New-York tribune., 1918-01-27
LAZ1NG THE TRAIL, FOR COMMUNITY KITCHENS
An Experimental Kitchen Established by the National
League for Womdn'5 Se1~vice Has Demonstrated
Of Demand That c5lleans Success

ing for admittancc. The door was opened by
young woman in a blue Hoover apron. and
followed the throng, the children tumbled
into the narrow hall and made stampede for
seats around long table which occupied the
centre of the room at the front of the base
ment. Then I looked inquiringly at the dis
ciple of Mr.. Hoover.
"School is just out" she explained owe
give them their lunches. You see, all the
mothers go out to work by the day and there is
no one to get them anything to eat at home.
We began doing this only yesterday. We had
six children yesterday, but there are twelve
here to-day It's great fun to feed them.
Would you like to help?"
ED. NoTE.--1ncidentoAy, the uent queek
some eighty-fre enthusiastic boarders ap-
peayed
Of course, l was delighted to help, and l
followed the blue apron into the kitchen, where
there were other workers clad in the same be-
coming uniform busily filling saucers from a
kettle OF steamlng rice. A hole was scooped
in the centre of each saucer, forming a little
nest in which were placed six big, fat, juicy
prunes. Each child received one of these
heaping saucers, delicious oatmeal muffin
and cup of hot cocoa, all for the sum of 5
cents. And how they did devour it! In less
than five minutes all that remained to tell the
story of the feast little pile of prunc
stones on the edge Of each saucer. And even
these were not wasted; the inventive minds
OF the children discovered uses for them.
Take the stones wild We, Anne!" said one
little imp "Yc kin fool some kid wild 'em
They's nut inside what looks jest like a
almond nut, an ye kin give em the grand
laugh when they bites it an it Fuckers their
mouth"
81 wouldn't be SO mean,' replied Annie;
"1'm goin to mine fer jackstones.'
"Did you like your luncheon?" asked Miss
Blue Apron, of the assembled guests
"Betcher life" answered the spokesman
What would you like tomorrow"
Soup" cried some.
Baked beans an pork said others, and
so it was put to vote and the "soups" had it.
"Thcy get a huge howl of soup and muf-
fin for cents" Miss Blue Apron explained
as we gathered up the dishes.
In the kitchen they were getting ready for
the next delegation of "paying guests" These
were the women employed in the woman's
workshop, which occupies the main part of
the house. These women soon arrived, fifty
strong, each clad in long g-slceved white work
ing-aprop.
Miss Blue Apron stood at the door and re-
cited the items on the days bill of fare, with
the price of each; they paid her for the dishes
that they wished and received ticket for the
amount paid. This ticket was presented to
the in attendance at the big kitchen
table in the middle Of the room and the food
was given them There were beef stew at 5
cents plate tomato soup at cents, a dish
Of hominy samp baked with cheese for 5
cents, coffee a. ] cent cup, prunes at 3 cents
plate and oatmeal mullins Just from the oven
ut penny apiece.
So, you see for r. cents woman could get
a very "lilling" meal, composed Of beef stew,
samp gratn, coffee and a muffin. And it