New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-22
THE HOUSEHOLD PROBLEM AT TIL" r1IE.

THE HOINE HOLD IhODLEM u nv c''''
II is not possible to guess which one of the
numberle,s exhibits of the Worlds Fair VIII
nroye most interesting 10 the greatest hummer.
Ono cannot do better than to leave tina; pulling
question 10 the debating societies and the al
yanccd students of human nature. But pend
ing its ultimate answer, il is safe to hazard the
assumption that few American hOu>eholdcrS
who visit the Fair viii be content TO return
hcme without inspecting the model OF the
house designed for Cooperative housekeeping
which forms "A part OF the exhibit made by the
women Of Colorado in the Women building.
Thi, assumption is based upon the TACT that
housekeeping has come 10 be one OF the leah-
ing practical problems If the age. There Is Il
widespread and ever growing feeling among
the women Of America tha, housekeeping rs
now conducted is mere ifl;scmc and expensive
than il ought 10 be. But. although thoroughly
convinced that i, j. a fit subject Tor prompt
reform they are at a loss 10 DEVISE plan Nhi'h
shall afford adequate relief. Many good
woman has grown plcmaturely old IN orr day
IN =, vain cnlcayor t. get and keep gcrd help
ut reasonable wages
Accordingly, the average American house
holder i, interested in any scheme which look,
fl an Improvement Of the existing system
Hence this Colorad model : sure TO dra" large
crowds Our Chicago Correspondent wrote about
il a few days ago. 1t was designed by Den
yer wonan an j. the result II Is stated. or "A
fifteen years study of E" the servant girl prob
lem" Here /, a blicf description OF lis c'''n-
,ial ielture':
r,. a,-I.n pro,li.. ir frt' four homes. which VIII
b.,. from. four 70 lw';," ronr- each. asa "'l! h'
:. II rcl, separate fron on" another hN s""h'pr'oi
will. They are to cover block Ia Denver
TIN. houses Will De- occupied b, The stockholders ana
no on. will have = Kitchen. Bat IN Tue lh''sur
,ru.l Is Ill. Aou.~, viii b" lare" common hi hen
and 4 common d.nim;.ruoU with fIr'vfonr tables
each sealing slx persons. \ common laundry.
lil,r and engine room aud an electric ligh' pant
ar. provided Tn" families "ho occupy the ZONES
I'm A. oonilurlty are - "mpp' competent stewart
nud hn, their provisions IN common III ""'''''''
prc-.. first clas, cook, will be- employed ana meals
Will be- served either in the pnic dining room or III
private apartments IAr," houses VIII De- o' '"'' "'e
and ~ far - possible. hrp'oof
# viii he seen tha, this j, al attempt II solve
the servant girl problem by process al 'lln-
;u,ti II. Tho>. forty four Denver homes. sweet
homes. are To be minus kitchens and ll''ild'l'>
and furnaces and hence minus cocks ana E@'h-
dresses and furnace men. Nh to now man!
, mistress of a modest establishment thr SLY
pe,fion of home in which there shall he no
Kitchen will smack Of the millennium IL must
Lo admitted that the Colorado scheme i feaS-
lille that il would materially reduce the house
keeping bill, Of those who embraced II, ana
relieve them Of much of the care and worry Tor
which the existing system is responsible
Nevertheless. cooperative housekeeping on
thcse Colorado lines or on any lines, would
seem IA hc opcn 10 "A serious objection. 1t looks
to = partial surrender Of that sweet privacy
which does SO much 10 make home III the best
sense indeed our home Thousands OF house
holders, we take it, would rather endure the
ills they have at present than to fly to com
mon laundry or :" a common dlning-rooih with
forty four tables In other words they pre-
fer the home dining room to the hotel dining
room. the home Laundry 10 the miscellaneous
wash. Under the Colorado system families
would not indeed be limited To Il common
dining room, but could have meals served IN
their own apartments That Is a much better
alternative than the other, but the history al
the catering companies OF tins town goes 70
show that meals served from the outside IN the
long run ale unsatisfactory meals. Aul Il
catering company all Of whose customers lived
on the same block might manage 10 give salts
factory service.
good many reiormcrs, including Mr.. Bel
Iamv. have confidently presented cooperation
"a = complete cure for the cmbarrassments con
scauent upon housekeeping. Doubtless it offers
partial cure 1t could readily be applied t.
certain departments Of the machinery OF the
home but it has its limitations.