The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-07-17
Cooperative Housekeeping.

An association has been formed in Cam
| bridge, Massachusetts, for the purpose of
cooperative housekeeping. The plan con-
templates cooperative storeroom at first,
| from which the families of members of the
association are to be supplied at cost a CO.
operative kitchen and bakery, if this is
successful and finally, a cooperative laun-
dry-the whole to be placed under compe-
tent management, and designed t. ,ecure,
if possible, two desirable ends-household
economy and household comfort The adj
dress put forward by the association gives
many interesting details of what has been
done elsewhere by similar associations, and
, pictures in somewhat brilliant colors the
results in economy and convenience that
are to be gained. Here, for instance, IS
prediction as to what is to be done in the
training of young ladies, which will be de-
cidly interesting to their prospective hus-
bands:
"Another point of view from which we
may regard the kitchen is that of train
ing-school in house-wifery for young ladies.
1t is difficult for girls now to get any knowl-
edge of, or taste for cooking, for a good
many reasons. One is, that home kitchen
is not usually pleasant place to work in,
1t is small hot, and sometimes dismal
| The kitchen sink is in it-unsightliest of
objects. The cook may or may not be
obligng, just as it happens. Mamma very
often does not know enough of cooking to
teach her daughter; or, if she does, would
rather do it herself than run the risk of the
foods being spoiled. If the cook knows
anything, she is sure not to want q young
lady in the kitchen. If she does not, of
| course she cannot teach her much. But a
cooperative kitchen would be a Ia &c, high,
| light and cheerful apartment. In my
imagination l see it as one universal shine
of white floors and tables, of polished tin,
! copper and brass. The utensils will all be
cleaned down cellar, and sent up on 4 dumb
waiter, or in a large closet with sinks and
faucets for the purpose, so that nothing
will be going on but the clean and delicate
operations of preparing the food. Adozen
young ladies' in short dresses and white
aprons standing at the long, snowy table,
under the direction of the head cook, would
be very pretty and pleasant sight, and
they would no doubt, enjoy it quite as
much as they ever did any class in their
lives. hope we shall have some fathers
and mothers who do not care for the Co
operative Kitchen, cheerfully paying down
their 800 that their daughters may have a
six months course of lessons there
The distribution of the food when cooked
is to be made by means of Norwegian
kitchens" which are boxes made of wood
and lined with felt and tin, which will
keep the food hot for hours BY means of
these contrivances a man in Hanover sends
round dinners daily to one thousand fami-
lies in little carts drawn by two dogs, and
dinners are sent from restaurants to fami-
lies as a regular business in all the large
towns of France and Italy.
Of the state of felicity which housekeep-
ers who join in the movement are to enjoy
we are told:
Families that now keep two or three
servants need only keep one, while those
that keep one can get on with having
woman come in to do the housework in the
morning. But do not wish to lay too
much stress on the economy of co-opera-
tive kitchen, since we do not certainly know
what proportion it will save, OF whether it
will save anything at all. would rather
inspire you with faith in it's superior COM
fort, convenience and perfection. For one,
I should be perfectly delighted to have no
such thing around my house as the kitchen
sink, with the greasy pots and pans that
have to be continually in it, even with the
neatest cook no such floor as the kitchen
! floor with its grease spots always having to
be washed up; no dreadful smell of grease
pervading the house whenever anything is
fried no soap-suds flavor to my breakfast
on Monday mornings-above all, no sNiW
pail! Think, too, of the mental rage and
distress one could escape when one has no
cook to tell one, just as one has got her
trained to all ones ways, If you please,
mum, will you get another gyrel, for I'm
going to lave when my week is up These
are the pains from which we would be
| free