CO OPERATIVE KITCHENS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 18, 16 October 1907, Page 3

CO OPERATIVE KITCHENS.

■•'■■A'correspondent;' "E.8:K.," objects to tho " co-oporativo kitchen" proposals of Mrs. Oharlottb Perkin : Gilman, particulars of 'which'.appeared in Monday's issue:— ' '_. ;! ■"Mrs. Oilman's schomb ftf cq-operativo kitchens ' with a • vio'.v to' lessoning housework sebnis to bo. hardly, comprehensive enough. If iwoman did manage' to got her sausages fried by proxy, thorp would still bo , beds to mako land dishes to wash;—to sbine untutored minds nibro"'irksome duties thaiV frying: sausages. The co-opcrativb kitchen" must bo the forerunner of a. co-operative dbmicilo whoro a limited number of constant'patrons may foregather and,have! their beds made and,dishes, washed ;by co-operative menials, ; who might likewise "perform any otbor uninspiring dutie6 ■repudiated' by.tho' inodern : woman. ■■. Sho would in all probability feel strong enough to grapplo with 'at homes,' golf, and tho theatre herself,'! at-any. rate for another generation 'or<so;'!'" ; " :'■ ',: ,'•' '■''"" ; .'."'■"■. ...■: "The conception that housework is drudgery . quite-"bliminates the .natural interest that n.'wbman :i migKt : beespected to feel m her: : homo.;vEven cooking, despised by Mrs. GilmariEs , 'amateur employment,- may- bo ■illumined p by a glimmer of art; at all events, ,bad. cooking is .notably inartistic-The scope for, a woman's brains and■ ingenuity ■in the proper' manageraont, of her home -lifts >housowork above' tlio '■ level of drudgery -pure and simple—it contains its element of drudgery along with'the' higher professions) and the fine arts.. If' woman is : going ; -to shako off tho shackles ' of 'generations and'-'disclaim, household responsibilities; what is i sho going to do with tho timo hanging hotvy.on her hands'? Devote it exclusively to her children? ;■'■■■ • ' ■ : -; ! V;.. i ; ■.. ..--■- . .

"The idea of having done by 'experts, instead of.aniateurs, , : and making-, it ■'a .particular.;social industry, .instead of a. gbrieral ; ,femininoi function,.' justifies.;, itself only by, the neatness of its enunciation! - Any attempt'-.to tarry -M but,would produce, an, upheaval that might;astonish" even Mrs. Gil•maiii"''.r'i-;:" ■.-:■.:• ■:'■■■;■.■■'■■.■':■;■:■.■■"■■ :■■':,'■.■•■'■.