Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-05-28


much needed in this busy America.
This seemed reserved for the rich. for
where the beach and garden could be
had for a small sum of money no
cook would come on account OF I've
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 aftcrward? How
ever they decided to try the Atkinson
box.
A comfortable cottage was built,
three miles from the nearest village,
on the spashore, and the two incapable
southern women who had never need
ed to lift a finger in their lives TOR
real houscwUrk took possession. In
the south. although we complain be-
cause il is the fashion to do SO, about
servants, we very seldom find it ncccs-
sary to do without them: there is
always old Aunt Jane. who was moth
er's cook or Malvina, who likes
Job occasionally even if she is old. TO
come and help So it was felt to h"
a great experiment to do without
even one servant: hut the glorious
view. the dear little home, the free
dom and the solitude, were worth the
trial
The Aladdin oven consists Of box
with the shelves inside: under it is
placed d common kerosene lamp. The
heat is shut between layers of ashes
tos and a 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, II you
keep it 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 $50 O'Clock.
Dinner goes in after breakfast. and
supper after dinner. 1t does not mat
ter if 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 100 p. m. This was often the
case with us when we<were away on
piCniCS or excursions.
sEyery 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 centerpiece and
lars Of flowers took the place on the
table of the usual ornamental dishes
and Silvcr-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 tosdiscuss Maeterlinck's latest
play with the waitress.
The next morning at $50. after a
delicious swim in the sea and lcis-
urely toilet. the box was opened and
a steaming hot well-cookcd 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 crisp
white dress put in the dinner. This
usually consisted of roast beef. peas.
vrice. roast potatoes. tomatoes. and
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 it's pretty decorated Japanese
covered dish As soon as they were
all in. off went these happy women
for a long morning filed with sail
ing. gardening. books and walks-ail
the jovs of an idle summer day. They
reached home at one O'Clock. hungry
and way. rushed in, opening the box.
and took out the very best dinner one
would wish to eat-hOt. savory and
nutritious. The suppe1 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 II do everything eN-
actly like an ordinary range: Of course
not. II has its limitations. as We all
have.
The objections usually urged against
1T is that il will not heat water for
household use AS well 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 a furnace because. although
II uses tons of coal. needs an at
:endant and wastes much heat. 1t
will not do the cookins-which is
really very thoughtlcss and inconsih-
crate Of the furnace. What the Aladain
oven viii! do is to take the place of a