Wokkingman's Model Home. 403 



were very much superior to those sold ready made at one dollar and a 

 half. 



The supply of bed and table linen was sufficient for the young 

 housekeeper and was all of good quality. The china was of the white 

 stone variety, but not the heavy ugly sort, and the tableware included 

 all that Avas necessary to set a table neatly and comfortably. The list 

 of kitchen utensils include all that is essential for convenient house- 

 keeping, though the individual housekeeper might prefer to substitute 

 other articles for some of those specified. 



The only article of kitchen furniture that needs special mention is 

 the kitchen stove or range. The whole question of heating is involved. 

 It seemed, so far as the investigation showed, that the only thing possi- 

 ble in the Avay of heating the house was by means of stoves. Any other 

 method was too expensive to put into the $1,000 house and too expen- 

 sive to run after being put in. So with regret the decision was reached 

 that the only thing possible for the poor man, as yet, was the regulation 

 kitchen stove, on which they should depend not only for cooking, but, 

 in winter, for heat as well. With regret, because if only the house 

 could be heated cheaply enough in winter by some other method, other 

 means of applying heat for cooking are cheaper, more convenient and 

 rid the kitchen of half its terrors on a hot summer day. 



In the house on the fair grounds gas was the most convenient fuel — 

 oil was prohibited by the authorities — so an Aladdin oven was used 

 with an ordinary Bunsen burner, to which a " rose burner " was 

 attached to spread the flame. A small gas stove supplemented this for 

 quick boiling and heating of water. By these means all the cooking 

 was satisfactorily done with little rise of temperature in the kitchen. 

 In using the Aladdin oven with gas the heat was so regulated as to 

 equal that furnished by the oil lamp ordinarily used. The house was 

 supposed to be lighted by oil lamps, but, for the reason mentioned 

 above, it was necessary to put in gas at Chicago. 



The cost of fuel depends so largely on locality that further investiga- 

 tion would be necessary before a fair average could be given. From 

 available statistics, and a series of experiments made in weighing the 

 coal used by an economical housekeeper, thirty dollars, at the price 

 paid for coal and oil dxiring the past two winters, was thought to be a 

 fair estimate for fuel and lights if only the kitchen range were used. 

 This would mean cold bedrooms, but if the mother uses hot flat- 

 irons to take off the chill from the bedding, dressing and undressing the 

 children by the fire, and wrapping them up for the journey through 

 the hall, the cold bedrooms will not hurt them if they are healthy. 



The furniture and most of the furnishings were purchased at various 

 stores in Brooklyn, N. Y. They were bought at the regular retail 

 prices, just as any woman would buy, no discounts being asked for. 

 The accompanying lists, which, during the fair, were posted in the 

 various rooms, show the prices paid for each article. 



Individual taste or judgment might modify the proportions paid for 

 the different items. This only attempts to show one way in which a 

 house can be furnished for $300 : 



