The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-05-16
THE KITCHEN

IVY anna i1dllONS
GAS for that kitchen. there was never
place more ing niously what 1t
shouldn't be, built on the face Of the
earth" These words from Helen Camp
bells latest story are descriptive Of too
many kitchens throughout the land.
There are many lessons to be learned
from the kitchen of dining car or that
on steamboat. for a small kitchen well
arranged is usually more desirable than
a large one. Wherever 1t is possible
laundry, storeroom and cook room
should be distinct. and each with its own
full equipment. 1t is impossible to carry
on half a dozen trades successfully in
one room, which is also a passa geway
between other parts Of the house. Win
dows on two or three sides of the room
will insure air and light. These can be
secured by placing the kitchen lay Itself
In an ell beyond the main house, but there
must not be too great a separation OF
knichen and dining-room
Though few house keepers can plan
their own kitchens, they may add doors
windows and slides which will save
many steps. Sometimes it is necessa' y
to have an outside door open into The
kitchen, but this is not usually desirable
and requires more care to keep the room
clean. Better put a window in such a
place and have a little side entry if pos
sible. Then there is no necessity for adj
hitting strangers to the kitchen.
Good ventilation in the kitchen is es-
sential for the comfort of the cook and
the quality of the food. 1t is great pity
to have chimney come against the out
side wall where there is little other space
for windows, but this is the case in many
city flats.
The woman who does her own house
keeping will find it economy to employ
a carpenter Cor a few hours and fewer
dollars to put her kitchen in good order
There are many kitchens where the in
sertion of another window would make
an immense improvement. The win
dows should be dropped easily from the
top as well as raised from the bottom.
Shelves can be put in convenient places
over the sink, beside the stove, or over
the windows by the aid of small iron
brackets. There may be few hooks for
aprons in the kitchen, but outdoor gar
ments should be kept elsewhere.
Closets and cupboards should be light
and we'll finished, with no inaccessible
shelves, or gaping cracks to give refuge
to insects.
The essential articles of kitchen furni-
ture are the stove or range, the sink, the
tables and store closets or refrigerator
The sink and tubs, if set tubs must be in
the kitchen, should be near the windows
since good light is an essential factor in
making either dishes or clothing clean.
Time and strength will be wasted I'M
less the various articles of furniture are
placed in right relation to each other
The natural order of work should be con-
sidered most carefully in the arrange
ment of the kitchen. There are cases
where a permanent position has been
acquired by an article of furniture
merely because it happened to be so
placed at first without thought about the
best place for it.
The floor and walls of the kitchen
should be finished in such manner that
they may be kept clean easily. Steam
loosens wall paper, which is another OBJ
lection to its use. Linoleum of good
quality wears well and can be cleaned
more readily than hardwood or painted
floor. Unless the room is very light
there should be no dark tints in the
finish. Upholstery is out of place in the
kitchen, but a steamer chair is desir-
able resting place for odd minutes.