell on this earth. "To be a successful father or a successful mother is greater than to be a suc- cessful general or statesman." — Gospel Doctrine, page 358. True companionship is necessary to home of highest type. 1. Social. The companionship of hearts; to be happier together than apart — Young Woman's Journal, Vol. 25, p. 520. 2. Intellectual. Companion- ship of minds. Their intellectual achievements will differ as their na- tures or talents differ, but the same standard of excellence should actuate them both. 3. Moral companionship. The same standards of chastity, purity of mind, speech, actions and ideals must be held by both. 4. Per- fect unity of religious belief is absolutely necessary to the finest and fullest spiritual companionship. II. The Thought Exchange. 1 . Problems Suggested : a. How far need the question of money decide the quality of a Latter- day Saint home? b. What would be the effect upon the Church and on the world if the Latter-day Saints lived up to their knowledge in estab- lishing their homes? c. What has permanence of abode to do with char- acter-building in the home? d. I heartily recommend the reading of Marriage, the Home and Family — Gospel Doctrine, by President Joseph F. Smith, p. 341. 2. Problems Suggested by members of the class. III. Social Period. Make provisions for program through class one week ahead. IV. Announcements and Assignments. Read or sing hymn 3, p. 7, L- D- S- Hymn Booh-