Semi-weekly herald., 1909-07-29

| bpfs uHutiiiIeu- Inc usual convent
ences and Improvements Of up.todate
| Chicago apartmeuts--and there are
no apartments like them in the whole
vide world--render possible "falr
start" and do much toward the elm
ination OF the domestic problem"
Mrs. Shirks beloved and ever useful
tea cart" carries on the good work
nobiy. Then Mr. Shirk. being by way
of an Inventive genius, has arranged
various little tricks and manners" of
working that represent The labor-sav-
ing top notch.
| There Is the freIess cooker, TO be-
gin with-simple in itself, but with it's
| Held OF usefulness greatly widened by
| the iron plate-n horse weight, to h,,
literal-that, settled duly In the hot
tom OF the oven" renders roasting
not only feasible but easy. BY heating
this plate IN the gas oven while the
roast receives the necessary heating
through" then tucising II away be.
meath the roasting pan in the iireless
cooker. Mrs. Shirk may go to church
or out for the afternoon quite free
and easy In her mind about dinner.
Roast and vegetables will be done ito
turn"--and never overdone-by the
time she returns. The roasting device
receiven-and dcserves-speeial men.
ton because this. heretofore, has rep
resented the patuetic Waterloo of the
ilreless cooker. 30 fine for stews, soups,
cereals, etc
The Shirk Ice box deserves special
mention, too This. of the fine new
order. porcelain lined, with doors of
double glass plate that prove not only
the best OF insulators but also save
no small amount of ice by means of
lessening the opening and closing of
the food cupboards. also Is equipped
with unusual features. In the winter,
for Instance, the refrigerator, set In
the compact little pantry. just under
the outer window. is so arranged that
stream of cold, strained air passos
perpetually through the ice chamber.
III very cold weather. therefore, no ice
at all IL needed the air current being
so regulated that freezing In the food
cupboard Is impossible; at all times
the ice supply is reduced to mini.
mum.
Then comes the tea cart" that. In
valuable for dainty tete-a-tete break.
fasts or intimate" luncheons, permits,
under Mrs. Shirk's skillful manipuln.
tion, of the serving OF a course din
ner without the assistance of a maid,
and without single rising on the part
OF the hostess. This Ia the way in
which the feat Is accomplished.
The soup is on the table when the
diners are summoned. Sherbet, II
liked. may be served In the drawing
room, either preceding or replacing
the soup course. Cocktails. oyster or
otherwise (other simplifying" house
keepers should take notice, are Mt
their best In this manner. The dainty
tea cart is drawn close to the hostess
chair as the meal begins.
The first course served at table
soup. iisn, sherbet. whatever It may
be-disposed of, the round table rem
ders easy the passing OF the plates
to the hostess. who deity, quietly
stores them on the undersnelves of the
tea cart From the middle shelves are
taken the roast and vegetables or their
equivalents, coy and hot on piping
hot dishes and under piping hot GOV.
ers. The same process Is employed
In regard TO the removal OF these dish.
es. Then, stil from the lower shelves.
Is drawn out the prepared salad. ac-
companied by crackers. mayonnaise
bowl. French dressing cruets, fresh
plates and forks, whatever In needed.
The salad consumed. these dishes also
go back to the tea carts lower regions,
and the dessert and cheese make tri.
umphant, graceful appearance.
with the aid of u coffee machine or
urn the black coffee is made at table.
VOLTA The entire meal served most
simply and daintily. with the hostess
as calm and unflustered as ready and
able to enter into general conversa.
ton as II she had corps Of trained
walters at her disposal The tea cart,
| moreover. Is invaluable when It comes
to removing the soiled dishes to the
Kitchen. But one or at most two Jour
| neys are necessary where. without the
ever-valuable wicker assistant a num-
Der would be needed The many
| shelved basket stand for tea cakes and
sandwiches. known on its native Eng
lish health as a "curate." can render
Invaluable assistance when It comes
to serving the before-dlnner sherbet
o.. cocktail, or when an extra course
Is to be enjoyed.
Such labor-saving devices as these
are within the reach OF many Chi.
cago woman who. with a small flat, a
small family perhaps a small income,
feels the services OF maid quite un-
necessary at all times save when CON
sidering the preparation and serving