THE HOUSEKEEPING PROBLEM.
(To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECT1TOR."1
Sia,—It is a great gain that the Spectator is willing to consider " The Housekeeping Problem" from a sane and practical stand- point. The crux in all middle-class houses is co-operation between the mistress and the cook—specially the latter. May I state my own experience in a fair-sized country house, with perhaps more resources from the garden than the ordinary town house enjoys? We are seven in the household—two men, five women. In the first week of the war serious economies were introduced. During the last six months the butcher's bills (meat at is. 4d. per pound) have averaged exactly one shilling and ninepence per head per week. This includes a small quantity of shin of beef at 6d. per pound. But it is only by the loyal co-operation of the cook that expenditure can be maintained at this level. I give you the figures of the meat bill only, as that is the vital point. All else is likely (as in our own case) to be in exact proportion to the amount spent with the butcher. I can with confidence say that all of us have ample food and are in what is commonly called " the
pink of condition."—I am, Sir, &c., NOT A VEGETARIAN.
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