Food and freedom

is difficult to make arbitrary statements, however ; whatever height will permit the worker to stand without bending the back, or being other- wise uncomfortable, is correct. 230 FOOD AND FREEDOM A porcelain or white-enameled sink with in- tegral back and nickeled faucets is desirable. In sinks of this kind there are sizes and qualities and styles to meet every need. Where space will not permit of two drain-boards, the one that can be provided should be placed at the left. Wood drain-boards, while not as sanitary as the new enameled boards, afford the best working surface. The top of the table may be of zinc, nickeloid, white-enameled steel, or a vitrified glass. The white glass is perfect in appearance, but cold and hard to work on, and may crack if suddenly heated. Zinc is durable and inexpensive, but hardly attractive. Where wear is not severe, white enamel paint is sometimes a happy com- promise. Add to this a permanent white-glass pastry-board, placed at one end, and you have an excellent table. To preserve the enameled surface, it may be waxed occasionally. Cleverly grouped in and around this unit, ac- cording to individual need and preference, should be found all the smaller utensils and a reasonable supply of such dry foods as may be in constant use. The food may be kept in white-porcelain jars placed in a row across the back of the table- top, or on a narrow, white-enameled shelf immedi- ately over the table. Utensils may be hung on hooks, or arranged on suitable shelving at the side or under the table, as may best fit space and >1'E NE^ YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY A KITCHEN THAT WILL HELP YOU 233 preference. In this way, an illogical assortment of food and utensils, which is neither helpful nor attractive, is avoided. The choice of a stove will depend largely upon the most economical, available fuel. Whatever means or method of cooking will best conserve the fuel-supply of the country, at the same time providing the greatest possible cooking conveni- ence for the home, should be considered. There are few localities where either an oil-, a gas-, or an electric-stove may not be used, and house- keepers who have signed the emancipation proc- lamation prefer any one of these to a coal-stove. Sometimes the use of more than one stove is the wisest solution for the cooking problem. For example, an oil- or a gas-stove may be operated in conjunction with electric table devices, result- ing in the very greatest cooking comfort. What- ever the special needs may be, there are fuels and stoves and combination possibilities to meet them all. For kitchen refuse, any one of a number of white-enameled, sanitary containers, with lids operated by means of a foot-pedal, solve this part of the food problem. A unique garbage-box of paper, to be completely destroyed at the end of 'the day, is a recent innovation. The gas- incinerator and other practical refuse-destroyers suggest the trend of ultimate disposition where 234 FOOD AND FREEDOM this is not cared for by local municipal au- thority.