THE HOUSEKEEPING PROBLEM.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sin,-1 believe there are many puzzled housekeepers who, like myself, are anxious to do their duty, but need information which would throw some light on it. Do you not think that the very obvious difficulties in the way of enforcing a meatless day might be avoided (or the experiment made of trying to do so) if some one who has the necessary statistics would make, and publish, the calculation as to what is a reasonable allowance of meat per head a week in present circumstances? I am sure many would act on it, and it would strengthen our hands in reducing the servants' allowance, for we find that, while they are given exactly the same food as is served to the family, they require much larger portions. I remember your 6d. a day experiment and the letters of "Contentus " in the Spectator, and in view of their estimates perhaps ours is a large one. It would entail more work in cooking, and I think more expense to reduce it; but of course it can be done, and must be done if it is right to do so. Is two pounds of meat per head a week (weighed raw with the bone) an extravagant amount to-day? We try to keep well within that; but of course many working people do with less or none. It is hard to know whether we ought to reduce our way of living to the level of the man on 30s. a week .when what is luxury and what is necessity is so difficult to decide. It would be useful to know what is the latest view as to the minimum of nutriment of all kinds necessary to life and health for children and adults.—I am, Sir, &c.,
A PUZZLED HOUSEKEEPER.
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