Food and health

For a cover, have you ever tried white table oilcloth in the summer ? It looks cool, can be washed off quickly at the end of each meal, and saves laundry work in hot weather. Why should a large tablecloth be used in summer or, indeed, in winter ? Miss Travers, from the State College, advised the members of the Woman's Club to give them up and instead to use doilies or strips of cloth or larger cloths that just cover the table. Some of the members, of course, did not want to give up their linen in the shape of large tablecloths ; but, after all, is not the simplest often the most beautiful as well as the most labor saving ? Here is a picture (Fig. 35) of a table simply laid with Courtesy of the Bureau of Publications, Teachers College, Columbia University. Fig. 35. — A table laid with strips of blue and white Japanese toweling. strips placed across in such a way that they lie under each place. These happen to be made of Japanese toweling, with blue or brown figures, that costs only ten cents a yard, and is easy to wash ; but strips of plain toweling are pretty used in the same way, — a rather fine " crash/' for instance. Or you may use squares of cloth with a simple edge, called doilies.^ These can be made in sewing lessons at school, or for extra home Fig. 36. — A plan for laying one place, i, plate; 2, fork; 3, knife; 4, spoons; 5, napkin; 6, bread and butter plate; 7, glass for water. work. Paper napkins in the summer are a great convenience ; and why not for all the year ? If cloth napkins must be used, have small ones. Laying the table. To have everything clean and fresh is the first important thing ; next, to have plates, spoons, and forks laid straight. The drawing (Fig. 36) shows a simple way of laying a place. The napkins should be placed at the left. Stand salt and pepper shakers where they are easily reached, and have mats, ^D'Oyley was the name of a merchant in England in the eighteenth century. straw or crocheted, where the hot dishes are to stand, with a tablespoon ready for helping the food. Always know what food is to be put on the table, and plan dishes accordingly. In cold weather, at least, heat the plates and dishes. Busy people sometimes leave a few of the articles on the table from meal to meal. If you do this, it is necessary to cover the table to keep off a stray fly ; and you should be careful that all crumbs are brushed off before the cover is put over. It is neater to clear off the table after every meal. How can we help at the table ? When we wait on ourselves, this should be done pleasantly and all should take a share, each person helping to serve one or more dishes. The Allen children take turns as waiter in removing the soiled dishes and the food, and in putting on the dessert. A quick way is to place a tray on a small stand near the table, taking the dishes from one place at a time and sorting them on the tray as you go. The tray can then be carried into the kitchen, with the dishes ready for washing. One mother uses a plan for having everybody help at breakfast time, by serving himself on a tray. The breakfast is kept hot on the stove. On the kitchen table are all the dishes needed and a small tray, one for each of the family of four. Even the little boy sets his own tray, helps himself to food, and takes his place at the table. When the meal is ended, each one carries out his own dishes. This plan might not work with a large family, and some people would not like it. MoUie Stark's older brother made a turntable on a pivot in the center of the table and standing above it. All the dishes of food were placed on this, and each one helped himself. The table has to be round to make this device convenient.