The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-09-03

COuIVoouS dLd SAshAhOe
"One of the first things that impresses
the foreigner who endeavors to KEEP, house
in Venezuela Is the cos OF living he went
on. This is largely due to the fact that
the newcomer requires or thinks he requires
the same things he was accustomed to at
home, that nearly all Of these have to be
imported and that the high customs duties
often double the COST
"On the other hand, II the newcomer
10 content to board at hotel his bill will
not be much larger than at a house Of
| similar character in the United States.
OF course. he will miss the lavish supply
OF icewater, to be had for the asking at
home, but he will find the menu both salts
flying and appetizing and we'll adapted
to the climate.
Talking about ice recalls the manner
in which it Is served in that climate. At
a we'll appointed hotel at Macuto the SER
vice OF the ice at the two principal meals
was a most solemn and impressive func-
ton.
THE proprietor himself made the rounds
Of the several tables with a silver bowl
containing the precious commodity cracked
into small humps. With the air Of confer
ring untold blessings upon the recipient,
he would carefully deposit lump Of ice
In the glass of each guest and retire with
the remnants carefully guarded under his
personal supervision.
But when the strangers started house,
keeping for themselves and began to pay
four cents a pound for ice they were better
able to appreciate the solicitude Of the
hotel keeper Of Macuto. At first the new
corners would buy five or ten pounds Of
ice and deposit it in the American refriger-
ator they had brought from home, but they
soon abandoned that habit and only
bought it at mealtime to crack for the
wine and water, as their neighbors did.
But to get down to the cost Of house,
keeping. A two story house, built in the
old Spanish style. was secured at a rental
Of S25 month. It contained three rooms
on the ground floor, with a ratio, or court
yard and bathroom with shower or
sprinkler. As for the bathtub, that was
supposed to be Furnished by the tenants,
although some houses had large stone
pools.
THE upper floor consisted Of one large
apartment used as a living and reception
room, with q balcony running the entire
front OF the house, three bedrooms and
kitchen. Besides this there was an inner
veranda running above two sides Of the
patio. where the table was spread for meals.
The domestic force required to run the
household included q cook and serving
maid, nurse girl, laundress and an extra
scrubwoman once q week to help in the
cleaning. The wages for the cook and
laundress were ak pesos each month, equal
to $3.50, but az there were scant facilities
for laundry work on the premises the clothes
had to be sent out, which about doubled
the cost.
1The maid and nurse girl received q
a month each The servants all ate their
meals In the house, leaving each night for
their homes and returning about 9 the
following morning.
aThe cook was allowed stipulated sum
for her marketing, with extra money for
charcoal, sugar. soap and coffee. Tho
bread, milk and ice were purchased sepa-
rately at an additional cost, as was the
fruit, DO, for the first meal.
"This first breakfast, sometimes styled
desdyuno, was served between and 7:30
A. NJ, and consisted Of oranges and bana-
mas, rolls and coffee, with either native or
imported cheese and butter. Between II
Known o VI a. almse1so. Consisting Of soup, fsh
or chicken, meat and entree, with various
vegetables, claret and coffee
THE following is q sample menu Of one
day: Soup. roast chicken. eggs stuffed with
tsins' &e a Between no and p n es an
comidd, answering to late dinner, but the
strangers finally Induced their cook to dis
pense with the second soup and heavy
meat dishes and give them stuffed peppers
or onions, croquettes, sweetbreads, fish,
birds, tongue, or something light, with the
inevitable rice and beans. salad and
dulce. tho last Consisting Of stewed fruit |
or fresh pinosppse. .7
Then, on their own account. they some-
times added pottcd meats, sardines. jams |
and crackers to vary the program. The |
native meats a. q rule were not very palata-
BILE. being coarse and tough Of fiber, the |
beef lacking the flavor they. were used to
at home Lamb was rare, but fair when
obtainable. Pork vas plentiful, but not
sThe potatoes were mostly from Ger
many and were small Of sise and yellow
AZ to color. showing up best in q salad.
Tho fish, egg and chickens were always