Practical Housekeeping or the Duties of a House-Wife

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXVI. DUTIES OF COOK, HOUSEMAID, AND NUESE, &C. The respective duties of cook and housemaid in small establishments are more clearly defined than those of any other class of servant, and from this fact, similar situations are generally considered the most comfortable to fill. It is when any doubt exists as to the character of the work required to be done that disputes are apt to arise as to whose place it is to do it; not when either the rules of the house or established custom has decided the question. A very large number of families keep only two servants. And where a distinct line of demarcation is drawn between their respective "places," a greater amount of comfort is enjoyed by both servants and employers than where more hands are kept than are absolutely required, and where the division of labour is confused. The cook's place is unquestionably in the kitchen. Her work there is of a kind which is likely to be ill-executed if she be called away from the scene of cookery. Whatever assistance she may be required to render in household labour should be at a time when she can be spared from the kitchen without detriment to her special vocation. On this account it is generally understood that the cook cleans the hall, door-step, and the dining-room, or, instead, tho breakfast-room. She has also the boots and knives to clean, unless a boy be kept. To do this kind of work properly, and at a seasonable hour, i.e., before ten o'clock in the morning, is as much as can be expected of a servant who, in addition, has to prepare breakfast. After breakfast, the only up-stairs work a cook should be required to assist in should be confined to helping make the beds (in case only one other servant be kept) and cleaning her own bedroom. On special cleaning days s...