Caldwell County MO Archives History .....FIGHTING FLIES IN EARLIER TIMES 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Karen Walker khw4@yahoo.com September 4, 2008, 1:20 pm

FIGHTING FLIES IN EARLIER TIMES
	Narrators:  Mrs. Sarah Wonsettler, 87, and Mrs. Catherine Rogers, 91
     
     These women clearly recall the story of the battle with flies.  To them, 
the screen window and door is a comparatively late luxury, both remembering 
when they saw their first wire screening or as the merchants called it "wire 
cloth."
     The nearest approach to the wire screen was mosquito bar or fly net as it 
was sometimes called which came in several colors and white.  On the older 
houses round the country or in town, you may yet see rusty tacks around the 
windows which are a relic of the days when this net was tacked in at the 
windows, sometimes every spring to guard against the flies.
     But both women can go back even of that custom to the time when no 
percautions was taken against the entrance of the fly into the house.  Both 
tell stories of eating outdoors in the summer in the supper or even the dinner 
hour.  One member of the family kept a big leafy branch busy to protect the 
food as being eaten.  Indeed this custom was largely used even in the house 
until deep into the 80s in some country communities, especially if company was 
present.
     There was one duty for every good housekeeper.  Every morn after the 
morning dishes were done, the housewife armed herself and her children with 
two big rags and they literally drove out the flies for the day.  There had to 
be at least two persons on the job.  One person could not corner the flies.  
Just try it!
     Interviews  1934.


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