The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-06-01

smells telling the tale Of my sad house
w'ieiy Sink and kitchen are odorless and
Snsin,y as the guest chamber with its porce.
Iaii, oasins and snowy towels. | could not
and would not put up with the heavy stems
ano SLOW motions, the malodorous presence
ana clumsy ways OF common help. so they
were discarded and the weekly wage put
plies. any sup
Now the beauty of dishdrainers and
rnops and eedarwood tubs and swing trays
IS mat they don't eat anything. don't waste
awning don't break anything, and don't
nave Gays out inconveniently. Also they
aont nave tempers and create friction do
After each meal the spoons. knives and
FORKS are collected from the table into
quart pail nearly full of clean soapsuds
WIN nall teaspoon of ammonia in it
and set in the sink
ne food is put away in the ice box and
window safe, the plates and dishes are
seraped and set in a tub Of soapsuds. cold
or not as convenient, the cups and saucers
90 INTO another tub or pan likewise. The
white table cloth is shaken, folded in two
and hung TO air in the sun.
Then the pail of silver has a shake or
things are rinsed and wiped.
:, All this takes less than five minutes, and
the dining room work is done. All cook
Ing things are thoroughly cleared OF their
contents when the food is taken up, and
immediately filled with water with spoon
tul OF liquid I've in it, and replaced TO
heat till the meal is over.
then whisk of the chain cleaner with
ITS long wire handle turns them out ready
ior Ilnsing and wiping with a clean coarse
towel-half a minutes work apiece.
Baking pans and cups go into a pan of
cold water and wait their turn with the
other dishes. My hands have not been wet
IN the entire process and escape the misery
OF soaked and swollen fingers, parboiled
palms, and backs discolored with dish
water. which betray the untaught house
keeper. And there is nothing unusual in
the neat kitchen except three bright pans
and tubs of orderly piled dishes, covered
with water.
DISHES DRY OFF
THEMSELVES.
When ready to attack them, the water is
poured off and fresh hot suds poured over
the painful, the clean pieces are lifted into
the drainer, set in large pan 10 ht hot
water poured over them, and the dtaner
set on the window shelf in the sun and
air, or at the back of the range a few
minutes when they are ready to set away.
Wiping is mere Ticking off a stray drop
oil water here and there.
Piled in open order, with hot water
poured over them and set in current of
air, dishes dry off themselves better than
any one can wipe them. Crooked pitchers
and jars are washed out with a mop,
soalded and turned upside down to dry
without wiping by the best housekeepers.
They dry more thoroughly and with less
danger of breakage in this way, and why
isn't the method just as good for all the
china2
find il comes out glossy and fine
enough to suit the most exacting finger
tips which would never pretend to use
restaurant or hotel silver and ware with
out first polishing it with corner of ones
napkin.
One often wants to do this at private
tables, where the ordinary tiresome routine
of washing and wiping is gone through,
three times day, and only high sense
OF politeness restraints the impulse of the
tactile sense at the touch of the ill-dried
silver.
When went to cooperative club
there seemed nowhere anyone was wanted
in any department except that of washing
the dishes. An ex-farmer and an Episco-
palian minister were dischargng the duty
with sturdy resignation, after a fashion.
l am not ashamed to say plotted aud un-
dermined those men out of their Office
in two days, and undertook the job single
handed.
Now dshwashing for luncheon where
fifty guests are served each day, besides
family of twenty-four or more, is no
bagatele-unless you know how to do it.
After the method above, it was fun. The
supply of fresh, clean china and silver was
kept UP without once running short, and
the farmer and the minister did not seem
to hold any grudge against me for turning
them out OF their work. Two graduates
OF women's colleges were doing the cook
ing, delicately and deliciously, with cocanut
oil and butter instead OF fat a Cornell stu
dent waited on the supper table and
cleared off afterward, and the entire force
alternately took a hand at the work want
ed whether in kitchen, bakery or print
ing office and editorial desk.
The college men write editorials and
read proof while acting as cashiers for the
lunch room. 1t looks most inviting. with
china. with vases OF spring flowers, tulips
narcissus and mignonette, and pretty, light
footed girls for attendants.
My department was not far behind, with
its bright teakettles glass cabinets, thirty
six fresh towels to work with, and its bat
terry Of bright pans and long handled white
mops for the china.
Besides having three books in hand, and
trying to help about the church endowment
the parish is working for this year, / &c
down 10 the cooperative, put on a big
apron and play wash dishes-for the fun
of it.