National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-23
NatiuuaI gtpnhIifau
AFRATD on TYr oOOY.


It is related among the "reminiscences Of q
distinguished artist that, being appealed 70 b.
his butcher for his autograph, he presented
the man Of sirloins with 4 photograph in
scribsd ''To the Friend Of my Stomach" This
was expressive Whatever the ANTAGONISTS
may say, there is little doubt that with many
men, and women, too, the stomach holds q d.
Yided empire with the heart as the seat OF the
affections. With not q few the empire Is one
and undivided, and the stomach reigns su-
prsme. But II the mere provider Of the raw
material for dinner is "iriend to the stOm-
ach, his friendship goes for nothing II It Is not
seconded By that other friend, Esarer stfl 70
hearth and home-the cook. Like all impOr-
tant, useful and beniicent functionaries, the
cook Is q much abused person, probably the
tsbest abused" individual in the household.
Whoever cooks Is criticised, thrice daily IS
least. Criticism provokes defence, and in many
families the cook seems to be forced into the
position Of natural enemy. As the kitchen 3
Cooks citadel, there she reigns supreme. Cook
may be he, sometimes, but as In private fam
lilies she usually fills the Office, the feminine
pronoun may be used. A ship Il called She
though her name may be Andrew Jackson
Well, them let see what Is to be said for her
It Is stated that young ladies have given IS
q reason for applying for lessons in expert
mental teaching at q public training school
in cookery, that they could not go Into the
kitchen at hcme and practice because they
were ''afraid Of the cook" This Is not hard
to understand. A good, systematic cook, with
place for everything and everything IN its
place, does not like the incursion into her do
main Of lively young ladies, one OF more, who
spill salt in the sugar, sift pepper in the -four
sieve, and upset things generally. Nor on the
other hand does a careless cook like TO have
her shortcomings exposed, and her derange-
ments made manifest. The remedy for this
state Of things is in the assertion by the house
keeper Of her right of s'eminent domain" over
all the premises. If one cook Tgiyes notice, p
the stipulation must be made with her success
scr that the head Of the house viii come into
the kitchen if she chooses. But the head OF
the house must herself know something about
eeonomy. such q housekeeper as was eele-
brated in the comic miscellany might better
keep out of the kitchen, and trust to fate and
the cook. ''What viii / order for dinner to
day, if you please, m'emP "What had we
yesterday, BridgetP' "a leg of mutton,
mem" 'sWell, then, to-day wen have leg
Of beef. Mr.. Smith likes change"
If q hOusekeeper or q housekeeper' daughter
understands the mysteries Of the kitchen, and
the cook repels their presence, then cook
should receive warning. If the ladies do not
understand, then they should learn, or else
take warning. Far the greater number OF
American women are and must be-and
should be-partieipants in the details Of
household management. The greatest COM
fort is found IN houses where the female mem
bers Of the family, whether from choice, from
prudence, or from necessity, take oversight OF
all parts Of the house, and claim right 10 do
whatever they please, and to direct whatever
Is done. One or other Of the motives above
mentioned should operate In every household.
"Choice" should move women, and does, to
take means to make their homes comfortable
Necessity, where incomes are limited, eompels
attention in housekeepers, and even where
money Is abundant It Is wen that upon the
exigeneY Of "nO help TO be had" the house
hold should not be in the condition OF Robin
son Crusoe on his desolate island. Not few
thrifty families have the accident Of '.nO
cook" as a pleasant variety, and picnic at
home with intense relish. And many family
Of limited means rejoices in the continual con-
fort of 'ino stranger" In the house. In well
regulated households, however, the domestics
are reported emo strangers" or hthey persist
In considering themselves so, are made "better
strangers" By dismissal.
Education in housekeeping. to be Of value,
should begin as early as A B G Is begun. When
this course Is followed, nobody Is afraid Of tho
cook, and the cook Is afraid Of nobody. OF
the motive Of "prudence" in housekeeping we
have reserved the best illustration to conclude
with. A recent letter from the neWly-ap-
pointed head Of public institution mentions
that on entering on her position she found the
bill for ''roast day" fifty pounds Of beef. She
cut down the estimate to thirty. The inmates
were Just as well served, and are perfectly
content. They have enough, shut, y the writer
quantity remarks, 1--WE have not so much cold
meat for our neighbors." As fifty to thirty IN
a big establishment, so Is ten to In small
family. We leave housekeepers TO work out
the problem.