The times., 1897-09-26
KITCHEN CLOTHS.

KITCHEN CLOTHS.
The woman Of this last decade of the
nmetcentk century S nothing if she is not
dainty she must not be merely neat, but
fastIdiously delicate and dainty in all her
tastes and habits This, too, must be ex-
hibited, mol only in her toilet, her boudoir
and dining room butit must be emphasized
in her kitchen.
1t is admitted by all housekeepers and
home Ilakers that the kitchen and its
necessary furnitures, utensils and equip
Inents ard the care OF ali these is the nn-
erring test OF the accomplished housewife
The best cooks and kitchen maids must
have guidance from the lady OF the do
! main. whether It he palace or cottage,
OF mansion or a modest apartment She
must know how the cleaning and clearing
up Of the cuisine ikto be done, audsee, too,
that it rs done at tue proper time, which, is,
Of course, soon after each meal is served.
| This is a n.oCeor less troublesame andyeXa-
| tious duty al3d certainly a more disagreeabie
and far less interesting one tnan the
| preparation 6f the. meals.
Bup when all the kettles, take and stew
pans, gri4lronS and toasters. potato strain
ers, cllopp ing bowls and knives and forks
have been scrubbed and cleaned and put
away, as only q first-class ccok and
kitchen maiGEean perform these functions
| aided bS sapplio and pearlne and bordX
soap. wire brush and linked chain scourer
when the whole feat is appa rently accom-
pIished, the range polished the ashland gar
nagc cans covered ana pat outside, the
| fresh rGller towel hung and tile kitchen
cloths washed and scalded ana rinsed.
| then and there those unsightly, wet cloths
stare the maid and mistress out OF counte'
nance with the question as plainly under
stood as If spoken loudly: what are you
| going to do with us?''
Hang them wnele you will, they stare
| al you-yes, and swear at you, in their
untidy, revolving homeliness.
No, sou cannot hang them out OF tic
| window or under the sink, or behind tie
| door, or in a ourtained corner. In one or
| the other they viii declare themselves
out Of place. When hidden they VIII not
| dry, and viii harbor insects. When put
| in the air they mar the order and pic
| uresque beauty OF your lovely kitchen.
WHY / did rot p3tent an idea which
came into my top story when I was
| fceping house in m ideal little apart
Inent, not very long ago, / do not know.
| I meditatcd long and painfully on the
| dilemma Of the kitchen cloth question,
and | hone some one will be wiser In a
material sense than l was and profit by
| the above suggestion and the following
description of my pr opposed solution of
| my problem. Here it is. l give it freely,
pro bono publico:
FROM the center Of a pedestal Of strong
iron wire, the wire about as large as
| mans little finger, draw up a centered
shaft OF the same with hooks along the
sides of the shaft. These hooks are in
tended to hang the kitchen cloths upon
| The size Of the pedestal the height or
| the shaft and number of hooks must be
determined by the number Of your cloths.
| l think ! should need shaft at least
eighteen inches high, with eight or nine
hooks for the number OF cloths l would
use. Aronnd this shaft and attached 10
| 1t at the top and on one side OF the pc
! destal place a cover of perforated tin in
| the shape Of an old-fashioned tin lantern.
| Two doors or one swung on hinges and
| opening all the way to the top OF the
| cover Will permit the hanging of the cloths
l
| board.
/ When the cloths have been thoroughly
cleansed, scalded, and passed through a
| clothes-wringer, hang them on the hooks
| and close the door. Then place the case
| on the back of therange, which by this time
ought to be cool enough and just warm
enough to send a current OF warm air
| through the clotbs IN the perforated tin
| ha . n
| oughly dry hang the case or cupboard on a
hook in the wall, or pat it on a shelf, or
the kitchen table. Your unsightly cloths
are out Of sight, and are ready for future
| use.
Bear in mind that this kitchen cloth
! cupboard. which you could have made
| by any expert timer at q small eX-
pense, is intended only for those kitchen
| cloths which are used for the floor, the
sink and for the general cleansing, oiling
or greasing Of kitchen utensils. Cup, glass
and polishing towels, and chanois skins
Should be hung on towel rack, placed
| on one side Of the kitchen.
Old towels o. rags should never be used
| for the kitchen floor or linoleum, for the
| sink or any of the culinary vessels and uten-
sis. Cloths intended for such uses are sold
|
! the large retail stores In New York, and in
every large anu small city throughout the
country. The prices for these are so ridicu-
| lously small as to place them in the kitchen
| of everyone who can afford house and
kitchen. Those intended for the rougher
| work are woven of strong cotton threads,
| round and well-twiSted. but woven loosely
They are sold in ready-hemmed squares, of
| just thcright size for the purposes for which
! are intended. Then there are wash cloths
| AID dish cloths some of which are woven
with sort OF knotted or boucle pile similar
tothatof bath toweling, butnot SC much like
! plush or velvet.
Choose those Which are rather loosely
| woven, but be sure that the threads of both
warp and woof are round and well twisted
! Otherwise your cloths will be apt to shed
| lint on your floor and vessels This caution
1t is We'll to observe when making selection
| of Teur cup towels and glass cloths.