FoodNet

Handbook of domestic science and household arts for use in elementary schools

1900

Page 193

Presented as published in 1900. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
A looking glass could be hung on the wall, and dotted muslin, lined with green, draped over it, extending to the ends of the dressing table and forming a canopy at the top. This should be either fastened to the walls or to a wooden supporter fastened to the wall by means of an iron bracket ; and extending forward over the looking glass and table. Of 400 HANDBOOK OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE course each teacher must use her own judgment, as in other matters, about the colors to be used. If the students have had lessons in sloyd, they may be able to put one or two shelves in the box and use it for a linen closet. Finish the inside with sandpaper and two or three coats of white paint. The paint is not expensive, and can be bought ready for use. Washstand. — A washstand can be made of another smaller box. Plane or sandpaper and paint white, especially the inside and top. The first coat should be flat paint and the last white enamel. Drape with dotted white Swiss over colored cambric to match the bureau; and cover the top with heavy white linen hemstitched. Kitchen. — The kitchen should not be crowded with furni- ture if good work is expected. A stove, table, chairs, and closets are all that are needed. Stoves. — The gas companies of some large cities will supply any housekeeper with a good gas stove, which, when a certain amount of gas has been used, becomes the property of the consumer. In this case it would belong to the school. It might be very easy to make such an arrangement for both the laundry and kitchen. Table. — A plain wooden table about 4 ft. long with a drawer in it would be quite large enough. If desirable, a large drygoods box can be made into a table by sand- papering and painting as in the case of the other boxes. Only do not paint the top, cover it, and the ends if desirable, with white enamel cloth. Put a gingham curtain in front and use the inside for a closet. A shelf can be easily put in by nailing some wooden cleats on the inside and placing boards that are long enough for the box upon them. Such a table was planned by the writer for the teachers in the county colored schools of the South who were anxious to help their people to a better way of living by teaching the TO TURN A SCHOOLROOM INTO A WORKSHOP 401 children in their one-roomed schoolhouse how to cook such food as they can get. Closets. — The closets could be made of boxes. But a larger one can be made of matched boards by a carpenter for about f 10. It is not an extravagance, as it is very essential to have a good closet that can be locked. Ice Box. — It is also possible to make a very good ice box by lining a box Avith zinc, and boring a hole in the bottom and also one near the top. The box must be placed upon legs and have a good cover, which should be zinc lined. Of course, while it might teach a lesson of what can be done, yet the girls would hardly be strong enough to make the box themselves. It would have to be done by a man or some strong boys.