New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-04
VISITING HOUSEKEEPERS.
The Fec There 4re Haze Become
Necessities an Some Homes.

Among the newer occupations to which age
and a city of luxurious living have given birth Is
that OF the visiting housekeeper. New-Hork seems
TO be the inventor of the visiting housekeeper San
Francisco. Chicago St Paul Charleston and Boston
heard Of her apparently, or if they have pre-
fer 20 continue on the eYery-lady-of- the-kouSe-
her-own -housekeeper principle Not that New-iork
has many followers of this craft not enough
to constitute a class form type. 1t is doubtful
If even New-York could muster OF visiting
housekeepers. yet the visiting housekeeper is an
interesting sign Of the times.
There are several kinds of visiting housekeeper'
said of them the other day. Some simply
plan the menus and do the catering: others engage
servants; others oversee the care and cleaning of
the house and still others combine these offices. If
a attempts to cover all these functions
DO not believe she attend faithfully to more
than three or at the most four houses at time
This is OF the limitations which visiting
housekeepers labor under-ther business cannot
80 expanding and growing TO any extent, but is
perforce confined to the ground which they per-
sonaIly cover. And woman's strength has
limitations If her time has not.
IF woman added to her duties OF housekeeper
those of the secretary and could do the work at
her own hours in her apartment. she would
increase her income appreciaby and would NIL up
a part OF the day that could not be utilized for
housekeeping.
MAKING OUT OF MENUS.
The making out of the menus is an important
Part Of the work visiting housekeepeT heeus
10 know her cookbook pretty thoroughly-that Is
10 say she must be acquainted with a large roper
tory Of dishes, so be able 10 suit every taste
and introduce variety into the bill of fare
Generally the lady OF the house-one must
use that hackneyed term for lack of better
likes TO look them over. but sometimes you nnI
one who will tell the housekeeper to so ahead. /
make out the menu for the entire day and invari-
ably day in advance, and then the first thing l
do the next morning is to order everything tor the
dav The morning hours being exceedingly pre-
ci0us the visiting housekeeper viii want 10 begln
her work by 5 8.l5 clock. one can pISCs til;J
1 orders with the firms with which each nulNluudi
/ family trades, with hrmS OF one ; own CLOOSIlo
! The visiting housekeeper makes no COMMISSION
through bringing the trade 10 her own 1rnlS' ohlS
! II is much easier to give the order ZOE seNeIdl
| households at time TO one man -,
| Last winter ! found il more CONVENIENT 70 oed!
with grocers and provision the nelShbor-
hood of each house, as If there is change IN the
menu or the number of people to cater Tor is SUD
denly increased. anything of mat sort happens
1t is much easier and quicker to COMM WIN
the base CT supplies II this Is only DOCK or Two
know what is going the table till the dlsnes are
/ placed before her.
SOON LEARNS FAMILY TASTES.
! You might think that a stranger coming into a
| family in this way would be like the fifth wheel OF
a coach. but after a week or two enc ceases to be
stranger. Very soon one learns the tastes of each
1 family and every member in each family, and Il
| one orders a vegetable dish that certain per-
sons won't touch or that family agrees in de-
testing. you don't DO II second time. that's all
''As q rule the housekeeper's employer trusts her