The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1907-08-15

had for small sum of money no
cook would come on account of the
loneliness; yet to do the cooking them.
selves meant labor that would spoil
any holiday, for who could enjoy the
garden, the view and the beach If
she must give up the best part of each
day to preparing three meals with
the usual cleaning up afterward? How
ever, they decided to try the Atkinson
box.
A comfortable cottage was built,
three miles from the nearest village,
on the seashore, and the two incapable
southern women who had never need
ed to lift finger in their lives for
real housework took possession. In
the south, although we complain be.
cause it is the fashion to do so, about
servants, we very seldom find it neces-
sary to do without them; there is
always old Aunt Jane, who was moth
er's cook, or Malvina. who likes a
job occasionally even If she is old, to
come and help. So it was felt to be
a great experiment to do without
even one servant: but the glorious
view, the dear little home. the free
dom and the solitude, were worth the
trial.
The Aladdin oven consists of a box
with the shelves inside; under it is
placed common kerosene lamp. The
heat is shut between layers of asbes-
tos and thermometer outside the
door indicates the heat inside. The
lamp. which holds gallon of oil, is
filled once day after breakfast. and
burns "a hours, or even longer, If you
keep 1t very low and as the food often
cooks II hours, very little heat is
needed.
Breakfast is put on the stove after
supper in the evening and is quite
ready by six o'clock the next morn
ing. 1t is equally good at $3.50 o'clock.
Dinner goes in after breakfast, and
supper after dinner. 1t does not mat
ter IL you reverse this order and have
your dinner later and luncheon in.
stead of dinner, or if you only turn
the lamp low enough if you do not eat
the dinner put in the stove at nine a.
m. till 1880 p. m. This was often the
case with us when we were away on
picnics or excursions.
Every evening after supper one lazy
woman washed the tea things-a sort
of survival of the fittest. for every.
thing not absolutely necessary was
soon discarded for the faithful and
essential few, and a centerpiece and
jars of flowers took the place on the
table of the usual ornamental dishes
and silver-whilc the other, in her
pretty muslin and ribbons, gayly pre-.
pared the simple breakfast, placing it
on the shelves. shutting the door, and
turning down the lamp for the night.
This took about Is minutes, usually,
more or less; then they both departed
and Joined congenial friends waiting
to enjoy the sunset with the cook or
perhaps to discuss Maeterlincks latest
play with the waitress.
The next morning at $3.50, after q
delicious swim in the sea and a leis.
urely toilet, the box was opened and
steaming hot, well-cooked breakfast
was ready. Again did the lazy one
wash the breakfast things; there
never are any pots or pans. Mean.
while the pretty cook, in a crisp
white dress put in the dinner. This
usually consisted of roast beef, peas,
rice, roast potatoes, tomatoes, and q
sweet pudding. and took about half an
hour to prepare. The beef was on it's
china platter, the vegetables in their
own French china dishes and the pud-
ding in its pretty decorated japanese
covered dish. AS soon as they were
all in. off went these. happy women
for long morning filled with sail.
ing. gardening. books and walks-all
the joys of an idle summer day. They
reached home at one o'clock. hungry
and gay. rushed in. opening the box,
and took out the very best dinner one
would wish to eat-hot. savory and
nutritious. The supper was then pre-.
pared. and again all the afternoon was
before them to enjoy as they wished.
The stove is not perfect by any
means. nor will it do everything eX.
actly like an ordinary range: of course
not. 1t has it's limitations. as We all
have
The objections usually urged against
it is that it will not heat water for
household use. AS we'll might you re-
fuse TO go on the railroad because it
cannot go along on the water or use
the telegraph because it cannot carry
bundles or furnace because. although
It uses tons OF coal, needs an at
;endant and wastes much heat, it
will not do the cooking-which is
-eally very thoughtless and inconsid-
crate of the furnace. What the Aladdin
oven will do is to take the place of a
cook. whose principal labor is not SO
much cooking the food as watching to
sec that it does not burn from the
fierce fire she kindles. However, SO
serious does this objection about va.
ter seem to be that have not yet in
duced one person to buy an oven
and follow my example. Yet there are
many ways of getting all the hot va.
ter you want, and when you want it.