Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-06
COOPERATIVE COOKING.
Successful Operation of a Family Club
ut Junction City, Kan.

Special Correspondence Of the Evening star.
Topeka Kan, Feb. 4, 1884,
Kansas boasts Of one OF the most success
ful cooperative cooking clubs in the United
States. 1t is not SO extensive as some. but
IL is complete success. Junction City.
town of l,50O people out in central Kansas.
is the location of this club. II is known a
the Junction City Cooperative Cooking
Club. Financially, IT is unqualified Sue
cess. Its membership is fun all the time and
its machinery is said to run easier than
ever before. experience having taught the
executive committee how TO avoid Humer-
Gus stumbling blocks.
Many letters are received by the manage
ment asking: why is it you succeed Where
50 many others fail? Please give us your
modus operandi." To answer all inquiries
Of this character would require the services
of secretary all the time. 50. rule.
no replies made.
The society was formed because OF the
ever-increasing difficulty Of securing suiti-
cient competent household help. There are
at present thirteen families ana a few indi-
viduals connected with the club, making IN
all about thirty members, who. during the
year just closed. have shown an average
attendance of thirty-hve. Ten of these
families have belonged to the cub from the
beginning. All are of the highest social
own, so they could al any time they SO de-
sired return to the old way OF living.
The clubs rooms are commodiOus and
centrally located and comprise kitchen.
dining rooms and sleeping apartments for
servants. A cook, assistant COOK. dish
washer and two Mattresses are employed.
All are excellent servants, the success Of
the club being in a large measure attributed
| to its good fortune in securing faithful help.
| There has never been any difficulty expert
enced at any time an employing young Wo-
men of intelligence to fill all Of the posi-
| tons in the gift of the clubs manag RS.
| Country school teachers unemployed or
| those wishing to earn money with which
| to prosecute their studies have been willing
to work in the dining room. This desirable
class of employees has been obtainable prob
| ably because of the thorough manner in
which the affairs of the club have been
systematized, making the duties of all easy
| of accomplishment, and the character of the
membership. which insures respectful trea I
ment. The furnishings of the dining rooms
| have all been brought from the homes If
| the members and are as dainty and taste
| full as the groups a the several tables de-
| sire to make them.
| Two hours are allotted to each meal but
as rule the members are on hand prompt
! ly when the dining room is thrown opel.
| in order to share the social chat which a.
| some of the tables is Frequently no to the
| standard Of Holmes AutOcrat The com
mittee which is composed of the matrons
| of the membership, meets every SATURDAY
| after lunch to audit the bills OF the week.
| make contracts. interview employees. make
| changes in the bill of fare and attend n
| such other business in connection with
| the management of the club as may come
| up. The dues are only three dollars a hea
| each week and are PAYABLE in advance q
| the secretary. Occasionally assessments
are made when the regular charge fails
meet the requirements. During the vear
| just ended IL has not been necessary to Jew
a single assessment and tharH is a small
| balance in the treasury Deductions are
made for absences and guests Or members
are paid for at the usual rates. TIE dining
| rooms are in no sense public. only NOW
bers and their guests being admitted. The
committee spares no pains to please and the
members try to he reasonable. This is rho
| cause they assign for the success Of the in
/ stitutiCn. They say they have solved the
| problem of getting the most comfort out
of life for the least amount of money.