Cleaning, like eating, we are unable to get away from. It seems to be eternally necessary, so we may as well attack it from the short cut point of view. There are certain processes that have to be gone through one way or another but we may be thankful there are so many aids in these days to help us out.

In considering cleaning we must constantly think of the surfaces. Cleaning the surface is a great consideration in housework. And these surfaces need mothering, they are like tender children that must be cared for regularly and well. They are well kept or neglected as a child is and one glance will tell us which. Rubbing the furniture and wood work with wax, furniture polish, or dustless dusters keeps them in good condition. Any good floor wax is also good for furniture. A rubbing up once in a while with a good floor wax helps out a great deal. A good furniture polish that will aid greatly in keeping the furniture bright and shining is made at home by using equal parts of boiled linseed oil, vinegar and turpentine, that is

1 c boiled linseed oil
1 c vinegar.

1 c turpentine.

Shake well together and moisten the dust cloth with it and rub the furniture well, then rub with a dry duster, it will give a good polish and be splendid treatment for the wood. This is cheaper and just as good a polish as almost any of the commercial polishes.

Another good plan for dusting if one does not care to use the furniture polish every day is to make a

dustless duster by sprinkling warm water enough on a soft duster so that when it is wrung well it is just a little moist, so that it makes a good dustless duster. This will also give a shine to the furniture but should not be used without an occasional use of the polish or wax.

Another short cut worth considering in cleaning is the use of the mop stick with the mop bucket having a wringer to wring out the mop. We have all seen such devices where men do the work as in large buildings with great floor space to be washed up. It is not necessary to use the mop altogether. The floor may have a good scrubbing on hands and knees say once a week, then every morning or two a good cleaning with the mop, and the floor is kept in fairly good condition. The wringer on the scrub bucket saves a great deal of time and the hands do not have to soak in the water as they do when one mops on the knees.

For window cleaning try a few drops of household ammonia in the water, then when wiping use newspapers instead of the cloths that get so soiled and are so hard to wash afterwards. Newspapers, and in fact all old papers, are of greatest use in cleaning pots and pans and dishes that have grease, paraffine, etc., on that is hard to get off except when nice and warm. A goodly supply of papers near at hand is a splendid short cut.

The silver is another part of our cleaning that is often neglected for lack of the necessary hours to scour it. It goes for weeks and sometimes months badly tarnished, when

it could be cleaned in a very short time, if one only knew how, by the means of electrolysis. To clean the silver use an aluminum kettle, if no aluminum kettle is handy get a piece of galvanized iron from the tinners or some galvanized iron shavings and use in another kind of kettle. These pieces may be used over and over again. Possibly some of us have paid a dollar or more for just silver polishers that could be had for only a few cents from the tin smith. If the filings or strips are used any sort of kettle will do. Then into the kettle pour boiling water enough to cover the silver. For each quart of water add one teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of soda. When the water is boiling put the silver in. It is best if the silver is segregated and all the spoons are cleaned at once, all the forks, then the knives, and last any extras. A minute or two in this boiling water will suffice to remove almost any tarnish. Then with a good suds wash them well, rinse thoroughly with hot water, wipe with a nice clean dry towel, rubbing to give them a polish, and the silver is done. In fifteen or twenty minutes the silver is all cleaned and put

away.

The wash basin and bath tub are two articles that need special attention almost constantly. But if a supply of sal soda or some good soap powder is kept near so that it can be used when necessary the work of keeping basin and tub cleaned is greatly reduced. However, if one is very anxious for a good bright finish a dry towel should be used to dry and polish them. The sal soda or soap powder combined with the grease of the wash basin, bath tub or sink forms soft soap and it is very noticeable how easily the

grease disappears. Then by the use of a little scouring agent such as Mab Mab or Sapolio the marks are scoured off with little effort.

The toilet basin often gives some trouble by becoming discolored and unsightly. The first cut in this direction is to convert or train every member of the family to properly flush the toilet after its use. Training along this line is sorely neglected by many people, evidenced by the condition of public toilets. There is even greater need in flushing the toilet than in emptying the wash basin, but both should be cared for immediately after using. Where the toilet basin has become discolored, or to protect it from becoming discolored there is a market preparation that does the work beautifully and that is Saniflush. After the Saniflush has been in the basin all night, with a long handled brush the basin should be washed out thoroughly; then with a little special care once a week the toilet is kept nice and clean.

