The house,, then, is the first element of home to be con-
sidered and studied ; and we have settled certain points
as to location and arrangement. This is no hand-book
of plans for houses, that ground being thoroughly cov-
ered in various books, — the titles of two or three of
which are given in a list of reference-books at the end.
But, whether 3'ou build or bu}^ see to it that 3'our kitchens
and working-rooms are well lighted, well aired, and of
good size, and that in the arrangement of the kitchen
especially, the utmost convenience becomes the chief end.
Let sink, pantries, stove or range, and working-space for
all operations in cooking, be close at hand. The differ-
ence between a pantry at the opposite end of the room,
and one opening close to the sink, for instance, may seem
a small matter ; but when it comes to walking across the
room with every dish that is washed, the steps soon count
up as miles, and in making even a loaf of bread, the time
2
18 TEE HOUSE: SITUATION, ETC.
and strength expended in gathering materials together
would go far toward the thorough kneading, which, when
added to the previous exertion, makes the whole opera-
tion, which might have been only a pleasure, a burden
and an annoyance.
Let, then, stove, fuel, water, work-table, and pantries
be at the same end of the kitchen, and within a few steps
of one another, and it will be found that while the general
labor of each day must always be the same, the time re-
quired for its accomplishment will be far less, under these
favorable conditions. The successful workman, — the
type-setter, the cabinet-maker, or carpenter, — whose art
lies in the rapid combination of materials, arranges his
materials and tools so as to be used with the fewest possi-
ble movements ; and the difference between a skilled and
unskilled workman is not so much the rate of speed in
movement, as in the abilit}^ to make each motion tell.
The kitchen is the housekeeper's workshop ; and, in the
chapter on House-work^ some further details as to methods
and arrangements will be given.
THE HOUSE: VENTILATION. 19
CHAPTER II.
THE HOUSE: VEWTILATIOW.
"TITAVING settled the four requisites in any home, and
X_L suggested the points to be made in regard to the
first one, — that of wholesome situation, — Ventilation is
next in order. Theoretically, each one of us who has
studied either natural philosophy or physiology will state
at once, with more or less glibness, the facts as to the
atmosphere, its qualities, and the amount of air needed
by each individual ; practically nullifying such statement
by going to bed in a room with closed windows and doors,
or sitting calmly in church or public hall, breathing over
and over again the air ejected from the lungs all about, —
a practice as cleanly and wholesome as partaking of food
chewed over and over by an indiscriminate crowd.
Page 7
Presented as published in 1881. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
The house, then, is the first element of home to be considered and studied ; and we have settled certain points as to location and arrangement. This is no hand-book of plans for houses, that ground being thoroughly covered in various books, — the titles of two or three of which are given in a list of reference-books at the end. But, whether you build or buy see to it that your kitchens and working-rooms are well lighted, well aired, and of good size, and that in the arrangement of the kitchen especially, the utmost convenience becomes the chief end. Let sink, pantries, stove or range, and working-space for all operations in cooking, be close at hand. The difference between a pantry at the opposite end of the room, and one opening close to the sink, for instance, may seem a small matter ; but when it comes to walking across the room with every dish that is washed, the steps soon count up as miles, and in making even a loaf of bread, the time
and strength expended in gathering materials together would go far toward the thorough kneading, which, when added to the previous exertion, makes the whole operation, which might have been only a pleasure, a burden and an annoyance.
Let, then, stove, fuel, water, work-table, and pantries be at the same end of the kitchen, and within a few steps of one another, and it will be found that while the general labor of each day must always be the same, the time required for its accomplishment will be far less, under these favorable conditions. The successful workman, — the type-setter, the cabinet-maker, or carpenter, — whose art lies in the rapid combination of materials, arranges his materials and tools so as to be used with the fewest possible movements ; and the difference between a skilled and unskilled workman is not so much the rate of speed in movement, as in the ability to make each motion tell. The kitchen is the housekeeper's workshop ; and, in the chapter on House-work some further details as to methods and arrangements will be given.
CHAPTER II.
"TITAVING settled the four requisites in any home, and X_L suggested the points to be made in regard to the first one, — that of wholesome situation, — Ventilation is next in order. Theoretically, each one of us who has studied either natural philosophy or physiology will state at once, with more or less glibness, the facts as to the atmosphere, its qualities, and the amount of air needed by each individual ; practically nullifying such statement by going to bed in a room with closed windows and doors, or sitting calmly in church or public hall, breathing over and over again the air ejected from the lungs all about, — a practice as cleanly and wholesome as partaking of food chewed over and over by an indiscriminate crowd.