Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-12-04
HarSarism in the Kitchen.


gess of civilization the love and culture of the
ornamental comes before the useful. The
gewgaws, necklace and paint of the savage,
before the warm substantial clothing of the
Eoclshman. And as about dress, SO about
al the domestic affairs of lie, the ornamental
comes first Civilization begins in the parlor
long before it reaches the kitchen. If you
wish to fiud relics Of barbarism, go to our
kitchens.
American housekeeping, taking into &C.
count the character of the domestic servants to
which we are condemned, is, and we are afraid,
will continue TO be, uumitigated 6arbariSm.-
We in this country have an abundance OF food
which OUGHT to be of the best. Beet, pork,
mutton, poultry. game, fish, flour, butter,
cheese, fruit and yegetabies-each the best OF
the name-are plentiful.
The earth abounds with richness of pasture,
the forest, the field, the river and sea. But
when We come to the utilization OF the good
gifts of fish. flesh aad fowl as human food,
there the barbarism begins. We suffer from
the effect OF the ignorance of those to whom
the operations of the kitchen are confded; and
iu spite of increased expenditure, and more
perfect establishments in which the convenience
of servants is consulted and labor immensely
facilitated, we all sigh for the dishes which,
with imperfect facilities and a narrow range OF
culinary knowledge, our mothers and grand
mothers used TO prepare. A reform or our
methods-some change by which, In families
Of moderate means and no pretenslous aSplra-
tons, the delights of home, so far as they are
dependent on a well-ordered household, a
eleanlv kitchen and we'll served table-may be
realized-is necessity which must be met.
Remember, we speak only for families OF the
poor and the middle classes, IN which economy
Is necessity, and in which there Is, at the
tee living desirable.
For the rich, who may employ professional
conk. and who may have what their fancy die
tates. REGARDLESS OF cost, we take no thought
they can care for themselves. How to get
SOUP hide a christian man ought to swallow,
how 10 rise 10 the dignity OF passabIe excellence
in the preparation OF meat and vegetables, how
10 have SOUP, meat aud bread at cost within
reach of men who work to day for food tOmOr-
row-these are the questions which house
keepers are anxious to solve.
II seems to US that the first reform Of Amer
lean housekeeping is to get two things out OF
the kitchen as soon as possible. We mean the
washing and the baking; aud 1t Is OF the
first that we specially desire to discourse to-day.
Who has not a keen sense OF the horrors OF
washing day-ot the meagrenesS and disap
pointment of Tuesday and Wednesday, the
days when the Monday washing is brought to
the test of starch and the sad-lrOn What
breakfasts, what dinners, what suppers What
a waste of time; what barbarsm OF procedure;
what unsatisfactory results
Now, washing is thing by itself. 1t has no
more proper relation to the ordinary family
work in a city than tailoring or mantua making.
1t isa mechanical operation and 1T Is strange
that with the intense desire to clutch everything
which promises to save labor aud multiply per
sona comforts, the application OF machinery to
operations OF the domestic laundry has not
been made. And the wonder isincreased when
we know that in hotels, hospitals, asylums,
large restaurants and other public establish
ments, various appliances by which the work
Of the old fashioned wash-room has reen re-
duced to a mere shadow OF Its former painful
ness, have long been In use. How great the
inducement then. for cooperative endeaVor IN
this direction. How easy for fifty or one hun
dred families to put 10 operation, Tor their
joint benefit, a laundry which would, while II
promoted their comfort 10 an untold degree,
promote family economy to an equal extent
Cooperation In this matter is the first step to-
ward reform in our domestic arrangements now
50 sadly out of joint. Petersburg Ind%r.
ADVICE FROM A MORMON. Brigham Young
does not want the female MoImons to wear
long dresses, but he does not want their gar
ments too short either He says;
Bring them down to the tops OF your Shoes
aud have them so that you can walk and clear
the dust, and do not expose your person.
Have your dresses neat and cOmely, and con-
duct yourself, in the strictest sense OF the
word, in chastity. 1t you do this, you set
good example before the rising generation;
use good language, wear comely clothing, and
act in all things so that you can respect your
selves and respect each other We wish yon
to remember and carry out these counSels.
NRUSTEE'S SALE OF VALUABLE
LARD IN FAIRFAX virtue OF
deed of trust executed to me by GEORGE +, Car