In conclusion, the short cuts in cleaning are to clean and then to keep clean. Where one has a kitchen table that is kept clean and sweet by scrubbing the easiest short cut is to scrub it often, not let it get in such a condition that it loses its brightness and a great scrubbing, even, will not bring back its original freshness. We are all too prone in these days to "let well enough alone," and our "well enough" is a mere "lick and a promise.' promise." If we would read occasionally some of Benjamin Franklin's wise old ings and put them into practice we should be helped very greatly particularly by this one "If you get up early you drive your work, if you get up late your work drives you."

say

You who dwell among pavements and apartments-do you ever envy the passing tourist? Do you glance wistfully at his elaborate equipment and sigh for the shady nook where he will soon cast his line? And after he has passed from sight, do you return to your stifling flat feeling like the Prisoner of Chillon:

"To me the goodly light and air Are banned and barred, forbidden fare?"

If you have done these things, turn your sigh of self pity to energy, take an inventory of your own camping equipment, and plan a trip for yourself. If you have a car that will travel at all, you, too, may enjoy the beauties of our big out of doors. Thermos cases and swinging auto beds are nice, but quite unnecessary. You do not need a six cylinder car as a passport to Nature's wonderland. There are no toll gates to the scenic spots of our own state, nor to the nearby national forests. Your food will taste fully as good prepared over a little peg stove, as if cooked upon an expensive electric

restaurants.

kit. You do not need a costly ent to shield your bed from a stray breeze. The following suggestions, made from the viewpoint of economy, are not theoretical. The writer has tested their practicality and used the home contrived equipment described. One of a party of four, traveling in a Ford car, she has made two trips of twelve hundred miles each. We journeyed independent of hotels and selves, we camped when and where Sufficient unto ourwe liked. We cooked bacon and eggs in the depth of the Kaibab Forestthe southern Utah desert did not exhaust the water supply. We built camp fires under the shadow of "The Angel's Landing" in Zion National Park-held our breath around the Horseshoe Bend curves on the Payette River, and fried our own catch in the white pine belt of the great Inland Empire. There is a joy in gathering firewood, in experiencing the primitive, in getting in touch with

nature.

General Hints.-Know your car,

have it in good condition and know your destination. It is always better to have two chauffeurs in the party. Remember that upon long trips every ounce of luggage counts. Learn to distinguish between essential and superfluous equipment. If you get stuck in a mudhole, you will appreciate a short handled shovel more than an ivory hand mirror. If you have to unload to make a difficult hill, how ridiculous it will seem to find a large stock of canned foods which you could have purchased as reeded enroute. This is why you must know your destination. If you are going to remote, sparsely settled country you must carry a full line of edibles. Stock up with them at your last town. Do not take small childrer on long trips. Due to over fatigue they become fretful and wearisome. Besides, every woman is a better mother who can have a vacation from her babies at least once a year,

"Any old thing" does not answer, either in clothes or outfit. At the same time home made devices can be successfully substituted for the fancy camping equipment so attractively displayed in sporting goods stores. For the convenience of the amateur tourist, necessary equipment is here arranged under three heads.

The Car. Do not make the back seat uncomfortable with loose luggage. Do not attempt to sit upon bedding, but keep your paraphernalia outside the car. Close the doors opposite the driver's seat. Four long strips of 1 by 2 in. wood, two to a side, bolted to the ends of the mud guard make excellent luggage carriers. On the open side of the car they must be low enough to permit the doors to open easily. Inside of these can be stored the grubbox, bedding rolls, canteen, folding stove made of heavy mesh wire and four sharpened spikes, and frying pan and

if necessary, extra cans for gasoline and water. Five gallon honey cans are excellent for this purpose and can also be pressed into service as camp stools. The type of bed shown in the illustration is collapsible and fits upon the back of the car, over and behind the spare tire. It is rain and wind proof, is protected with mosquito netting and weighs only fifty pounds. Mattress and springs are built into the bed, which takes only five minutes to set up and prepare for occupancy.

There are several types of autos which permit the hinging of the front seat to make an auto bed, ala Pullman. This is very practical and the job can be done by any man clever with carpenter's tools. It does not weaken the car, and does not detract from its appearance if the supporting rods are painted. In this manner a second bed is provided. The suit cases serve as the center props for this bed at night. Each roll of bedding should be wrapped in a tarpaulin. This keeps all bedding clean and makes a most excellent outer covering, or windbreak. The weight upon the car should be evenly balanced, and nothing should be permitted to rattle. Any woman can make a small wall pocket to fit the back of the front seat in which can be carried small articles frequently needed, such as the kodak, route book, fruit to eat enroute, soap, etc. There is a small type of folding table the slatted top fitting around the collapsible legs. This can ride inside the tonneau, in the small space below the front seat. Every square inch of the space under the rear seat can be put to good use. A complete kit of tools should be carried, together with a few "extra parts," for car trouble seems to have a knack of appearing when the last garage is far behind.