San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-06-09
COOPERATIVE Housekeeping.


Elizabeth Robins Pennell writes in
in the cooperative housekeeping soon
to be put in operation in Chiswick.
England, within half an hour of Lon
don by underground railway. The
buildings are now being erected on
six acres. She thus describes tho
plan:
Some of the rooms are in fats for
those who prefer to have everything
on the same floor; others are arranged
as in the usual two, three or four
story house. And in no way do they
differ from the ordinary fat or house
except that they are without kitchen,
scullery or servants rooms.
For these there is no need. A large
staff of servants, engaged to do the
work of the entire establishment, will
be under the direction OF q matron.
So many. according to the size of your
house, will be told off to do your
work. They will come at the hour
you want in the morning. they will
do all that has to BE done in thee way
of making beds, busting and clean.
ing. When their regular days task
is over q certain number will always
be on hand in rooms for the purpose :,
stationed every here and there in the
two rows of house; if you want any
thing you have but to ring. If your
work is not properly done you COM
plain to the matron. All responsible
ity rests with her. She, and not you,
will engage and discharge your
maids.
AS for the kitchens, the large one
in the club house will be all that is
required. A good chef at . good sal
ary will be secured. In the morning,
If you intend to be at home for lunch
con and dinner, you will give In your
orders. Whenever you are ready for
either meal you will 60 from your
own house to the large dining room
by way of q covered arcade, or clOis-
ter, that is to run round in front of the
houses, so that you may walk there
without wrap or bonnet, just as If yeu
were stepping down stairs in your
own house. The dining room will be
divided into separate little compart-
ments or cubicles; you will have your
own reserved for you, where you Will
always be served by your own wait
ers, and where you can have your
table set to suit yourself. Your din
ner can be as elaborate or simple as
you care to make 1t.
II you wish to give dinner party,
there are private rooms which you
can engage by bespesking them in
time If you wish at the last moment
to bring q friend home with you, you
have but to send word to the mead
waiter.
There will also be rooms that can
be rented by any one who wants q
friend to stay with him and has no
extra space In his own quarters. The
open quadrangle will be devoted to
tennis courts and cricket grounds.
Swimming baths for men and women
will be built in the club house. There
will be play rooms for children, q
gymnasium, q large hall for ent er-
tainments, and studios.
A telephone will connect every
house with the porter's lodge. When
visitors come theporter can find out,
without their troubling to farther,
whether the friends they want to see
are at home or not. If you 60 way
for any length of time you have but
to shut up your house and leave the
key with the porter. He will for
ward all letters, take charge Of all
parcels.
But, indeed, there is not the small
es detail which has hot been care
fully thought out and provided for.
I know of no scheme tor cOopera-
tive housekeeping that can approach