LIVING IN GERMANY.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12508, 8 April 1909, Page 4

LIVING IN GERMANY.

DOING WITHOUT SERVANTS. . A Berlin correspdndent of a Home paper declares the servant girl problem :has, been successfully, solved in the German capital. He says that in Berlin they simply .do without sef- • vantSj. and this is possible through making the best Uses of all that science and technique have discovered for the easing of household labour^ In the newest flats no kitchens are. to be found; no servant's apartments. These are at this time of daj; unnecessary. One large kitchen provides for about twenty families, each of which lives in. its own separate flat. One"- has only to telephone. to the kitchen and a. meal appears as if by magic, all ready, for serving, and the used disHes ; disappear just as mj r steriously, by [means of a lift. The household clean[ihg as required to be done by hand ;ih other houses is here wonderfully "i minimised. In each room is a vacuum xleaningr connection; warm and cold ■water is laid on in -each, bedroom as weir as the bathroom : the heating is done by radiators, and the lighting, of course, by electricity. Each apartment is ventilated by hot air. Beside each householder's door is to be found a wardrobe which can be opened both from outside and inside,. so that clothes arid boots may" "be removed, brushed, -cleaned, and replaced in the early morning without disturbance to the owners. 'Naturally the door bell seldom rings, so no' household messengers are necessary. .At the principal entrance is a responsible porter; no one enters the house without, first interviewing this important 'personage. He announces the visitors by telephone, and conducts th'emHo <their destination by lift; But that is not all. Each house has a sun bath, a douche room, and a large roof terrace, where in summer meals are served. Safes, apartments for the safe keeping of furs in summer, and dark rooms for amateur photographers are also provided. There is also a chil-. dren'splay garden, where the little ones are under the charge of a nursery governess. A large box room belongs to each house, and a : well equipped laundry is responsible 'for familyWashings.' Seamstresses can be had for mending, and messenger boys are always in attendance. Experienced maids for service or cleaning can be had. if desired. This clever centralisation of arrangements relieves the lady of the house from all- the daily worries and sorrows of the household.