The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-09-12
LONDON HOUSEHOLDS.

| London streets are built somewhat irreg-
ulsrlv. Each block has a certain uniform
| ity. but there is great variety OF form and
| architecture throughout the town.
There are a great many semi-circular
streets, called "Crescents or Terraces.
These frequently have ianciful houses
built around them. with pretty balconies,
bow windows and pillared doorways. In
Kensington Bayswater. and the region of
Hyde Park. one constantly comes upon
beautiful squares or gardens. which belong
exclusively to the residents in the imme-
date neighborhood.
These gardens are beautifully kept and
every residence near them is provided with
summer evenings, in any quiet neighbor-
hood you will constantly see people com
ing out into the gardens. which are private
enough to seem an exclusive place for every
little group.
The houses running along one side open
directly by means of a back door or stepped
balcony into the gardens, While the resi-
dents facing them must cross the streets to
go in.
The interior of London house is apt to
strike one at first with an air of dinginess.
The Railways are rarely wide; the dining
room is always in front, to the left or right
of the entrance and there is smaller
breakfast room or library at the back.
The parlor, or, as it is always called in
London, the drawing room, is on the sec
ond story, and is generally divided into two
rooms, or perhaps three, L-shaped, and
divided by archways: above these are the
sleeping rooms, and the kitchen and offices
are in the basement.
Generally a pretty effect is given by
small room, or perhaps conservatory, just
at the top of the staircase on the first land
ing: and here stained glass windows are
often put in. and shed bars of bright color
down the corridor.
This, of course, is only the typical Lon
dou house; there are countless others,
quaint and beautiful and varied in form
| The first thing an American misses i'll an
| English house is the lack of convenience.
Hot and cold water pipes rarely extend
above the kitchen floor. Old fashion
washstands are used, and every drop of
water must be carried up by the house
maid.
As for the kitchens. the ranges, or as
they always say fires. are singularly
contrived. There is deep CRATE in the
centre. on top of which all the broiling and
| frying and stewing is done. and usually the
roasts hang in Dutch oven before it,
Bread is never baked in the house, nor is
any washing done at home, except in large
country houses, where they have a laundry
specially built, apart from the house. for
the purpose There are small side-ovens
in the kitchen for baking pies and pud-
din.s.
| Another lack is the want of refrigerators,
or any means of keeping provisions for
length of time in warm weather This is
sad deficiency, and yet only the wealth
lest householders try to remedy it. lee is
rarely seen except at the tishmonger's
or restaurants, and well remember pay
ing twenty-five cents for ice enough 10
make small pitcher of lemonade.
| OF course. ice-cream freezers are quite
unknown. except to the fashionable confee-
TONERS, who make very poor ices by the
way. Judged by the American standard
! But apart from these deficiencies, Lon
| dom houses ara very attrartivp in many
ways There is an air of solid comfort
and cosiness about them which is very
pleasant | like their keeping up the old
fashioned open fires in the living rooms i'll
the winter.
1t is very difficult in London or indeed
in England to rent a house for less than
three wears. If taken for term, it must
be on lease: and in addition to the rent.
the lease itself must be bought and paid
for.
Moreover the tenant pays all the taxes
and repairs 4 moderate-sized house such
as | have described, i'll a good locality,
rents for about eighty pounds year, and
the taxes come to twenty or thirty pounds
making the rent altogether about FIVE hum
dred dollars There are also other charges,
yet with all these various payments the
rent of house in London, i'll fashionable
square or street, comes to less than We
should pay in any large American city for
a similar house.
OF course, many London houses are rent
ed for much more. than the price above
mentioned, but one thousand pounds year
| five thousand dollars is the highest rent
| ever heard of for an English dwelling
house. and that was for a most palatial
mansion.
House furnishing is less expensive in En-
gland than in America. Carpeting rugs
and hangings are all cheap, and they have
a curious fashion of taking off fifteen per
cent for a cash payment.
The next consideration in housekeeping
| is domestic service; and here the English
entirely outdo us. Not only are their ser
wants better trained and more efficient than
ours, but they demand much lower wages,
dress simply and modestly, and are always
anxious to keep good place.
| Caoks raceiva ACCORDING In their car,acify