Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-07
Some Well Tested Plans
The ''E m erg ency
Girl" and the Friendly
Helper "A Successful
Community Idea.
Community Idea.

We have all read Of cooperative
housekeeping as it is carried on in
large cities, where all the occupants
of great apartment building join in
supporting a common kitchen and dim
ing room. but here follows some sug-
gestions that may be helpful in solv-
ing the servant question on a small
scale, but in ways that are very prac-
teal. For instance, three enterpris-
ing housewives in one community
plan with great success for several
years. The housekeeping. cooking
and and other duties are performed
by all three together. When one of
them is ready to clean, sew or cook
she makes arrangements with the
others to assist her.
One or two days each week are Sc
lected and they all go to work with
vim. When they cook, they cook for
all three. Their sewing is also done
on the same cooperative plan. When
they are ready to sew, they have
dressmaker come to one of their
homes to cut and do the expert work
and they sew as fast as she can plan
for them, and in a few days the sew
ing of their combined households is
out of the way.
When preparing for Thanksgiving
and other holidays and special oc-
casions. they do the housekeeping.
decorating and cooking together, such
as making fruit cake or plum pudding.
On the day before Christmas they
take the menu, which is the same for
each. and proceed to the preparation
of just as many of the dishes as pos
sible. Christmas eve they together
dreHs each house in holiday attire and
trim Christmas trees and prepare for
Santa Claus
They all agree that the work is not
half the burden that it would be If
done by each alone. At the same
time they visit more or less together
and have had many a good time Not
the least pleasant feature Of the plan
is that each housewife enjoys eating
the products of her friends labor
much better than those of her own.
Each one also takes more pains to
have everything of the best, since it
is to be shared with the two others.
The plan was started by one Of them
asking a friend to help her prepare
for children's party. which she
wanted to get ready at short notice
Then. little later. the friend had
occasion to call for help at an evening
function at her house. They are also
a relief committee. as they always call
on each other for help in case of sick
ness. This plan enables them to Gull
tivate large circle of friends, and
they are free from the worry of secur-
ing and directing servants and are
able to keep up their social duties
without overtaxing themselves. which
under any other plan would be i'm
possible.
The Emergency Girl"
A family in ordinary circumstances
cannot AFFORD to hire help for every
bit of extra work, or a nurse for
every slight Illness in the family
in by. the day or the hour is a cry
ing need and can render valuable as
sistance to busy housewives and
mothers in these days when it is SO
hard to get help. She may spend the
day helping mother to patch the
mass Of undarned stockings that have
been waiting. She may be called to
help where there is sick child
whose mother is worn out by several
nights of sleeplessness. Perhaps it
is the mother herself who is ailing;
in and see that the children are dress
ed and OFF to school, that their lunch
is ready and that dinner is on the
table for the husband at night. Civ
ing the mother chance to recEperate.
Mothers who desire to go out aft
ernoons can get her to come and stay
with the children, and she may also
be had evenings for the same pur-
pose.
On moving day she can do the light
er packing and help in the settling of
the new home. She can be depended
the family has been away for the sum-
mer and get things ready for their
homecoming. In preserving time she
can be OF great held, as she can come