"ONE-ROOM APT."

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 61, 9 September 1937, Page 18

"ONE-ROOM APT."

LIVING ALONE IN AMERICA

There i& a prevalent idea that the whole of aftninine America "goes about in bunches:" that no American woman ever permits herself the undisturbed | company of her thoughts, writes Lady Adams in the "Sydney Morning Herald." That used to be true, and still is, of many American women. Wealthy women flit about in their cars, as if they were seeking an alibi of an afternoon. But the more thoughtful American women seem to be drifting away from hotel and boardinghouse life, and are happily living in the "cute" little one-room apartments that are to be found at their best in America Do not for a moment think. I am writing of a really "one-room" apart-' ment. I cannot imagine any selfrespecting American woman living without a private bathroom. It is simply not done. I have been in a great many business women's "one-room apartments" (a flat is not so high socially as an apartment). What they call a one-room apartment, we would call. at home a flat or flatlet. There is a bed-sitting-room, certainly, but without that "bed-disguised-aE-a-sofa" look about it that gives such a disheartened look to the usual "bed-sit." In California, the bed in a one-room apartment is a man-size affair that lowers itself out from the wall at the touch of a button, all made and ready, as it was put back in the wall in the morning. But for the woman teacher or business executive it is really delightful. There is a kitchenette with a good gas stove, a sink, plate-racks, cupboards, and a cooking table that folds against the wall; an ironing-board that vanishes, also into the wall; an icebox that makes its own ice, including dinky little ice-cubes to put in drinking water; electricity of the finest brand, and a rubbish chute. I think the desire of working women to live alone, rather than in hotels or boarding-houses, or with a ,iamily, is twofold. First, it is due to the constantly increasing desire for special diets. It is almost rare to meet a woman who is not engaged in doing something to her avoirdupois; she is either trying to take some off or put some on. "Let well alone" is a proverb of no standing here. I quite see the point of those who do not choose to pay for a good four-course dinner

when they want a meal of such odd 1 blends that every item would be charged as an extra. A •»'. in this land of fruits all the year round, with (literally) sixteen moderately-priced vegetables in December, why not live as you like? Lately, I lunched with a teacher friend "in her "one-room apt.," and asked her permission to retail the menu. We began with half a grapefruit, well chilled, eaten without sugar. Then came button mushrooms, stewed with tiny bits of bacon, and eaten with a healthy serving of asparagus. Then, "because it's a party and Saturday," we had an artichoke with mayonnaise —not out of a bottle, but home-made. We topped off with a persimmon each, and black coffee. As my friend said: "If I had cooked chops and a couple of vegetables, and ordered ice-cream from the best shop, it would have dost more, and if v/e had lunched at a hotel, and had ordered exactly this ' lunch, it would have been exorbitant." The other 'reason is that American, working women are beginning to discover the luxury of solitude. If these women who have been teaching or lecturing, or have had to be the efficient and watchful secretary of a business man, or whom have been all things to all men at a bank, go home to the family with whom they board, or'to the hotel or boarding-house where they live, they find that, their day is not done. They are expeated still to be bright and efficient, and all the other things they have been from 8.30 aon. to 5.30 p.mi^to join in games, to go in a , party to the movies; and women are beginning' to feel that they have a right to be morose if. they want to in their own time. ■ In the last fortnight, I have met five business wpmen who are now living in "one-ro^n :apt.," because of their dactorG' advice. Before that, they were all existing more or less uncomforfc.ably, and now they all appear to be happy and at ease, where they have hung up their hats. Two of them have furnished their "apts." themselves completely; two of them have put their own odds and ends round their room. One of them told me she had not touched her "apt." It is inconspicuous, restful, and easy to live with. The interestingf^hing is that all five talked with enthusiasm of the joy of solitude, of the luxury of being able to live just as they please, out of office ?nd school hours. More solid reading Was done; wiser hours were being kept, the radio played just what they chose; blessings on their doctors, said the five. As their own Longfellow says: "Joy, temperance, and repose, slam the door on the doctor's nose."