The Washington times., 1894-04-08
In the Matter of
WaSteful Hired Help.

The kitchen store and fire is place where
the average girl can burn up more than her
board and wages combined cost.
1t is no exaggeration to say that not one girl
in fifty knows how to take care of the kitchen
| stove or even to build fire properly.
They do not half clean 1t out in the morning
| or know how to arrange the kindling, nor
why 1t should have draft through it.
They will fill the fire-box above the lining
and choke the would-be blaze to death while
it is trying to get small start.
A careless girl thinks nothing of setting the
coal hod on the stove hearth and breaking off
the hearth hinge with its weight. Such tri-
fies are nothing to her! Even the cast-iron
knobs on the ovens and doors are knocked
of with dropped sadirons. Indeed, moth
ing can stand before her destructiveness.
Every woman who has ever done her town
cooking Just contrasts her methods with
Sallie's, and wonders why the latter's work is
never done. since she herself gets through
and has time to take a little reading while
she rests before luncheon time.
1t is all in this: One woman Is interested
personally in what she is doing and the
other isn't. All she wants is her money!
You may set it down as safe rule that he or
she who works only for the money in any line
of work is going to slight, waste, or do any,
thing else with other peoples time except i'm
prove 1t.
Many housekeepers are getting SO worn out
and disgusted with this state of affairs that
they are gradually assuming more household
duties themselves or hiring by the day or
job, that they may have a little comfortable
living and not spend all the husband brings
into the house in the kitchen.
There will be no permanent change in our
kitchen service until woman's right to be
there as mistress and to manage as she deems
best Is fully recognized
kitchen stove should be thoroughly freed
from ashes and the cinders taken out and
sifted each morning-to be burned during the
day.
To lay the fire, the kindling should be of
small, soft, dry wood laid criss-cross in layers
on the paper. When fairly alight, PIT on coal
Just up to the top edge of the iire-box lining
it. On first lighting the fire all the drafts
back and front should be left open. but when
the coal is fairly alive close up the back draft,
so rs to heat the oven and prevent waste of
fuel.
At least half hour should be allowed for
starting the fire sufficiently to bake biscuit or
mullins.
Have a full teakettle on the back Of the
stove, and if there is water-back see that is
is filed, if it is not connected with the hydrant
While the stove is heating screen the ashes
and sweep up the kitchen. When the break
fast is over, II the brisk fire is not going TO be
needed for some hours, put on more coal,
close the drafts in the front doors, leaving the
hearth open a crack, and open the back draft,
but be sure to set your front stove lids little
of from over the Goals.
That fire ought to keep all day and be
ready to burn up quickly when you close the
lids and turn on the drafts for ten minutes.
Some persons seem to think that because a
stove has to be used again in few hours a
big fire must be kept going all the time. Moth
ing is more wasteful, and if girl does not
know how to manage it she should be willing
to be taught and be teachable. II sheis not, one
might as well say good-by TO her first as last,
or at least before her wasteful methods have
burned one out Of house and home.