generally preferred, and either a side-table with drawers
for linen and silver, or a sideboard. If tliere is a sunny
window a box of plants is a lovely addition to the out-
look. If only one open fire can be enjoyed it should be
in this room, for a cheerful dining-room naturally be-
comes the family room, unless there is a special living-
room or sitting-room. In this case the necessary arti-
cles of furniture gradually accumulate there. Mother's
work-table and machine, and father's easy-chair or
lounge readily find a place near the open fire in winter,
and by the window in summer ; the family will rally
about these two centres of attraction as naturally as bees
about honey-bearing flowers. The windows should
freely admit both light and air, being screened only so far
as privacy from outside observation requires.
The kitchen should have hard or polished walls that can-
not attract any deleterious absorptions, a polished or oil-
clothed floor which can easily be cleaned, windows that
afibrd plenty of light and air ; the furniture should be
only that which is absolutely necessar}^, a stove, two
tables, a few wooden chairs, a dresser, and the neces-
sary utensils and dishes. When there is laundry-work
to be done in the kitchen the proper appliances should
be provided. As kitchen-wares become yearly cheaper
and more varied it is best to buy only those which are
necessary for daily use. A refrigerator should be placed
somewhere near the kitchen, in a cool position, but not
in the cellar, for there its own dampness would soon
injure it.
16
THE HOME COOK BOOK.
BEDROOMS AND NURSERY.
The upper portion of the house remains to be consid-
ered. The remarks concerning one sleeping-room will
apply to all unless there are many and the desire is to
furnish them differently : taste will then decide the
variations.
First, in regard to air and light, without which in
abundance we cannot live ; healthful, normal sleep de-
mands that sleeping-rooms should be freely exposed to
light — sunlight, if possible, during the day — and
should be well aired. For night ventilation where
freely opened windows are not considered advisable,
the window-board described below will meet all the
requirements of health. In ordinary sleeping-rooms,
opening to the external air, perfect ventilation without
draught can be secured by the following device : raise
the lower sash three or four inches, and fit under it a
thin board which entirely fills the opening between the
sash and the window-seat; the air will enter through
the aperture w^here the two sashes overlap in the mid-
dle of the window, without creating any perceptible
draught.
The fittings of all sleeping-rooms should ensure com-
fort, order, convenience, and cleanliness ; employ only
enough furniture to secure these ; all other things are
superfluities. Avoid heavy or excessive draperies ; their
effect is tempting, but remember that all except the
lightest fabrics make a sleeping- room seem stuffy.
Above all never exclude light and air. If the toilet-
table and bed are draped to match the windows use
only the lightest fabrics of linen, cotton, or silken
texture, sheer, and delicate of hue.
HOME MAKING AND HOUSE FURNISHING. 17
Page 6
Presented as published in 1896. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
generally preferred, and either a side-table with drawers for linen and silver, or a sideboard. If there is a sunny window a box of plants is a lovely addition to the outlook. If only one open fire can be enjoyed it should be in this room, for a cheerful dining-room naturally becomes the family room, unless there is a special livingroom or sitting-room. In this case the necessary articles of furniture gradually accumulate there. Mother's work-table and machine, and father's easy-chair or lounge readily find a place near the open fire in winter, and by the window in summer ; the family will rally about these two centres of attraction as naturally as bees about honey-bearing flowers. The windows should freely admit both light and air, being screened only so far as privacy from outside observation requires.
The kitchen should have hard or polished walls that cannot attract any deleterious absorptions, a polished or oilclothed floor which can easily be cleaned, windows that afford plenty of light and air ; the furniture should be only that which is absolutely necessary, a stove, two tables, a few wooden chairs, a dresser, and the necessary utensils and dishes. When there is laundry-work to be done in the kitchen the proper appliances should be provided. As kitchen-wares become yearly cheaper and more varied it is best to buy only those which are necessary for daily use. A refrigerator should be placed somewhere near the kitchen, in a cool position, but not in the cellar, for there its own dampness would soon injure it.
BEDROOMS AND NURSERY.
The upper portion of the house remains to be considered. The remarks concerning one sleeping-room will apply to all unless there are many and the desire is to furnish them differently : taste will then decide the variations.
First, in regard to air and light, without which in abundance we cannot live ; healthful, normal sleep demands that sleeping-rooms should be freely exposed to light — sunlight, if possible, during the day — and should be well aired. For night ventilation where freely opened windows are not considered advisable, the window-board described below will meet all the requirements of health. In ordinary sleeping-rooms, opening to the external air, perfect ventilation without draught can be secured by the following device : raise the lower sash three or four inches, and fit under it a thin board which entirely fills the opening between the sash and the window-seat; the air will enter through the aperture w^here the two sashes overlap in the middle of the window, without creating any perceptible draught.
The fittings of all sleeping-rooms should ensure comfort, order, convenience, and cleanliness ; employ only enough furniture to secure these ; all other things are superfluities. Avoid heavy or excessive draperies ; their effect is tempting, but remember that all except the lightest fabrics make a sleeping- room seem stuffy. Above all never exclude light and air. If the toilettable and bed are draped to match the windows use only the lightest fabrics of linen, cotton, or silken texture, sheer, and delicate of hue.