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

1902

Page 7

Presented as published in 1902. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
After breakfast the housekeeper goes to the pantry to see what is wanted in the way of supplies — such as brushes, sponges, towels, soap, chamois, and other articles used for clean- ing and washing. If glass or china has been broken, it should be reported to her at once. Plenty of towels are needed in the pantry, and those of good quality are cheaper in the end. Fine glass and Silver require soft linen. If the towels furnished are too coarse, the men will be driven to use the expensive table napkins for their poUshing. It is well for the housekeeper to look through ali drawers and dosets in the pantry, and also into the ice-box, to see that ali things are kept clean and that no stale fruit or food is by chance left behind. If servants see that the housekeeper is intereeted in keeping ali such places in order, they themselves are more neat and careful. 10 MBS. SEELT'S COOK BOOK In smaller establishments the housekeeper now makes up her lista for the grocer and her menus for lunch and dinner. When these have been examined by the mìstress of the house, she goes to market and sends in ali that is necessary for the day's meals. She then retums home to see that what she has ordered has been sent. In larger establishments she first pays her regular visit to the kitchen, at which time the chef, or cook, asks for anything needed other than the marketing. In such establishments the menu arranged by the chef or cook is approved by the mistress of the house, or if not by her, then by the housekeeper. The same duty and the unswerving vigilance with which she began the day lead her to go through ali rooms of the house, to be sure that her aids have done their work properly. She sees that the bath-rooms are in perfect order, the bath-tubs clean, soap-dishes and racks wiped, glasses on the basin in order, and ali waterclosets scoured and flushed. If guests are expected, she helps to welcome them to the house by seeing that towels are in plenty, fresh soap is in the dish, fresh ink in the inkstand, fresh pen in the holder, and that statiouery is at band, and the pin-cushion well supplied with pins. Candles and matches on the stand by the bedside, whether in a house where electric lights are used or not, do not miss her over- sight. She sees to it also that the drawers of ploset and bureau are empty, and that, if sachets are not supplied, smooth white paper is spread in them. After luncheon there is often at times a little mending need- ful in the table linen, and this mending sometimes falls to the housekeeper. It should be done before sending away to the laundry. A linen hook is well kept in the pantry. In tbis hook the pantry maid should make a list of ali table linen before it is sent to the wash. This linen, as well as ali other soiled linen, should be taken to the laundry Friday aftemoons, so that the laundress may sort it for washing Saturday. The ,-^ s. BIGHT8 AND DUTIES OF SERVANT8 11 housekeeper checks off the linen when it comes f rom the laundry, and dìrects the putting away of it. A well-trained housemaid may assist, but the housekeeper herself should look after it personally.