The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-27

TALK WITH THE SERVANTS.


Perhaps l had better warn you thai
the madam will be in town here at II
O'clock. That's her hour and she's moi
often late. She'll look TO have the kitchen
quite tidy when she comes. You'll have
her chair ready there by the table, the
butchers and grocer's book ready to
hand, and beside them the pen and ink
I'll tell you how she manages. 1t saves
trouble all around, and not one penny
goes out of the house that she doesn't
know all about. She's liberal and free
handed, but she won't waste a crumb
nor throw away a cent. Down she'll
come, and sharp look all around, IL
warrant you. If anything is wrong or
neglected you'll not fan to hear of it.
though quite Pleasantly II plainly. She'll
talk over the days meals, of what's in
the house. what's needed, just what is to
be cooked for the next luncheon dinner
and breakfast All that is wanted is
written down in the books-exactly the
pounds and quantities and the date at
tached. Then Off she goes; it's all done
in five minutes. The butchers boy ana
grocer's boy come for the book at 10:9O
at II the days supplies are in the house.
Once a week the madam herself goes
to the markets and takes a look about
had. She calls 1t a waste of time to
go herself every day, and she looks to
you to see that the meat and fish ana
vegetables brought are good and fresh,
or you are not to accept them On Mon
day mornings all her bills are paid. The
books come added up; the milkman, ice
man and baker leave their accounts, too.
She has from each a list of their prices,
which she keeps for reference, and checks
off the books with them. A whole half
hour she gives to these accounts. She
can see under each date her own order,
and opposite is the price, which should
tally with her list of prices. Then she
draws checks for each account, tells
you beforehand as well as she can, just
what guests are expected, just what
meals she will take away from home, so
that you may arrange your work COM
fortaibly beforehand, and the bulk OF
the housekeeping for the week Is done.
Pretty simple for both of you. isn't 1t?
Soda? Why that's the most ilnpor-
tant thing in the whole kitchen 1t just
halves your work-only don't let 1t get
into the laundry; it's forbidden there. For
example, you put'a lump Of 1t in among
the dishes when they are to be washed
after breakfast YOUTH notice, of course,
that we have provided one of these nice
paper dshpans for you-thats why cups
keep their handles in this kitchen, and
why a dozen glasses last more than a
week-you don't hang them against zinc
or iron. With all the dishes gathered of
the kitchen table into this light dishpan,
a lump of soda laid on top, and the hot
water cock turned on full FOR minute,
Just a turn or two of the mop makes
things clean and ready for the towel. A
lump, or even a pinch, of 1t in each pot
cuts the grease out as If by magic, and
with us pot washing has no terrors. More
of it goes into the water with which the
table is scrubbed, and is used in the
water for mopping the floor washing the
scalding the refrigerator and
before you go to bed at night we always
look to have you pour a little hot soda
water down the waste-plpe Of the sink,
for there grease Is apt TO clog and grow
rank, and make disease and bad smells.
"Of course, we are enlightened in this
house. We don't want you scrubbing all
day and every day. so we put an oilcloth
on the floor for you, and We cover the
kitchen dinner table with more oilcloth,
and we buy 1t as 1t comes from the shop,
all scalloped and cut in shelf widths, to
cover every one of your shelves, tackine
it neatly on, so that shelf and floor and
table washing means only triie Of labor
for you."-Harper's Bazal.