The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-02-13

York, and l find the architects believe
that some some of us are progressive
housekeepers. find hot water de-
livered free into every kitchen, day
and night, because it is cheaper to
maintain one fire in the cellar than
forty fires in forty kitchens. Hot
water being provided, every kitchen
has gas range to avoid the carrying
of coal up and the ashes down. In
the parlors and other rooms there is
in the fireplace neat veil or screen
of white asbestos. A match gives
great sheet of glowing white fire,
warming and ventilating the room
perfectly. An asbestos glow fire may
not be as poetical as the old hickory
log mother had, but the house mo-
ther has more time to keep up her
reading.
The progressive housekeeper goes
a step farther. Under the electric lamp
in the children's nursery is little
marble shelf On the shelf stands
fiat disk of iron with twisted wire
from the electric light. By turning
the button on the lamp the disk soon
becomes hot, and little kettle placed
upon it soon gives hot water for use
in sickness, or to warm baby's milk, or
warm a cup of bouillon for the inva-
lid. 1t is a tiny electric stove with
out fire, light or smoke. 1t is literally
black heat.
If we investigate the matter little
further, we find the coffee urn, the
chafng-dish, the fat-iron each pro-
vided with an electric heater, and the
same current that lights the room
may boil the eggs, toast the bread
and cook the griddle cakes, and all
without lighting match or seeing
flame. In the invalid's room the ell
ectric current from an ordinary cleo
trio lamp may warm the bed or pillow
and do all the work of a hot-water
bag without it's uncertainty and in
convenience. OF couree this is the
most costly cooking we can have. 1t
would be extravaganza to use cleo
tricity to cook for large family. 1t
might be the highest economy in
sick room, where precision, neatness
and time are worth more than high
price heat.
Not long ago 1 called on friends
and fond the family at lunch. hest
tated about staying, but my friend
insisted that l stay, saying, "The
cook is away, but that makes no diff
ference" | entered the elegant din
ing room, and found the table spread
for hot lunch. Judge of my sur
prise when my hostess opened door
in beautiful cabinet and exhibited
tiny gas kitchen sunk in the wall.
The little closet was lined with zinc,
and was fitted with little gas stove
and supplied with shelves and hooks
for the cooking utensils. A hole in
the wall served for chimney to carry
off the heat and odor or cooking, and
here my progressive housekeeper
could get up hot lunch even if the
cook was away.
After lunch | was shown an
other bit of progressive house
keeping. The fiat roof of the
house was covered with brick and
surrounded by wire netting.
In one portion of the roof was an
iron arbor with glass sides for shell
ter from the rain, and here, high
above the street, safe from harm, the
progressive young people had beau
tiful out-of-door play ground. The
householder could send them all up
there and know they were happy and
safe while she was free for other
things.
Progressive housekeeping means
willingness to accept new ideas,
willingness to do old things in new
ways. 1t is not confined to the kit
chen or pantry. Further investiga-
ton shows many new fields in which
the housekeeper may save time,
labor, money and nerves if she be
only willing to try something new
"Mothel's way" was very good-for
mother. There are better ways now.
Good Housekeeping.