The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-07-22
The Cook Of the Next Period.

The Cook Of the Next Period.
Cooking is perhaps well up with other
arts, but the economies Of cooking
are still in the rear. That the cooking
should form part of the household oc-
cupation, in sparsely settled places and
among a people not far advanced In the
social division of labor, is plain enough.
In the country, where farm houses are
half mile apart, or among people
where each family makes its own cloth
ing, the primitive mode in nearly all IN
dtistries is best adapted to the circum-
stances; but why to each half dozen
blocks of lighthouses there should be
only one grocer and one butcher, but
100 cooks, 100. fires and 100 sets of
utensils, is question not easy to answer.
OF course, it lies in the very nature of
the case; the act of cooking being the
most frequent and incessant of any
domestic occupation, and, more than
any other occupation, required to adapt
itself to different and Individual tastes.
But even when these allowances are
made, there is evidently O great waste
of fuel and of help in preparing the
food separately for every separate estab-
lishment. In many European cities this
has been overcome 10y furnishing cooked
food, which is delivered to families in
dishes, that retain the heat, and, the
family sits down to its meals without
any culinary preparation in the house,
rises from the table, the dishes are re.
moved, and there is an end of the whole
affair.
In Winchester, Massachusetts,, they
propose to try the experiment on
somewhat different basis. 1t is proposed
to. buy there considerable tract of
land, and erect number ofhandsome
houses without kitchens, odors and
cooks. In the center of the grounds is
to be spacious dining hall, and the
kitchen of the community will be there.
The tables will be arranged for family
groups, or for more miscellaneous COM
pany, as may be desired. Those who
wish entire privacy may have separate
rooms. One of the annoyances of modern
housekeeping will thus be avoided.
There is also talk of having general bed
makers and housecleaners; but private
nurserymaids are regarded as absolutely
necessary, and there will be no attempt
to supersede these.
This would seem to imply that people
will go to live in Winchester, Mas
sachusetts, in order to do away with the
trouble of preparing their meals. But
this ought hardy to be necessary and the
experiment. except as hint TO other
methods, will not of itself be very valu-
able. Besides it contemplates the board
ing-house and restaurant plan which the
large majority of people are extremely
anxious to avoid The desire to crafty
ones own taste in cooking, and to main
tain the family reserve and isolation, is
the principal reason why large numbers
of people in cities do not now board in
stead of keeping house. >
The successful plan ifsthis direction
will comprise pubic kitchens Where
skilled and economical management will
enable every householder to procure his
food as he does now, send it to be cooked
with the same directions which are now
given to the Kitchen, and have it de
ivered at the proper time and in the
proper manner. There are many practical
difficulties in the way, including the
laundry question; but there are SO many
economical advantages that some time
undoubtedly the plan will be begun and
pushed to success. With q cheaper and
more convenient fuel, like water gas,
many of the obstacles would be over
come, and the time is, we suspect not far
distant, when our posterity will hear
with an amused curiosity the stories of
our domestic troubles and the rude man
ner of struggling with them, as we now
hear of the fabrication clothes at the be-
ginning of the century; when the whole
process, from the raising of the sheep to
the final stitches, took place on tue prem
Uses of the unfortunate man or woman
in need of the garments.