The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-08
COOKING IN KANSAS.

How the Women of Abilene Reduce Their
Operative Culinary Operations.
Abilene Kan Letter.
For fifteen months fifty prominent fam
lies OF this town OF four thousand have en-
gagged in cooperation. living on . purely
promises q long future for their organiza-
ton. On Jan. 4. 1891. the ladies. among
whom was Mary A. Humphrey, wife Of
Judge Humphrey. Of the Eighth judicial
district. later president of the club. began
their cooking club. 1t had the usual off,
GERS. an executive committee. and its BY
laws saId it was Ito reduce the annoyance
and expense of housekeeping by co-opera-
tion and consolidation"
The club rented Its parlors, dining-room
and kitchen in q private residence. GEN.
trally located as TO the homes of the men,
bers. for $50 a month. Three dinIng-room
girls and two assistants in the kitchen with
the cook cost $50 more. Tho average week
ly receipts have been sufficient to pay for
everything. 80 hat no debts are carried
over from one week to another. The men,
bership is limited to the number of chairs
In the dining-room. Families have seper-
Board bills are paid Saturday morning for
o week in advance. The executive com
mittee of three meets Saturday afternoon
TO audit accounts and pay bills. The head
cook Is admitted to the conference. and the
eating OF the coming week is planned.
During the week the vice-president and
other officers in rotation act as grievance
committee of one to listen to ell complaints
(which are by her considered sacredl. and
endeavor to correct any abuses justly in
need of such correction. The officers also
take turns in looking after the cuisine,
preventing waste of materials. etc.
The clubs dues are $3.50 aud So per week
for admits and 1925 for children. The for
mel rate applies to those who furnish their
own table ware and linen. Mem bers of the
club may bring guests by paying 20 cents q
meal II for less than W days. Longer
periods are charged weekly rates. Deduc-
lions are made for two or more days All
sence. provided notice is gwen in advance.
Supplies are purchased of local dealers so
tar as possible. though the officers are gwen
full liberty in the matter.
The best possible table is set, all the
money being used. and three warm meals q
day being spread. Ii is an imperative rule
that every member must stand by the club
as he or she would by their own family.
airing no grievances and finding no fault
except TO the proper officer. When any
one Is not satisfied with the club there is q
standing invitation for that person TO re-
sign from the membership. By this means
petty dissensions are avoided and the club
made like one large family.
Such. in brief. is the clubs history and
regulations. 1t was started az a business
proposition. and has been run on that ba-
sis exclusively. Its members are not theo-
rIsts. but everyday. practical people, the
ors and ministers.
The ladies, contrary to their anticipa-
tions. find the going out to meals n de-
lightful exercise. and claim that the Ok
pense To their tables Is made from one
third to one-half less than under the usual
method of housekeeping. The membership
of the club is limited 10 the capacity Of the
dining-rooms. and there are enough sppli-
cants knocking ut the doovs awaiting q
possible vacancy TO keep the ranks full for
many month"; to come. The president has
letters of inquiry from every section Of the
country. asking for the clubs history. and
IL has aroused other communities to at
tempt the saine succesa. -