The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-06-28
A cook-STovE IN SPAIN.
An American Consul Tells How He Inn
ported That Peculiar Continuance.


Ell. c. Marston, our consul at Malaga,
Spain, makes somewhat interesting
report to the state department on the
introduction of an American cook
stove into that city, and the reasons
why our hardware trade with Spain is
not success. The kitchen arrange
ments in Spain for cooking are, he
says, of the most primitive character,
and he has no doubt that Adam must
have used the .'hornillo" now used in
Andalusia. This is sort of kiln with
series of holes nine or twelve inches
in diameter, with an opening below
each, and. by persistent tanning char
coal is consumed for fuel. When Mr.
Marston mentioned to his friends that
he was thinking of ordering an Ameri-
can cook-stove, he was told he would
be unable to hire cook, as hard coal
caused headaches and other ailments
that no Spanish servant would put up
with.
However" said Mr.. Marston, 81
ordered one with a full set of stove
furniture, and had it shipped via Glib
raltar for Malaga. Unfortunately, on
its arrival here, having been badly
packed, it was broken in many places.
/ found an Englishman who, being a
good workman, by making some thin
iron bands, succeeded in riveting the
broken pieces together, and it was
made serviceable for time, the cost
for repairing being almost as much as
the original cost of the stove. | then
wrote to New York, claiming that the
breakage had occurred through bad
packing, and asking the>frm to replace
the broken plates. This they refused
to do. but under compromise furnished
the necessary pieces ut cost price for
cast iron, and in due season the box
arrived in Malaga, but the freight and
charges on the same equaled those
originally charged upon the stove it.
self.
81 will now relate my experien ce in
the use of this stove. At first my cook
looked with perfect disdain upon the
newcomer and made every objection
to its use, but it was not more than
month before it was the wonder and
envy of all the cooks in Malaga. When
it became necessary to clean the Chin
ney, stove and pipe, we ordered our
cook not to light the stove the follow
ing morning but to use the 'hornillos.'
To this the woman protested, saying
she could not now use anything but
the 'estua Americana Even in the
heat of the past summer nothing could
induce our cook to give up, even for a
day, the use of this American stove.
I'm the course of time the fame of
the stove was the subject of converse
ton with all the friends and acquaint-
of in foba
last two other families had ordered one
of these stoves, each from the same
firm that shipped mine. l sent tile OF
der myself, reminding them of the dis
astrous plight in which mine arrived,
instructing them to spare no pains or
expense in packing. Yet when they
were received in Malaga they were in
a much worse condition than mine
was, being all broken to pieces. They
had been paid for and there was no
redress. The stoves are almost worth
less, and the parties who made the
purchase feel that it is a 'forlorn hope
to attempt to have them delivered in
good condition at Malaga. Two or
three other families expressed desire
to buy and use one of these stoves, and
had been waiting to see the condition
in which the last two ordered should
arrive. With the result as stated above
they now decline to order.
''Instead of packing them as these
were, put together complete for trans
portation, they ought to be packed
each part separately, viz: One box
containing six top plates, one box con-
tanning six bottom plates, two boxes
six side plates each, two
boxes containing six end plates each,
one box containing lids and other
parts, all well packed with plenty of
straw or hay to keep them from break
ing, and the stoves ought to be put to-
gether here. No single box with con-
tents ought to be so heavy but three or
four men could readily handle it. for
when boxes are. of an unusual weight,
when carrying them. instead of letting
them down easily, men SIMPLY let 60
and drop them, and when they contain
light castings, such as stoves, they are
sure to break Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette.