The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-11

get the fruit downtown, as 1t can be bought
50 much cheaper than at the uptown
groceries. The subject is usually discussed
at breakfast, and, if fruit is required. Miss
A or Miss b volunteers to bring it home.
Mrs. pays Miss or Miss B for the box of
grapes or bag Of pears, and it is charged in
the table expenses.
The entertainment err: of gnests is provided
for after this manner. Guests arc 1enaiip
Dldden to dinner on one of the evenings
when the laundress is in the house, in order
that she may assist the maid of all work
however, there is no strict rule to be fol-
lowed. Any member of the household may
bricg home friend to an informal dinner
and be perfectly sure that there will be
enough and to spare.
Each member keeps list of her guests
and whep she has had twenty-one which is
considered an equivalent for one weeks
board, she has So added to her share of the
monthly table expenses. In case this happy
family wishes to give tea or reception all
eXpen ses, including invitations, postage, re-
freshments. special service and entertain
ment are paid in the same manner as tie
household expenses
The cooperative housekeeping of this
dOve-cofe
MOVES so SMOOTHLY,
So akin to clockwork, that these ladies have
gone step or two further and pride them
selves on a cooperative miliner and Co
operative manicure and hair-dreSser.
Ihe mllllner, worthy woman with not
enough capital to set up an establishment.
and protege of member of this co-opera-
tive household, comes on certain days arid
proceeds to make over and construct hats
and bonnetS.
All the boxes and bags of cast-off finery.
feathers, flowers and laces are overhauled
and it is really wonderful what beautiful
creatiOnS-are evolved from odds and ends
About six b0nnets or hats can be made in
day, and the milliner charges 81 a day.
Occasionally these ladies have an Opening
"a bonnet shOw-and display their coop
eratiye bonnets to the admiring gave Of
their friends.
A visiting manicure and halr-dresser comes
aud grooms their cooperative heads and
polishes their cooperative nails, and they
have serious thoughts ofgetting theii gowns
fashioned under like conditions.
In furnishing the house each woman
brought what pieces of furniture she had.
The kitchen and laundry furniture were
bought from common fund. Each mem
Der furnished her own sleeping apartment,
aud the new furniture that was necessary
was bought as their choice dictated.
The author bought the rugs for the recep-
ton-room, hung its walls with the pictures
and lined the library walls with old prints
she had picked up in Europe. The artist
did all sorts of beautiful things with her
brush and bought cabinets a,S divans. The
newspaper woman furnished The dining
room.
All contributed books and brc-a-brac.
One bedroom shows its owners individual
ity in antique mahogany and haugingS of
gold color; another is a dream Vt white and
gold and blue; still another is draped and
hung in fantastic chintzes, and each one
THINKS HER BOWER THE PRETTIEsT.
The only approach to stumbling-blOck
has been tides, for some of this household
loathed them while others thought no fam
lily should be without them. Judicious arbi-
tration, however, settled this important
question, and though there may be a few
antimacaSsars, they are not rampant. When
ever a little bare corner is noticed some
one buys a jug or picture to fill it up. II
doorway needs portiere some one brings
it home.
The table linen and silver were furnished
by two members who had kept house be-
FORE and had their linen and plate chests
well filled, but the china and glass were
bought comparatively, not, however, IN
ruthlessly wholesale fashion, but after this
wise: Miss A selected and paid for break
fast set; Miss B furnished the salad set. and
SO on. As all four have good taste the table
does not present bizarre complexion, but
blending of exquisite coloring.
And how do we get outP' repeated a
member of this unique household. Beau-
tifulIy. And here is the secret: We let each
other alone. We do as we please; ask no
foolish or impairment questions; do not at
tempt to run each other II one chooses to
go Immediately to her room after dinner,
feeling bit cross, the rest do mot look at
each other and say: Now l wonder what
ails her?' If We wish to read We read. We
DO not expect to be entertained or gushed
over. We act like reasonable human beings,
and we get on admirably"
The expenses of this establishment are
about $4,000 year, or $3.50 for each men,
Der. This is no greater expense than fash
ionable boarding, and gives these women the
delightful advantages of a home
What can be done on this somewhat ex-
tensiye scale could be accomplished on
more modest plan by working girls, pro-
vided they used care tact and Judgment in
| the start A little fiat in a respectable
neighborhood could grow into home foI
| the girls who spend much of their earnings
| in board bills.