The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-26
THE PEOPLES KITCHEN.
Ped Furnished at Cost for the Working
People OF SWITZERLAND.


portunity Of visiting one Of the Cuisines
Popuiaircs' that arc coming TO be pecu-
liar feature Of some industrial centcrs IN
Switzerland. In 1871. while socialis,ic
congress was in session at Chaux Fonds.
near Ncuchatel. one Of the speaker said:
"All tho arguments in tho world viii not
have as much effect on the working man
as good plate Of hot soup" These seed
wercfown On good ground. for month
later the first popular kitchen was orencd,
end similar institutions arc row 10 be
found Ia other parts Of S7itzcrland Tic
aim Of these Kitchens IS to supply work
ing people with good wholesome food at
cost price. They arc not charitable insti-
tons ia afy sense Of the word. nor DO
they depend on contributions from the
rich, nor ou subsidies from the state, IN
order 10 keep them going. They arc joint
stock concerns but in order to interest
the largest aGmbcr Of persons possible IN
their success the value of the shares Is
fixed at minimum sum.
The one visited has capital Of 10000
francs. 1000 francs of which has been
paid in, and the shares arc held by very
nearly 1000 persons 1t owns the build
ing Il occupies, which. though by no
means palatisl. is amply sufficient Tor the
purpose o. tho ground floor there arc
two dining rooms. large enough 20 &C
commodate frcn 600 20 $50 persons. q
smaller one for wOmcn, n waiting room
and an Office The establishment is run
on Il strictly cash basis. but instead Of
paving with MONEY customers settle by
means Of checks, which can be purchased
in any quantities, md It is not unusual
for workmcn 20 purchase these checks III
sufficient quantities TO last them q month.
The kitchens are oil located IN tho base
ment where is al.o the "cantine.'
branch Of the institution about which J
shall say more PRESENTLY. The bill OF
fare and the prices are the same in all the
dining rooms Three meas arc served up
in close succ, csiou. end as no one IS al
lowed to remain at table after he has fin
ishcd his rcpast the institution is able to
feed about 500 people daily.
Between meal hours food can be had by
any who want it, but no vino is ever
served except when accompanied with
food. The prices charged are as follows:
Soup, one quart, cents, half quart. :
cent Is: meat, boiled or roast. onc-iitb Of q
pound if ths latter a trifio moro If tho
former, ) cents a ration IF vegetables, :
cents: wine, . GEMS a glass, 3 cents per
half pint or - cents for q litrc; a ration
of bread. ccnt. So you sec person can
have q square meal, composed Of bread,
meat, vegetables and q glass Of wine land
| may add that this latter article is Of q
good quality and fold pure, for y cents
The institution NJ, only supplies its Gus
toners with meals. but also sells them
cooked food 10 carry away with them.
This branch Of tho bureau is conducted
at the caninc, where prices for bread and
meat arc the same as in the dining rooms.
but the portions are Onc-tenth larger, and
two portions Of vegetables are sold for 3
cents
Cuisines ropulaircs also furnish tho
public schools OF the town with soup
gratuitously and with bread u cost price
The managing committee arc supplied
with certain number of checks that they
can give away as they please, aud all the
food left over at the end Of each day is
distributed to tho poor The cuisine Is
managed by board of directors who form
three committees, charged respectively
with looking after the wine, food and fur
niturc. The employees are few IN num-
Der: q stewardcss, who receives salary
Of 1900 francs Year female cashier
and cook each Of whom is paid 6j francs
a month. and some girls 10 wait on table
who arc paid % francs monthly. In addi-
ton 10 their wage al the employees ere
fed Of course. and those who are only en-
ployed few hours each day can gain the
rest Of their time in factories.- Henry
Haynie in New Orleans Picayune.