Servants should be downstairs not later than six-thirty in the morning, and when they bave work especially demanding an early hour, even earlier. Work which takes the maid or man in the presence or sight of the family or its guests should be well over in the early part of the day. There are two reasons for this : one is that the work may be an annoyance and inter- ruption to the family ; another is that workers cannot do so well when they feel that they are intruding. In well-organized households servants are not in evidence after lunch except in direct personal service. In the servants' hall breakfast is commonly served at seven o'clock or half-past seven, dinner at twelve or half-past twelve, and supper about half-past five. These hours vary, however, and are subject to the conditions of individuai households. They should be so arranged that ali may be prompt at the table, and that the duties which bring them to the household and keep them there, may not be interfered with. In regard to their rooms, as a rule they bave the top floor, some of the men rooming out. The Store-room Groceries and supplies for a household of any size should, if possible, be bought in quantity, and, therefore, every house THE 8EBVANT8" HALL 89 shonld ha ve a store-room. In this room an account book should be kepi, and in it should be entered the date when each store is bought and the price paid for it. The store-room should be absolutely dry and furnished with shelves, nails, and drawers. A suspended net or two should also be supplied for hanging lemons, oranges, etc. Earthenware jars are necessary for sugar, oatmeal, rice, tapioca, sago, barley, spices, etc., and if it is wished to keep on band the pound cake and fruit cake of our grandmothers (and cakes made from old-fashioned receipts given in this book will keep for years), no place for their preservation is so good as a dry Btore-room and earthen jars with tight-fitting covers for their snugger quarters. Onions, shallots, and garlic should not be put in the store- room, nor in the ice box, but hung from the ceiling in some cleanly, odorless room. Onions absorb germs, and care should be taken to keep them under most perfect sanitary conditions. Vegetables will keep best in a dry dark place out of the air. The housekeeper, if one be kept, otherwise the mistress, or the cook, keeps the key to the store-room. The cleaning of the room is done by the kitchen maid or cook, and supplies are put in by the useful man. CHAPTER Vili HOUSEHOLD RECEIPTS To olean White Paint Te dean whitè paini, take a amali quantitj of whitening on a damp piece of old white fiannel and rub over the surface lightly. It will leave the paint remarkably bright and new. Mahogany and Qeneral Fomitore Polish A mahogany polish that is highly recommended is prepared by mixing well together one quarter of a pint each of turpen- tine, linseed oil, alcohol, and vinegar. Put in a bottle and shake before nsing. The f urniture should be cleaned first with a soft flannel and a little of the mixture applied at a time. When well rubbed in, polish with an old silk handkerchief • Floor Polish

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Servants should be downstairs not later than six-thirty in the morning, and when they have work especially demanding an early hour, even earlier. Work which takes the maid or man in the presence or sight of the family or its guests should be well over in the early part of the day. There are two reasons for this : one is that the work may be an annoyance and interruption to the family ; another is that workers cannot do so well when they feel that they are intruding. In well-organized households servants are not in evidence after lunch except in direct personal service. In the servants' hall breakfast is commonly served at seven o'clock or half-past seven, dinner at twelve or half-past twelve, and supper about half-past five. These hours vary, however, and are subject to the conditions of individual households. They should be so arranged that ali may be prompt at the table, and that the duties which bring them to the household and keep them there, may not be interfered with. In regard to their rooms, as a rule they have the top floor, some of the men rooming out. The Store-room Groceries and supplies for a household of any size should, if possible, be bought in quantity, and, therefore, every house THE SERVANTS' HALL 39 should have a store-room. In this room an account book should be kept, and in it should be entered the date when each store is bought and the price paid for it. The store-room should be absolutely dry and furnished with shelves, nails, and drawers. A suspended net or two should also be supplied for hanging lemons, oranges, etc. Earthenware jars are necessary for sugar, oatmeal, rice, tapioca, sago, barley, spices, etc., and if it is wished to keep on hand the pound cake and fruit cake of our grandmothers (and cakes made from old-fashioned receipts given in this book will keep for years), no place for their preservation is so good as a dry store-room and earthen jars with tight-fitting covers for their snugger quarters. Onions, shallots, and garlic should not be put in the storeroom, nor in the ice box, but hung from the ceiling in some cleanly, odorless room. Onions absorb germs, and care should be taken to keep them under most perfect sanitary conditions. Vegetables will keep best in a dry dark place out of the air. The housekeeper, if one be kept, otherwise the mistress, or the cook, keeps the key to the store-room. The cleaning of the room is done by the kitchen maid or cook, and supplies are put in by the useful man. HOUSEHOLD RECEIPTS To clean White Paint To clean white paint, take a small quantity of whitening on a damp piece of old white flannel and rub over the surface lightly. It will leave the paint remarkably bright and new. Mahogany and General Furniture Polish A mahogany polish that is highly recommended is prepared by mixing well together one quarter of a pint each of turpentine, linseed oil, alcohol, and vinegar. Put in a bottle and shake before using. The furniture should be cleaned first with a soft flannel and a little of the mixture applied at a time. When well rubbed in, polish with an old silk handkerchief • Floor Polish

Mrs. Seely's Cook Book: A Manual of French and American Cookery : with ..