Evening star., 1935-06-23
By James Nevin Miller

A SMILE that won't wear off
~ lights up the face of a GER
a tain much-beloved Washing
d N ton matron these days. AS
she performs important household
duties in a large white mansion on
Pennsylvania avenue, close by her is
a blue print that she is privileged to
examine at every leisure moment.
And what a blue print! An enor-
nous affair, it represents the design
for a brand-new kitchen. The very
last word in ultra-modern sanitation
and ef1cinecy, it will have an atmoS-
phere bright and sparkling.
When completed a few months
hence, ample facilities will be pro-
vided for comfortably feeding at least
1000 persons. Outstanding features
will be electric gadgets of every con-
ceivable sort to wash dishes and
glasses. grind meat, mix food and
freeze and preserve ice cream and ices.
Walls will be made of finest hand
plaster and enameled with a sanitary
finish. Every corner and angle will
be rounded so that dust just cannot
accumulate.
There will be seven spacious win
dows. An electric fan exhaust sytsem
will throw of stale air and draw in
fresh, clean air. All exposed surfaces
OF cabinets, sinks, ranges and ovens
will be of non-corrosive metal. Much
of the lighting equipment will be in
direct and most of it deftly concealed,
built into ceilings, beams and the
numerous cabinets.
Surely the answer to a housewives
prayerI In fact, kitchen fit for a
Presidents wife. Such it actually
will be, the dream of Mrs. Roosevelt
and her housekeeper, Mrs. Henrietta
Nesbitt, as realized in practical terms
by architects and engineers of the
National Parks Service, Bureau of
Plans and Designs.
"A LREADY these experts have en-
graved their names on history's
pages by designing all the important
new additions and improvements thus
far accomplished during the present
administration-the magnificent SWIM
ming pool that keeps the President
bubbling over with health and good
humor; the splendid, aforementioned
executive offices and the spacious
library.
Since last Fall these engineers and
architects, in small Office on the
seventh floor of the Interior Building
filled to overflowing with sketches,
maps, blue prints and whatnot-have
been pegging away on the plans for
the remodeled kitchen. Almost daily
they have been conferring with Mrs.
Roosevelt and Mrs. NeSbitt. And today
eYerything's in readiness for the ac-
tual renovation maneuvers.
As for Mrs. Nesbitt, right now she
seems as happy as meadow lark.
And why not2 Didn't she and Mrs.
Roosevelt, almost at the very moment
they both entered the Executive Man
sion, decide to give the kitchen q
thDrough face-lifting2 As 1t stands
today the equipment Is badly worn,
antiquated for the most part and
hopelessly inadequate for the prepara-
ton of food on large scale.
But what is she like. the Nations
''No / housekeeper"? Well, one and
al agree that she's grand sort OF
person - honey, charming, warm
hearted. And certainly efficient. It
Is common knowledge that she and
Mrs. Roosevelt, very close friends, get
along together like pie and ice cream
Their procedure is really quite simple.
Mrs. Nesbitt makes up the family
menus ordinarily about two days
ahead. Mrs. Roosevelt looks them
over, gives an informal okay and then