The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-18
COOPERATIVE LIVING.
A Plan to Make Housekeeping
Easy and Luxurious.

The civilized world is quietly undergoing
a change, both socially and politically. The
problem of life with one class of these revO-
lutionsts who are foisting ideas more or
less matured on the people is how to live
without working, or perhaps more properly
speaking, how to enjoy all the comforts OF
home life and still retain a service which is
only to be enjoyed by those living at the
big hotels. To Shift the responsibility,
care and actual laborof managing house to
some one else has been the dream OF many a
woman nearly ready TO break down under
the burden Of raising a large family of
children combined with the demands Of
society. Elizabeth Robins Pencil writes
in The Chauta uquan for May of an expert
ment in cooperative housekeeping soon to
be put in operation in CLisWick. England,
within half an hour Of London by an under
ground railway. The buildings are now be-
ing erected Oh the four sides Of quadran-
gle containing six acres. She thus describes
tile plan:
Some of the rooms are in flats for those
who prefer to nave everything on the same
floor; others are arranged as in the usual
two three or four story house. And III no
way do they differ from the ordinary fiat or
house except that they are without kitchen,
scullery or servants rooms.
For these there IS no need. A large staff
of servants, engaged 10 do the work uf the
entire establishment will be under the di-
rection of matron. so many, according
to the size of your house, Will be told OIL 10
do your work. They Will come at the hour
YOU want in the morning; they will do all
that has TO be done in the way Of making
beds. busting and cleaning. When their
regular days task Is over certain number
will always be on hand in rooms for the
purpose, stationed every here and there in
the two rows of houses; if you want any
va AZ IN IF work iS
not properly done you complain to the ma
iron. All responsibility rests with her.
She, and not you, will engage and discharge
your maids.
As for Kitchens, the large one in the club
house will be all that Is required. a good
chef at good salary will be secured. In the
morning, If you intend to be at home for
luncheon and dinner. you Will give In your
orders. Whenever you are ready for either
meal you will 90 from your own house to
the large dinng-room by way OF covered
arcade or clOister, that is to run round in
front of the houses, so that you may walk
there without wrap or bonnet, Just as IL you
were stepping downstairs IN your own
house. The dining-roOm VIII be DIVIDED
into separate little compartments or cuDicles {;
you will have your own reserved for you,
where you will always be served by your
own walters, and where you can have your
table set to suit yourself. Your dinner can be
as elaborate or simple as you care to make 1t.
If you wish to give dinner party, there are
private rooms which you can engage by be-
Speaking them in time. If you wish at the
last moment TO bring friend home with you,
you have but to send word to the head
waiter.
There will also be rooms that can be
rented by any one who wants friend TO
stay with him and has no extra space in bis
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 clubhouse. There will be
play-rooms for children, a gymnasium, a
large hall for entertainments and studios.
A telephone will connect every house
with the porter's lodge. When visitors
come the porter can find out, without their
troubling to go farther, whether the friends
they want to see are at home Or not. If you
go away for any length of time you have but
to shut ND your house and leave the key
with the porter. He will forward all letters,
| take charge Of all parcels.
But indeed there is not the smallest de-
tail which has not been carefully thought
out and provided for. | know of no scheme
| for cooperative housekeeping that can ap-
pToach it,