The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-12-14
Kitchen .Esinetics.

In these days, when we he hear SC
much twaddle about ;esthetics-a good
deal OF it by people who have but faint
idea OF the meaning of ;esthetic-we read
constantly of aesthetic dresses, hats.
houses and house furniture, of 10 sthetic
parlors, and aesthetic bedrooms, bnt l
never yet read of an aesthetic kitchen,
although really saw such one the
other day. Cab kitchen be really Bs-
thetic? you ask, with visions of heated
ranges, grease, griddles, iron pots, and
dish pans dancing before your eyes. Lis
ten and you shall Judge for yourself.
Calling the other day upon q lady
friend, who lives in charming suite of
rooms, centrally located, 1 was invited to
look into her little kitchen, which she
had just furnished as comfortable ad-
dition to her pleasant quarters.
"You see" said the lady, as she ush-
cred me into the apartments, 1--WE have
tried all ways of living, and until now
we were never satisfied. Boarding in
the ordinary way is monotonous and I'M
satisfactory; going out to ones meals,
particularly in bad weather, is as un-
homelike and dreary as possible; while
caterers-whom 1 have tried without
number-have vile habit of bringing
the meal half cold, and they are also
unpunctual to degree that is exaspera-
ting. Housekeeping in your own home
is pleasant, of course, but as one never
feels settled in a rented house, l
resolved to 60 to MISUNDERSTANDING un-
Ill could move Under my own roof. In
the meantime believe have solved
the problem of how to live comfortably
with little work and no worry of SER
wants. Within q stones throw of the
best markets, grocers, diaries, etc., it is
easy to have supplies sent often and mar
keting is little trouble; my rooms are
kept in order by the maid servant, who
dishes for me when desire it. The
cooking l do myself, and my husband is
delighted. Say, is not my kitchen
pretty?"
1t was indeed, prettier than I ever i'm
agined kitchen could be made. Pretty
china was displayed on shelves, brackets,
and tiny corner cupboard; Japanese
scrolls, fans aud plates hung upon the
walls, and there was nothing about the
room suggestive of cooking except an in
nocent looking little FLORENCE Favor
tie" oil stove, which stood on box cur
tanned with chintz, bearing the printed
figures from the opera of Patience" in
soft aesthetic colors. A breakfast table
stood at one side of the room-which was
little larger than hall bedroom-a
pretty dressing case occupied one cor
ner, q wash.stand stood in the other, and
the only remaining corner was filled by u
small wardrobe.
"But where do you keep things?
Where are your kitchen utensils-your
kettles, tins and boilers?"
With smile my friend pulled aside
the curtain which hung below the oil
stove, and there in a box were all the
utensils necessary in cooking. Further
investigation revealed the fact that the
dressing case was only used while the
washstapd concealed in the tin dish
basin, soap, etc. Market baskets, tea
towels, ework aprons and the like we're
slowed away in the wardrobe.
"What do you do with slops?" l ven
tured to ask, amazed at the expediency
of my hostess, whom l had hitherto con-
sidered incapable of work harder than
Kensington art needle word Or painting.
"They are emptied in the bath room
except the dry Stops"
what do you do with them"
She beckoned me to the window where
a basket hung by long rope, reaching
clear to the basement.
II sent them down in that; the girl
empties the basket and draws them up
again whenever / need it. 1t saves run
ming up and down stairs, and besides has
q flavor of The Princess in the Tower,
about it which relieves it from absolute
commonplace"
This woman moves in the best society,
drives in stylish coupe, dr. sses we'll,
and, in the current phrase, "goes every
where" yet there are probably few who
know about her cossy little kitchen and
her dry slop- basket. Verify. ''one-half
the world doosn't know how the other
half lives. 81 Correspondence of Pitts
burgh Leader.
Some Wealthy widows.