The Meeker herald., 1907-11-09

Ao4 BuoA Duhl vi ku0A0y LIZ
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 II
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 a finger in their lives for
real hOusewOrk took possession. In
the south, although we complain be-
cause 1t is the fashion to do 30. about
servants, we very seldom find 1t 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 II she is old. to
come and help. 30 1t 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, wero worth the
trial.
The Aladdin oven consists of a box
with the shelves inside; under 1t Is
placed common kerosene lamp. The
heat is shut between layers of ashes
tos and thermometer outside the
door indicates the heat inside. The
lamp. which holds a gallon of oil. is
filled once day after breakfast. and
burns "a hours, or even longer, II you
keep it very low and as the food often
cooks IL 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 $50 o'clock.
Dinner goes in after breakfast, and
supper after dinner. 1t does not mat
ter II you reverse this order and have
your dinner later and luncheon in
stead of dinner, or II you only turn
the lamp low enough II you do not eat
the dinner put in the stove at nine a.
m. till 1880 p. m. This was often the
picnics or excursions.
Every evening after supper one lazy
woman washed the tea things-a sort
Of survival of the f1ttest, for every
thing not absolutely necessary was
soon discarded for the faithful and
essential few, and q centerpiece and
jars OF flowers took the place on the
table Of the usual ornamental dishes
and silver-while the other. In her
pretty muslin and ribbons. gayly pre-
pared the simple breakfast, placing 1t
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 Maeterlinck's 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
a 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 a
sweet pudding, and took about half an
hour to prepare. The beef was on its
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, OF went these happy women
for a 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 1t do everything ex
actly like an ordinary range; of course
not. 1t has its limitations. as we all
have.
The objections usually urged against
it is that 1t will not heat water fol
household use. AS well might you re
fuse to go on the railroad because II
cannot go along on the water or use
the telegraph because 1t cannot carry
bundles or a furnace because, although
1t uses tons of coal, needs an at
tendant and wastes much heat, II
will not do the cooking-which IL
really very thoughtless and inconsid'
crate of the furnace. What the Aladdin
oven will do is to take the place Of
cook, whose principal labor is not SO
much cooking the food as watching to
see that 1t does not burn from the
fierce fire she kindles. However, 80
serious does this objection about wa
ter seem to be that ! have not yet IN
duced one person to buy an oven
and follow my example. Yet there are
.orv uova of getting all the hot wa