"But our waste of labor is as nothing to our waste of money.For, say twenty families, we have twenty kitchens with all their furnishings, twenty stoves with all their fuel; twenty cooks with all their wages; in cash and barter combined we pay about ten dollars a week for our cooks--$200 a week to pay for the cooking for twenty families, for about a hundred persons!
"Three expert cooks, one at $20 a week and two at $15 would save to those twenty families $150 a week and give them better food.The cost of kitchen furnishings and fuel, could be reduced by nine-tenths; and beyond all that comes our incredible waste in individual purchasing.
What twenty families spend on individual patronage of small retailers, could be reduced by more than half if bought by competent persons in wholesale quantities.Moreover, our whole food supply would rise in quality as well as lower in price if it was bought by experts.
"To what does all this lead?" asked Diantha pleasantly.
Nobody said anything, but the visible attitude of the house seemed to say that it led straight to perdition.
"The solution for which so many are looking is no new scheme of any sort; and in particular it is not that oft repeated fore-doomed failure called "co-operative housekeeping."At this a wave of relief spread perceptibly.The irritation roused by those preposterous figures and accusations was somewhat allayed.Hope was relit in darkened countenances.
"The inefficiency of a dozen tottering households is not removed by combining them," said Diantha.This was of dubious import."Why should we expect a group of families to "keep house" expertly and economically together, when they are driven into companionship by the fact that none of them can do it alone."Again an uncertain reception.
"Every family is a distinct unit," the girl continued."Its needs are separate and should be met separately.The separate house and garden should belong to each family, the freedom and group privacy of the home.
But the separate home may be served by a common water company, by a common milkman, by a common baker, by a common cooking and a common cleaning establishment.We are rapidly approaching an improved system of living in which the private home will no more want a cookshop on the premises than a blacksmith's shop or soap-factory.The necessary work of the kitchenless house will be done by the hour, with skilled labor;and we shall order our food cooked instead of raw.This will give to the employees a respectable well-paid profession, with their own homes and families; and to the employers a saving of about two-thirds of the expense of living, as well as an end of all our difficulties with the servant question.That is the way to elevate--to enoble domestic service.It must cease to be domestic service--and become world service."Suddenly and quietly she sat down.
Miss Eagerson was on her feet.So were others.
"Madam President! Madam President!" resounded from several points at once.Madam Weatherstone--Mrs.Thaddler--no! yes--they really were both on their feet.Applause was going on--irregularly--soon dropped.Only, from the group in the gallery it was whole-hearted and consistent.
Mrs.Dankshire, who had been growing red and redder as the paper advanced, who had conferred in alarmed whispers with Mrs.Ree, and Miss Massing, who had even been seen to extend her hand to the gavel and finger it threateningly, now rose, somewhat precipitately, and came forward.
"Order, please! You will please keep order.You have heard the--we will now--the meeting is now open for discussion, Mrs.Thaddler!" And she sat down.She meant to have said Madam Weatherstone, by Mrs.
Thaddler was more aggressive.
"I wish to say," said that much beaded lady in a loud voice, "that I was against this--unfortunate experiment--from the first.And I trust it will never be repeated!" She sat down.
Two tight little dimples flickered for an instant about the corners of Diantha's mouth.
"Madam Weatherstone?" said the President, placatingly.
Madam Weatherstone arose, rather sulkily, and looked about her.An agitated assembly met her eye, buzzing universally each to each.
"Order!" said Mrs.Dankshire, "ORDER, please!" and rapped three times with the gavel.
"I have attended many meetings, in many clubs, in many states," said Madam Weatherstone, "and have heard much that was foolish, and some things that were dangerous.But I will say that never in the course of all my experience have I heard anything so foolish and so dangerous, as this.I trust that the--doubtless well meant--attempt to throw light on this subject--from the wrong quarter--has been a lesson to us all.No club could survive more than one such lamentable mistake!" And she sat down, gathering her large satin wrap about her like a retiring Caesar.
