Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-21
WITHIN THE IRON RING---lV.
N I"nEDt;IlIC .. IIASkIN

hhHL.iN. Novcmbe. e2.-llousekecp.
ing ON the card system is one OF the
must remarkable pieces OF social o,.
sanitation ever attempted C'onsidc,
the magnitude OF the task Of putti,,;
a people Of 6a.0O0.0oO upon ratlons. or
ISSUING equal doles TO rich. poor high
ana low from scanty stores. or con.
ironing from central office ever,
ounce OF nations fooustur produc-
'ion and importation in all article,
where supply is short. and. further.
more. or determining profits and prices,
housekeeping on tho card system IS
the most precise OF all home manage.
'heni one does not have TO bother
ones mead about the amounts OF sun.
pi'eS necessary 10 purchase One buy.
a|cordih" 10 the coupons upon ones
allowance cards just so much each
"c'R-and there Is no way in tho world
l" increase tho share. one novel fea-
'nre "t the card system is that it forces
cq"at division between the rich and
poor. Tncrc is Just enough OF mann
'n'nGs when equally divided. and "a lit
TIC iaNoritism. slight disturbance or
tue delicate balance determined ny the
chthS would bring about starvation ror
IN" NEEDY. would sap away C;crmany's
power Tor resistance.
N"'lFe or stranger. one must have.
the necessary pasteboard documents to-
X.
those who live In hotels and rc.t,,,
rants and cafes. are burdeucd with "A
less foiinidabl assortment OF cards
IMAM ihat nccdlul 10 tho maintenance
OF private household. These receive
bread cards and meat cards :, fresh
bread card every day and n meat cara
four times q week The coupous o.,
these cards are torn Of by The walters
oef"r. bread or meat is served The
body OF the Oh card mast he returned
each day in order 10 establish n right
10 fresh card. There is no way 10
pea IN" system. 10 get an extra piece
Of bread or an extra slice OF meat.
Cards 10 the private household are
generally issued weekly. some monthly.
others every two months. There arc
bread cards. upon which -Four. also -
purchased. meat cards. butter ca,ds
SOAP cards. sugar cards eS- cards. milk
cards. potato cards. cards FOR the pur-
chase or clothing. and other cards 4,
IN" present tim" the cards enable the,,
holders "a draw sunlc!en, ration. bur
Tier" is not a surplus crumb that NAV
he wasted, Living In the midst Of THIS
frugal German hous"keepina on. i
almost tempted 10 believe that W.
Americans waste enough dan by ia"
10 feed 'his whole nation straininc un
der tn" burdens y, :. world war
Modest Rntious Allowed
Card rntions are modest, One d. AL
lowed about i've and half mounds =.
bread = week. which IL about Eve
slices Or bread day Their. are two
slices or bread. or two small war rnI,s
Tor breakfast. slice OF bread for
luncheon and TWO for dinner rhis
allowance is sufficient. and every
m"uthini ~ il is cnjoyed When Vol,
cross I'll" border TO Couenhag.n and
see hHaped-np baskets or bread stand
inr about unEuarded OF the tables
vow hc'oin" a. nervous and ndgetv at
SUCH prodieLlit" as YOU would become
III America II YOU found your rayor;,e
iunrh'oom serving champagne instead
OF ice water
The meat allowance varies from &.
quarter OF pound 10 a pound and =
ha!f week. The individual allowance
OF potatoes varies between i've ana
eight pounds week Each Individual
draws between one and four egrs every
fourteen days The allowance O: mill;
is one-haIf litre per day. provided ono
has been successful in getting mill;
card and provided that ono reaches
milk depot before the supply has been
exhausted. The children have the frs,
call or milk.
On" must possess a card TO justify
The purchase OF clothing. IN these
times of stress one is not supposed 10
folio" 'nhion: and style has gone on.
OF fashion. Neatness and sir,n!icitv
characterize the dress OF German va.
men today. and tho summer froclis
and the winter costumes OF years ago
hay. been requisitioned to DO service
anew throughout the weary months OF
war. one of the great services per
formed by the organized German rluh