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justfun75 (Beehive Requirements in 1916 ** )

 1916 Beehive Requirements


In 1916, every female over the age of fourteen was a Beehive until she entered Relief Society; there were no Mia Maids, Laurels, or Gleaners. The following are 20 of the 373 possible requirements for a Beehive girl to earn her awards:

  • Care successfully for a hive of bees for one season and know their habits.
  • Give the distinguishing characteristics of 6 varieties of hens and cattle and tell the strong and weak points of each.
  • Exterminate the mosquitoes over an area of 1/2 square mile by pouring a little kerosene on the surface of all standing pools of water twice each month during April, May, or June.
  • Make two articles of underwear by hand.
  • Cover 25 miles on snowshoes in any six days.
  • Learn to float in the Great Salt Lake and propel yourself 50 feet.
  • During three consecutive months, abstain from candy, ice cream, commercially-manufactured beverages, and chewing gum.
  • For one month, masticate your food so thoroughly that it slips down without any visible effort at swallowing it.
  • Successfully put a new washer on a faucet.
  • Care for at least two kerosene lamps daily.
  • For 3 months, take care of milk and cream from at least one cow and see that the pails, pans, strainer, and separator are thoroughly cleansed.
  • During two weeks, keep the house free from flies or destroy at least 25 flies daily.
  • Have your toilet moved to an isolated place in the garden. Have a frame of chicken wire built about three feet away and plant quick-growing vines such as cucumber or morning glory to screen it from observation.
  • Whitewash your toilet inside and out.
  • Know and describe three cries of a baby.
  • Without help or advice, care for and harness a team at least 5 times; drive 50 miles during one season with this team.
  • During 2 summer months, clean the ice chest (refrigerator) thoroughly twice a week.
  • Discover 10 reasons why the columbine should be made the national flower.
  • Clear sagebrush and other growth off 1/2 acre of land.
  • Know six blazes used by Indians.

— Given by Barbara Smith, April 11, 1995, at Little America Hotel at an annual conference for senior citizens called “New Visions of Aging”.


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