Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-03-24
Tor the Star.]
THE H0uSEkrEp ms err,

[for the Starl
THE H0USEkEEP. RS CLUB.
III the interest In improved housekeeping in
washington were Judged by the numbers who
attend the club, we could not fiatter ourselves
tnat the millennium Of reform in this direction
nso yes 0eEun But we might take heart. and
keep up our courage that some good thing is In
store Tor housekeepers in the future, If we
Judged from another point of view-tnat is the
earnest indi vidual expression Of the heartfelt
conviction OF many men and women that i'm.
provemeDt in this direction is tmyeratireIy de.
manded, and that true reform mere, would be
more welcome TO "men's business and bosoms,'
church or State ever projected. In the hope
that men and women will not cease to think,
and work, for this better state. we, for our
part, Will endeavor to report all the ideas sent
We were glad 10 be informed that on Capitol
Hill the housekeepers enjoy the convenience of
q meat cart calling at their doors, and thus
saving them the necessity Of the long journey
70 the public market In Washington the mar.
keting - usually done At an incon venience TO
the housekeeper beyond that Of any other city
we ever knew II one does not 60 in the morn
ing hours nothing can be obtained, and If one
desires 10 purchase poultry. fish or pork for
dl0ner. their marketing will not be sent home
only the beef dealers performing that favor to
the purchaser. So, in order to get ones market
baske- safely brought home, a lady must have
her servant uf she keeps but one, as many do \
ieave all the morning work OF the house un.
done, dress for the street, and 90 out with her
for the dinner, and after returning change her
dress again and take mp her housework, per-
haps having to klndle a new fire and neat
water anew. The mistress also is likely to
have TO change her dress twice, as well as the
maid, for so incon venent Is the feminine
arrangement about dress that no economical
lady will 60 into the kitchen in the same dress
that she wears in the street Now we 10 not pro-
pose to adopt the man attire, with all its supe-
rlor advantage Of being ready for the street or
Tor the house, without change. May all the
graces, spiritual ana material, save us from
that abomination! We propose, not to make
our style Of dress conform to all the awkward
customs of the world, but rather that some OF
our feminine habiliments! There are two ways
IN which marketing can be conveniently done
One Is by the mistress Of the house, after her
morning work is done, and her better dress
donned, and she is ready to 60 out to see a
friend, or to shop; then she can stop at the
MARKET and order her dinner, which will BE-
sent home without further care from her. Still
better way, and one that in many places Is
successfully adopted, is for the market wagon
to stop before each housekeeper's door every
morning, when a bell is rung BY the driver
which calls the lady out; then she selects her
dinner-meat, vegetable and fruit-and it is
carried into her house without further troubl.
on her part. How much of relief this would
'magnificent distances" ;" can scarcely be estl-
mated until II is tired. 1t is to be regretted thai
the disposition TO aid the housekeeper here is so
slight, thar there is now proposition before
nom blowing their horns in the street, so that
those who want oysters must go far TO get
them, and those who want to sell them must
keep up perpetual ringing at each persons
d-or, in order to dispose Of them. PRAY let the
oyster bugle continue to sound. When the beef
butcher has forgotten to send the dinner nom-
until the next day, as sometimes they do! the
SOUND OF ''oysters, nice oysters" Is very re-
freshing to the housekeeper
But let us consider some plans sent to the
club which propose wider Improvements than
lowing is one:
'.An idea in connection with your scheme to
get rid Of the nuisance OF kitchens. Let q con-
tract be made with householder to put up a
block OF. say ten houses, four or five rooms
each, with one kitchen and one dining room,
these being arraD ged TO communicate with the
houses by means OF hall ruL ming the length
Of the block. and a covered way, If the dining.
room and kitchen stand Off from the houses
The tables (cIrcu'ar) in dining. room to De ar.
ranged for separate families, aud the 'gst-up"
OF each table to be, as far as practicable, after
the manner desired by each family, OF course
subject to the geAsral regulations that may be
adopted by the oo.operators for the conduct Of
restrictions to be established, and beyond them
the families to be independent and entirely
masters Of their own affairs. the houses being
separate, distinct, and complete in themselves
respectively. A clear headed and ex perieucsd
housekeeper or supeTin tendent to be appointed
who should have control OF purchases, ser
wants, kitchen, &c; board to control the
finances and fix the quota of each famIly's ex-
pense."
Discussion upon the above plan elected sue.
gestions which follow: lnasmuch as it is not
question" again, and ON account of young
Children, to 60 70 q dining room where they
would meet others than their own family, 1t is
proposed that these houses should be SO built
that room opening on the rear "covered
way, or back hail." should be suitable for
dining room, and contain large china closet,
where extra china. glass and silver, with such
preserves, fruit, &c, &c, Is each family would
like at times to add to the common table could
be kept. The problem to be solved, is to allow
for individual tastes, while taking advantage
OF combined labor and wholesale purchases.
II the common and substantial fare OF meat,
vegetables, PIES, &c, with necessary Dishes
were distributed in a covered closet, which
should run along on railway track through
number OF "rations" ordered from the com.
mon kitchen, then the advantages OF com.
bined labor in cooking would be OBJ.
nnsss 1ns private pr sios.s IN Zach
require no cooking, would permit the variety
which individual tastes require. system Of
distributing food hos in a covered closet or on
a railway, made as / have described. vas
adopted at Armory Square Hospital during the
war, while under the charge Of DIR. Bliss. The
number ofrations ordered from each ward were
never heard that there were any complaints OF
partially, or Of any diniculty In making the
distribution satisfactory-o course, the expen. 1
ees would be divided among the different tamil |
Ms according to the number OF ssrations" order.
cd. Plans Of heating several houses by one
furnace, taken care Of By the servants paid IN
common, could be executed, while the common
laundry could b - easily regulated a. it 10 in
many boarding schools, 20 AZ 70 save expense
by combined machinery and labor. A room
for sewing in the separate building coald
willing TO serve the community At fair prices
for the sake Of their patronage. But my letter