The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-25
HOUSEHOLD MATTERS.
THE IDEAL KITCHEN.

THE IDEAL KITCHEN.
The ideal kitchen should be the
brightest, most convenient and airiest
room in the house. It should be built
with due regard to the position of the
dining room, and yet so shut off that
no smell of cooking can penetrate into
the more leisured parts of the house.
As rule, however, a kitchen is but
another name for darkness. dulness
and pokey corners, so constructed
that it has not room for half that it
requires.
As to the perfumes Of dinners past
and gone, they seem to pervade the
house just when they are least well,
come; and undesirable noises, inno-
cent enough in themselves, no doubt,
but out of place in the drawing room,
find their way from the same region.
A baize door that shuts Of itself
should always be between the kitchen
department. and the rest of the house,
and this will usually be found efec-
tive for the purpose of keeping out
cookery sromss. II not two baize
doors can be used, opening different
ways, and with convenient hooks for
use when needed. !. .5
Where it is possible o small sliding
door should be between the dining
room and the hall, outside Of the
kitchen or the butler's pantry, through
which everything can be passed into
the dining room. This not only keeps
the food much hotter than when it has
to be carried through the hall, but
breskages are far less frequent in con.
sequence. "a.
The kitchen range should have every
consideration shown it, and should
always be of the best and latest pat
tern. The ovens should be roomy and:
easily kept at one temperature, and
the door should be fitted with the,
patent glass windows, through which
acook can examine the progress OF
her crust apd cakes with no fear Of
the direful consequences that ensue
should the door be opened unwarily.
An oil cooking stove (or a gas one,
if preferred, should always be at hand
to supplement the ordinary range.
Not only is this Indispensable when
hot water is wanted in hurry, or
some small thing cooked when the fire
is low, but it is a great help to the
cook when dinner party is in pro.
gress, as giving her so much more
cooking room.
In summer time an oil or gas stove
is of the greatest use in keeping the
kitchen cool, as it can be put out when
not wanted, and used entirely In the
place of coal fire. IA
The dresser should be the next con-
sideration. This should extend across
one side Of the room, and have shelves,
hooks and drawers without number.
On the shelves should stand china;
on the hooks hang jugs; in the drawers
should be the kitchen linen, etc.
Kitchen china should be kept separate
from that used in the dining room.
If it is kept together, it may be used
when it should not be, to save trouble.
A large table with drawers in it, for
knives, forks, skewers, ladies, etc, in
use in cooking, should also be pro-
yided, which can also be used to pre-
pare the food upon. A smaller table
should be provided for the servants
meals, and bright cloth kept on it
when no cooking or meals are in pro.
gress. b
The chairs should be of as comfort
able build as possible, and small
screen is cosy, and keeps out draughts
in the evening. Asquare carpet, that
will roll up in the day time, should be
provided for the floor, but be put
down at night when the work is over.
A few nice, bright pictures and Q
looking glass should be on the wallis I
There should be shelf for the cookery,
books, and some deep cupboards for,
keeping all wooden and tin utensils
in. A red roller blind looks far more
cheerful at the windows than a white
one, and keeps clear far longer.
A slate should hang by the dresser.
on which the days menu must be
written as it is ordered by the mis-,
tress, and another one kept, on which!
kitchen wants can be put down as soon
as noticed. A bill file should be handy,
on which to file the little tickets that
the butcher sends with the meat, as
they must always be kept to check his
bill by.-New York Telegram.