Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-29
DOMESTIC LIFE INENGLAND.
Living ON FIafs-The Unsuccessful
Cooperative Housekeeping scheme.

erative house keeping all domestic troubles
would vanish Ike dew under the rays OF the
would no longer signify, for one experienced
chef would be able TO cook for as many fami-
idea she followed Robert Owen, who usei TO
talk about cooperation extinguishing kit
chen fires. HOusemaids would cease to be
plaques, for they would have the same free
dom that is now enjoyed by shop girls.
They would work a certain mum Der of hours
IN the twenty four, and have regular duties
their time would be at their own disposal.
They might learn French and drawing,
spend their earnings on theateTs or walk in
the park with their young man. There would
be no mistress 10 interfere with them when
their work was done. They would be In
the post office, or In any OF the other employ-
ments now sought after by those who used
i8 ~ en bI o0neSIe service: 1t was hoped
erty, better class OF giIls might be pro-
cured, and that contented and Industrious
Then, too, In cooperative households it
would be impossible for the nurses to
frghten the children into fits, or 10 put on
me babies clothes with pins. Cooperative
nurseries would be under enlightened super
vision, and there might be kindergarten on
The premises. Girls might be educated in
classes without being sent to school, and
have good instruction at a moderate cost.
But although there is apparently something
although many people gave an Intellectual
assent 10 the desirableness of giving the plan
q fair trial, ftdfd not commend itself ID any
large numbaf OF the British public. The
movement Consequently resulted In little
but talk and few bad jokes Cooperative
households on large scale still remain
untried. The experiment has only been
made on paper. and In the Imagination of
unhappy hOusekeepers driven wild by bad
servants.
NEW co OPERATIVE SCHEME.
1t Is, however, shortly to be attempted on
small scale, and ~ will be In Interesting to know
he results after year or two. Over the
curious looking Gothic arch with keystone
at Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, the
house If row in course of construction. II is
Christmas, but IL narrowly escaped being
burnt a few days ago, when the fine mansion
in the cOurty ard was destroyed. The outside
Of the building is not particularly attractive.
1t looks like spinning mil, and from its ex-
treme height has an unpleasant appearance
OF instability. On the ground floor is a COM
mon dining room. with another for private
dinner pertIes; also the kitchen, hOusekeep-
er's room. pantTies, and al necessary do
nestle Offices Above this are several stO-
Iies, consisting Of moderate sized suites of
looms conveniently arranged. They do no:
contain anything but sleeping and reception
rooms, because the inha bitantS are supposed
10 dine down stairs, and, as there is q
capital hit, there can be no difficulty in
so doing except In eases OF Illness The
three top fats are delightful o. a fair day.
Those who inhaDit them Will have a
magnificent and ever-chauging view
when The Westminster fOgS will! allow
them 10 see anything at all. There are no
high buildings 10 shut out ST. James's and
the Green Park, with the row of palaces at
the top, and away over acres of chinney-pots
lie the hills Of Hamstead and HighgGte, look
ing blue and distant through the maze. On
the south side is TO be seen the Crystal Pal
however feeble, and Norwood HIll. still
dotted with fine old timber. Beneath lie the
OF every tower and steepie from ST.. PsuI,s 10
Noting Hill. At the top OF the house is q
room of double hight, designed to contain
the organ which was unfortunately burnt the
DnllpVP. a
splendid Instrument 1t is proposed that the
arrangement Of everything shall be in the
dents, and that they shall be their own cater
ers, and manage everything in the way
adopted By some OF the most successful
clubs. IL Is an experiment in which many
people are interested, and in the present case
It may possibly succeed, owing 10 the COM
Paratively favorable conditions under which
II is started. IL is hardly necessary, how
ever, TO say that there are many things
against II. English people are not naturally
soci aSls. Tney have not learnt how TO live
do so from the scarcity Of servants which has
fallen on the land remains to be seen; but Ii
%e cnTate tbe knS W %oS1 rn sne Wssb
would make IL posi- BILE Even ideas OF fam
lily life are at present very circumscribed,
and would have TO be enlar ged before we
tried living In groups
LIVING ON FLATS.
There Is, however, one continental custom
which, one would think, might have been
more largely adopted to this country-that
OF living on fats. No doubt there are IN Ed
tnburgh whole streets given up TO them, but
they are getting 10 be Inhabited, especially
oflate years, either by unmarried men or by
people who cannot afford what is called
self contained house. In England houses IN
Hats have never been really popular. 1t
would appear that IL makes ali the differ
ence TO an Englishman whether the party
wall between him and his nelghbOr be per-
pend1cular or horizontal. He will endure q
piano next cOor, but rebels at one played
beneath his feet or over his head. He will
stairs in mis- own house, but he refuses to
mount even single flight to get TO his
apartments. In short, no place is either
Garth below are not included. Other human
Creatures must only live 10 the right hand
sS ane ief n top st1ry or an
who are the cause of this prejudice, as men
exist very contentedly In chambers and are
reason, the prejudice prevails, or the system
would be tried on a scale likely TO ensure
success. Hitherto, however, we must say,
Little opportunity has been offered TO the
public TO give the plan fair trial. No doubt
handsome fats are to be had at Westmins-
Ter, but they are on the ground, which is
only artihcially raised above the river, and
there are sensible people who prefer part
OF the town where the soil Is not Thames
deposits Some blocks were built few
years ago OF the Marylebone road for the
families OF artisans, but they have been
eagerly rented by people of a better class
throwing two OF the three room suites In 10
one not uncomfortable residence can be
made. IL then consists OF two sitting rooms,
Two bed rooms, a kitchen, scullery, servants
room and bath, aud, when nicely decorated
and furnished, Is not TO be despised by q
young couple who have married for love
without much OF this worlds goOls. The sit
uation Is, however, bad, and the approach
not pleasant, owing To the close proximity
OF number of stables. Still the fats are
much sought after, and, as more are In the
course OF construction, we may assume that
although they have 20 be much better built
man smal houses, they have proved good
HOW FLATS SHOULD BE BUILT.
Some blocks of the same Kind, bat on a
handsome scale, in an open central stu alton
say near Hyde Park, on the north side, where
The ground Is high and the soil gravel, and
4 whore there is not much noise, would QUICK
~ ind occupants. Indeed, people mig ht be
found ready To subscribe money on the build
ing society system, which has been so sue
cessful that II Is TO be wondered that Others
Than the wor king classes do not start 81 mil ar
societies. No two sets OF apartments ought
10 De exactly alike, and the architect should
not be allowed TO settle where the windows
n h<a haA haSto ba