Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-13
HOME LIFE SERENE
FOR MACDONALDS
Cook Tells of Domestic Hap
piness, Plain Diet and
Easy Routine.
BY ROSE PATTERSON.

LONDON, October IL (N.A.N.A.)-
every l1omely" Is how the cook at 10
Downing street describes the life and
fare of Prime Minister Macdonald and
his household.
made my way through an army Of
painters and busy workmen to a very
large kitchen, which, with its long bright
stoves, big areas OF white paint ana
enormous, much scrubbed table, con-
jured I'D before my minds eye the
vision of whole multitude Of sauce
pans, pots and dishes and many teem-
ing oven emitting dozens of scents and
Steams-all the fevered preparations,
in short, that one would have thought
60 to make a prime minister's dinner.
There was no sign OF any such ac-
tivlty now. Only big bin labeled
Flour" in enormous letters, and one
saucepan of boiling water suggested any
man" at 10 Downing street. But then,
of course. Mr. Macdonald and his fam
lily are away.
Fond of Walking.
"Mr. Macdonald is out of the house
for his walk in st. James Park every
morning by 7 o'clock, accompanied by
Miss Ishbel and any of the others who
happen to be at home" the cook said.
Miss Ishbel is great walker-walk!
My GoodneSs!"
About an hour later the prime min
lister returns to his early breakfast,
which consists every day of porridge,
followed by bacon and egg or fish.
Pressure Of work often makes breakfast
a meager meal, almost untouched some
times, and the milk and biscuits that
are sent in to the premier at 1890 are
frequently the first food he has proper
time for.
"Those little ginger-nuts Mr.. Mac
donald likes" said the cook, IF he
really has time to like anything.
doubt If he ever has q proper meal
always with his head in q book or busy
writing. He always seems to be writ
ing"
For the other members of the family
who are at home, Miss Sheila (who
went up to oxford only yesterday or
Miss Joan and perhaps Mr.. Malcolm,
biscuits and cocoa are served at the
same time, 1890.
Lunch at (which the cook calls
dinner--is the most substantial meal
Very plain fare it is-a joint very often
a leg of mutton) and three vegetables
and two or three sweets afterward; no
hors d'oeuvres, no soup, no fish. Often
there is game instead of the joint, be-
cause presents of game are frequently
sent to the premier. but nothing more
elaborate is prepared, no matter who
Mr. Macdonald is bringing home.
Tea Served ut 4:30.
There is tea at 430, and the last
meal of the day, consisting only Of an
entree, followed by cheese, is served
between and g. Nothing approaching
a real dinner is ever cooked at Down.
ing Street in the ordinary way, so sell
dom are Miss Ishbel or her father at
home to dine.
The family takes tea for breakfast
and only water with lunch. mo cups
of tea Immediately after or any extra
things Of that Sort" said Downing
Streets cook, land nothing at night,
not even a hot drink"
"A joint and three vegetables" OBJ
served. That is the most pretentious
.bitSof cooking, then, for England's pre-
mier-and in this great kitchen, too"
1T is a large kitchen" agreed my
guide, and very nice for the girls to
dance In. They love to dance, do the
maids, and I let them enjoy themselves
in the kitchen so long as they tidy 1t
and leave"it as clean and neat as 1t
was when they started. I love to see
them enjoy themselves, and they're
going to have a liking machine soon.
Come and see the hail." and she led
me TO q DflB0, airy TOOTH VIII aTIn-
chairs, q comfortable and large Settee
and chairs at the dining table for seven,
the entire domestic staff Of No. 10 save
the housekeeper, Miss Byvoods. who
came with the family from their Hamp-
stead home.
Miss Byvoods, learned, arrives in
the kitchen with the days menu at 8
o'clock sharp each morning. She may
be seen in those regions until 9:15,
after which she vaniShes upstairs
The three housemaids at No. 10 are
from Lossiemouth, Mr.. Macdonald's
boyhood home, two sisters and their
cousin. 1 saw a pretty, dark-haired
girl named Characteristic had been
discovered, not in Lossiemouth, but in
London, by Miss Ishbel-and another
merry-faced young woman with bright
locks of sandy gold.
Eager for Return.
cts all so homely and they're all so
nice that we're glad to see them home
again after the week ends at Chequers, ="
said the cook II shall be happy to
see Mr.. Macdonald and Miss Ishbel
back from America. The prime minis
ter knows us all and is interested in
us all; he remarks on our looking bet
ter or not looking better after our holi-