Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-08
BY Josephine Story.

spirit WHICH WOulu nave udTeu Jue
devil; that her cooking was well meant,
but depressing, such are the subtleties
and complexities of modern home-making
that there was a singing sensation be-
meath my eyelids as | saw her go. We
were without a servant
In solemn conclave the night before
We the Family had agreed that we would
share the household duties and go il
alone. The one s-your-throat-an hope
to-dic promise which ny mcnfolk oxtortcd
from me was-I being the feminine quar-
ter of the family unit-that if found my
self getting overtired I was to confess.
TWO weeks later | had forgotten that !
had doubted my ability to make good |
had a sense Of infinite opportunity My
first move had been to watch for wasted
minutes as ! went about my work. BY
process of elimination and selection, dust
collecting ornaments furniture. SUI
perfiuous silver-in fact. every article
which did not contribute directly to the
artistic or material comfort of the family
vanished into the limbo Of discarded
things. The result of my clearance was
a sense of restful spaciousness in the
house and magical increase in leisure
moments.
| had read more or less of the new
gospel of business efficiency, OF the inn
portance of eliminating all unnecessary
steps. acts and motions. | had heard that
the modern efficiency experts had as
serted that efficiency was especially lack
ing in household management-that he
had counted twenty-three motions made
by cook in preparing a cup of tea and
had found that only five motions are
really necessary With this in mind !
went about my work studying every step,
every motion.
! soon discovered the number of need
less steps which were taken between
dining room and kitchen. In the nearest
city / bought two white papier-mache
trays, size 22Xl6 inches, which sell for
1925 each. One of these is kept in the
china closet, and when the table is to be
set every necessary dish, glass and piece
of silver is placed on the tray and taken
to the dining room; then back 1t goes to
receive the dishes which are TO be heated
in the kitchen. When the food is ready
it again renders one trip only necessary.
The second tray is kept in the kitchen
for refrigerator and pantry use. The use
fulness Of the trays depends upon the
amount of intelligence of the woman be-
hind them
My next step was to substitute paper
for the linen doylies used on the polished
look like a piece of crochet, are hrm,
quite thick and can with care be used
number of times | bought plate and
finger bowl sizes and small ones for the
water glass by the hundred. Then IN
vested in a dozen large oval doylles TO use
over asbestos mats under hot platters, and
some large. round ones with a lacy edge.
upon which to unmold jelly, mousse or
parfait. As mine would have been the task
of laundering the linen doylies, think what
an amount of time, strength and energy
| saved by substituting paper.
| bought white paper napkins at 10
cents per hundred The saleswoman where
/ was buying knew her business for when
/ connded to her what | was trying TO do,
she fairly radiated interest. Have you
ever tried paper plates? Some folks use
them for food which is put in the ice-box,"
she volunteered. Her suggestion seemed
worth trying, so | purchased plates, size
OK, at 40 cents, and size Sx9 at 90 cents
per hundred. and you have no idea until
you try them what time they save.
No more skilful device to kill interest in
homework was ever contrived than that
drudgery- dishes. The Youngest
Member to whose lot had fallen this por-
ton Of our cooperative housework, did his
share faithfully but with such a pathetic
lack Of enthusiasm that | set about simply.
tying ms task. w nile fOraglng lot IDEAS l
discovered paper bag cookery, and 10!
those bogies, Greasy Pans, skulked shame
facedly out of sight. / use No bag for
roasting occasionally, but tbs size No.
which | find most useful for cooking small
pieces of meat or fish and in which to
warm over rolls, doughnuts, etc. Lamb
chops are a luxury with us, but when we
do indulge We approach them with glowing
anticipation, for we have de luxe edition.
Kidney chops are cut double thickness are
cooked thirty minutes in a paper bag,
which has been well buttered inside, with
the result that they are the most luscious
juicy morsels you ever tasted.
Another minute-saver was discovered in
a package of cake-tin papers, which come
cut to fit the pan. While on the subject
OF cake and paper jot down this suggestion
when baking cake, cookies or bread in a
hot oven slip an asbestos mat under the
pan Many a heartache caused by the
blackened bottom of an otherwise defect
able loaf may be saved by this method.
In the kitchen was installed a roll of
paper towelling, which, with its nickel
fixture, cost S175. These are used for
hand towels. After using they are tossed
into a waste basket under the table, and
when ! want to wipe a spot from floor.
table or range, when ] lift hot pan or
kettle cover. ! take a towel from the basket
| also discovered that when used to rub
up boots and shoes they worked like a