od park, a good
swimming pool and a good playground.

This all comes under the city government and as this is a democratic
form of government, these things are all arranged by vote. That is, the
citizens vote to use the public money for such things and vote for the
officials who shall spend the money for them. Do you see that if you
make up your mind now about the village improvements you want, you can
vote for them later and get them?

Women are naturally interested in all that happens to children, and if
all the women of a community should get together and vote for everything
that concerned the health and happiness and good education of children,
can't you see what happy days their school-days would be?

If you saw "Public Health" at the head of a chapter, you might not think
it looked very interesting; but when you once get the idea that if your
mother had had her say on the Public Health Board you would have had a
fine skating pond with a good skate-house, last winter, and sunny,
well-aired school rooms to study in, with a big gymnasium for basket
ball in bad weather, you may be more interested in the merit badge for
Public Health called "Health Guardian!"

Remember that Public Health is simply good housekeeping, applied to the
community.

It is a subject which women are sure to take up more and more, and a
Girl Scout who has given the matter a little thought and study is going
to make a good citizen later on, and will be certain to have her advice
asked--and taken--in the matter of making her town healthy and happy.

For instance, if the desks in the public schools are not of the right
height and shape, the children are bound to suffer in their health and
hygiene.

It is the business of the State to see that all public buildings,
schools, theatres, factories, etc., have a certain amount of light and
air to the cubic foot, because so much is necessary for health.

It is the business of the State to see that only a certain number of
hours a day should constitute a day's work. This is because a certain
amount of rest is a necessity for all citizens.

It is the business of the State to see that food and water can be
brought into the community. Also that they be kept pure, both in
transportation and after they reach the community. This includes the
policing of all reservoirs and the filtering of the water; the
refrigerating of meat and milk; the condemning of rotten fruit and
vegetables; the collecting and di