The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-09-12
Amateur Cookery.

There is a kitchen millennium ap-
preaching, when the occupation Of
domestic eroakers will be gone, and
they will have to search elsewhere for
employment, because the question of
service is to be speedily settled. "What
shall we do with our daughters ?" ques-
tions Mrs. Livermore of nearly every
lyceum audience in the country. "AIake
cooks of them," answers Mrs. Howe
triumphantly, and sets to work at once
on her plan OF reformation. 1t has had
small beginning in the "Girls Club. Z"
They meet every Saturday during the
winter When it was time for the
meetings to cease for the season, they
resolved themselves into a number OF
small clubs for work during the sum-
mer. There was a French class formed,
an italian class, class in mental
philosophy, another in social analysis,
and at Mrs. Howe's suggestion, cook
ing club.
This is by many the largest class OF
all, and decidedly the most enthusiastic.
All manner Of experiments are tried; old
family recipes are hunted up that have
been hidden away because they have
been utterly useless, and yet were kept
in the family like tradition. French
cook books are studied with more
earnestness than was ever given to
French grammar. The regulation cook
looks on aghast, but as yet says moth
ing. She is trifie more supercilious;
she is very skeptical; she does not be-
lieve that this new enthusiasm will last;
she does not dream that her scepter is
falling from her hands to the dainty
white ones open to receive il. Isn't
this the beginning Of social revolu-
ton?
Every week a supper or dinner or q
breakfast is given at the house Of one OF
the members, and every one has TO con-
tribute something to the feast. The
mysterious Something comes in a
hand-basket, carefully packed, and is
given into the hands of the ones who ar
range the tables. Then there is such a
tiutter Of anticipation and eagerness
until the doors are opened into the din
ing-room, when they all flock eagerly
out, first to test each others cooking.
"How nice that bread looks. Who
made it?"
"Oh! these delicious almond cheese
cakes, where did they come from ?''
81 brought Them" calls one; "and
what time 1 had with them. | didn't
butter my tins enough, and they broke
dreadfully when / took them out; but !
mended every one, and you never would
know
parker House rolls! Who is up to
that, wonder?"
The blonde beauty Of the club
acknowledged the rolls, and her sister, a
young matron, laid claim TO the bread,
while the chicken croquettes were
owned by a bright, black-eyed girl,
who, when her duties as active member
Of the Cooking Club permit her, trans
lates biographies from the German and
writes pretty letters for the papers. OF
course all these girls are very careful OF
criticism, and they praise everything
that comes to the table, as they feel in
duty bound to do. But there is, beyond
all this, a test by which everything is
really tried. After the supper is over, a
general talk on cooking ensues, and re-
cipes are exchanged. II a recipe is not
asked for, the unfortunate dish is never
again offered at the table. One of the
young ladies has already determined on
gathering together the incest recipes,
those that have been tested, and pub
fishing a cook bOOk-a cook book for
girls, to be used for all practical pur-
poses by the coming cooks. 1t will be
designed for those young house-keepers,
too, who are going to begin their do
mestic in the Old-fashioned way-that
by-and-by will be the new fashion-Of
caring for their houses themselves and
making them really homes.-BOSton
Post.