Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-04-16
NO.. 90.
aMistellaneous.
HOUSEKEEPING IN VENICE.

Housekeeping in Venice is a wonderful
ly cheap and easy matter Were all else
equal, how gladly would tired New York
ers fly thithcr. The city stands in the wa
ter, As though perpetually bathing it, feet.
There is no rrmbiing of carts or wagons,
only the soft splash of the oars Of the gon-
dolier rs he rropcls his dark gondola.
No one has any fire in the house ; that is
nothing that we should call fire. There
are little painted plaster stoves, but people
never use them. They make fire in u
sort of large pipkin. which they call
,caldini, and warm their toes at them if
they are chilly. But the climate is mild
and they know nothing of winter. The
floors are marbled and oiled in some
places mats or rugs are spread about. a
suit of apartments can be hired for about
five dollars Il month, and a small palace
for about thirty. \ man-servant works for
about three dollars a month, at that does
general housework. Strange to say,
women ask a little more than men.
Washing is sent to the country to be
done, but ironing is done at home. In the
kitchen fireplace is flat raised piece of
stone with hollows in it. Here the irons
are heated with chartoal and cooking is
done. But most of the ordinary Venetians
never cook at home. They simply send
ont at meal times and buy food ready pre-
pared for ther.. Much light wine is drunk,
and water must be bought to drink. For
one cent woman will bring you two large
kettles of it. and YOU may always buy for
II very small Italian coin called centime
Il glass Of fresh drinking water from men
in the streets There is great deal of
fruit. fine melons and exquisite grapes in
season; also another luXury-not always
appreciated by Americans-hot, roasted
pumpkin, which is brought about by a man
who sings of its sweetness, and declares
it hot from the fire, until he has sold it i'm
slices; and polenta, which is more COM
monty used amongst the Venetians than
even bread.
When any one rings bell in Venice the
door is not at once opened to him. Some
one cries from above, ''Who is there if
YOU please p
And the applicant looks up and sees
face leaning over window-sill, and then
instantly bellows his business
If he is to be admitted the door is opened
from within in the mysterious manner
which is customary in some of the New
York fats. And however many may be
the floors or apartments. he finds private
staircase to the one he wants. But il he
has anything to leave. basket is let down
by II string and he desosits it and it is
drawn up. In a basket also aims are low
cred to beggarS, or to the poor monks of
the Order of the Redeemer who 90 about
begging for the poor.
The mothers of the lower orders have
no trouble about the chidren's daily bath.
As evening approaches they undress the
boys and send them ont in short, little,
white cotton garment, bare-footed and
bare-armed, to take II bath in one of the
canals. Sometimes the head of the fami-
Iv also takes his bath there
Venetian ladies are often artists or mu-
sicans. Otherwise, their principal occ,l-
patton seems to be to dress elegantly and
sit on balcony.
Is there not some American weary of
housekeeping. of washing and ironing and
baking days, of cleaning down and clear
ing up, dismissng cooks and engaging
chamber-maids, Of failures in the roast
and boiled and all the trouble of the wo-
man : work that is never done, who will
90 with me to keep house in Venice?