Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-10-15
Economy Evident Among English
In Meeting Postwar Conditions


table expenses. she has quite refused
to employ that sacrilssious knife on
the outlay expended on her ritual OF
afternoon tea about o'clock the
family and guests gather for this
sacred function In the drawing room.
in the garden. In the dining room
and sip tea that is brewed TO
thin slices Of buttered bread (no but:
ter is served at regular msais). ana
MUNICH heavy cakes meant only to
generate indigestion in . castiron
stomach. They carry on an animated.
light conversation all the while In
their beautifully toned voices. thai
never rise too high or fall too low
In their perfect register Of perfect
breeding.
I've sometimes wondered whether
there Is not some reason In this ever
lasting and UNMARRIED madness OF the
tea, for its exercise certainly takes
the keen edge on a clean appetite for
dinner and one consequently eats less
Of the food that nourishes himi One
enters a shop IN London and asks
for the services Of definite sales
man, only to be told. Sorry. maoarae
Mr.. Smith is out having his tea
and one does not smile. for he re
members that the tea 10 o sacreG
function which every Engl.saman
has faithfully exercised from the
cradle to the grave from time i'm
memorial!
In q thousand and one other ways
the careful housewife stems the tide
Of outgoing funds The big majority
Of houses were built before the bath
Of royalty. and as q consequence the
bathtub has been INSTALLED either in
the attic or in the scullery (thsfe are
no kitchens. APPARENTLY and often
has no connections with either thu
water pipes or drains. The water
must be heated. carried to the tub
and later bsied out. Gas 10 used for
heating the water. and gas 10 e1
pensive. especially since the compa-
niles have adopted the simple but,
to the average Englishman. enigmat-
ical therm: 80 little water 10 heated
for a bath and only a weekly bath
can be hoped for. and seldom OBJ
tanned. A quart OF water heated in
a gas heater (cheaper than a tea
kettle. for II heats more quickly
is all that one can definitely SECURE
for an evening plunge, and that is
better than nothing.
The scarcity of hot water is dis
maying when 1t comes to washing
dishes. for quart is the sole amount.
and no rinsing is possible except IL
cold water.
The tea towels go unfreshened
from day to day. and only the laun
dry cleanses them. for mice" people
do not hang washed things Ia the
garden: and one must be nice even
at the expense OF that delectab,o
thing that is next TO godliness.
During the summer months. with
their long twilights. I have sat in
drawing rooms until 10 and IL
o'clock and no lights were Eghtec.
with consequent saving OF gas bills
THERE is charm in all these post
L war privations. and &, is TIE
charm that emanates from their sense
Of form. kind OF grand manner that
is part and parcel Of an Englishman.
and his breeding never deserts him
in cottage or In manor. He has
known better conditions. but he can
always be true to form. be those con-
ditions what they may. He never
gives his state away by any slight.
est complaint He carries on. puttins
his best foot forward. That Is why
perhaps. he is willing to buy tie beS'
wearing apparel he can afford. for
he knows that. appearance does
count. We may not agree with him
in style or In mode. but we do Ike
his decent suit, his waxed moustache
ends and his polished boots.
No tourist can enter & British shor
without being impressed with the
breeding OF the English. A shop as
sistant. reserved and attentive. greets
you with: Good morning, madame