The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-20
ECONOMICAL.
The Way They Live in a Pros
pect Hill House.
Where the Boarders Don't Kick and
The LandIady is Kind.

Twelve persons live happily and COM
fortably, and without friction, in one
side of double house, with basement
kitchen and dining-room. Each pro-
vides his own food and cooks 1t and then
washes his own dishes and yet
no one is in another's way.
The modus operandi is quite
interesting, everything considered, for IL
would naturally be supposed that family
OF different ages. sex and tastes, must find
1t difficult TO enjoy life amid such pro-
miscuous surroundings; yet each member
declares it to be an ideal way 10 live,
SURPRISING all generally conceived ideas OF
passing Bohemian life and savoring
OF realistic Pickwickian existence. The
household is presided over by one OF
natures genuises, just plain, ordinary,
little lady with gray hair and twink
ling eyes, and with a countenance
bespeaking fund OF common
sense intermingled with sparkling traits
of humor which endeared DIR. Holmes to
all who knew him. She is the life giving
center OF the little circle which comprises
also two young lady students at Brown
University, portrait artist of note, a
re-toucher OF negatives, a kinder
writes clever stories, an elderly gentle
man and wife who devote their time to
reading and study, ayoung newspaper
reporter and wife, wealthy young
lady Of Newport and sweet
young lady students of one of
the other schools in Providence. The
roof which shelters this combination Ii
situated on the side of Prospect Hill,
overlooking what is destined to become
as delightful prospect, when the new
State House improvements are completed,
as was the old Cove many years ego, W hen
it was filed with clear water and sur
rounded by beautiful trees and an attrac-
tive beach.
The cooking Is done over common Gre,
or, rather, over several common fires, en-
listing the range, furnace and several oil
stoves of different sizes. For the most
part the landlady's dishes are used and il
anything is needed in the way OF spices or
other condiments her larder is at the dis
posal of the tenants.
OF the cooking apparatus, the furnace
undoubtably commands the greatest RI
spect, for on the ledge just inside the big
door and between 1t and the glowing
Goals everything can be roasted to a nice
brown better than in a common stove
oven, White for broiIing Things the
furnace fire is unsurpassed. Besides the
conveniences for cooking, iich tend to
obviate any conflict in the kitchen, the
fact that the various occupants arise at
different hours and have different meal
times insSsss q clear course to all. Then TO
add TO the comforts of her little flock,
the landlady makes oatmeal mush every
morning for all, when she fries cakes she
fries for everybody and she fur
nishes bread for small sum per
week besides sharing many delica-
cies which she provides for herself.
She also looks out for the interest of her
flock in other directions, aiding by
motherly care and advice those who are
sick or troubled by the per-
plexities OF housekeeping. All
this brings the cost of living to
minimum, eclipsing even Edward Atkin-
sons great economic system, which a
Boston Herald reporter once exemplified
by living well one week for Sl.25
The only expenses, aside from food, of
the inmates OF this remarkable household,
Is for room and clothes, and the room
rent is merely nominal. Heat and lights
are furnished and each family" doe,
its own washing.
The lady, who for years has been thus a
declares that her only happi-
ness consists in making Others happy,
and each OF her tenants is equally positive
that his home with her is tho happiest of