The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-04-02
THE NOBLgsT PROFESSION.

THE NOBLEST PkOFESSION.
We hold that the noblest, highest and
most useful profession Is that Of cook
cry. 1t is nobler than war, because the
object Of war Is to slay, desolate and
starve, while the object OF cookery Is to
nourish and make fat. 1t IL higher than
medicine. because 1t tends to prevent
the diseases and sufferings medicine
pretends to cure. IL is better than law,
because law often defrauds the innocent
and turns loose the guilty, and in no
little degree blends with chicanery,
while cookery bestows only blessings.
It is better than journalism. because the
first duty Of journalism is to hurt some
body's feelings, while the first duty oil
cookery Is to stay the cravings OF
hunger. and soothe the irrascibilities ol
temper Finally, we can get along
without war. medicine, law and news
papers, but, without soup, roasts and
brois. surely we would starve to death
From this practical standpoint, there
fore, we regard proficiency in cookery
more honorable, and far more impor-
tant, than proficiency in the classics,
and believe that 1t would be wise and
humane step to establish in every col
lege and university "Chair Of Cook
cry"
There are very many young men who
go through college and have Latin and
Greek and all those sort OF things
drummed into their heads, who could
be much more easily indicted into the
science OF broiling a steak, roasting q
leg OF mutton, and making an excellent
pot OF coffee. There are millions of
young men who are licensed as doctors
and lawyers, and who are on the press,
who would succeed much better as
cooks, and this absurd thing is kept up
year after year, and TIE consequences
are we have poor lawyers, quack doc
tors, shabby journalists, and bad cook
ing.
We regard this as very serious mat
ter. Physicians declare that bad cooking
is the cause of two-thirds Of the sick
ness that af1licts civilized man; all
ladies know the horrid effects bad cook
ing has upon the tempers of men, and
every man Of social habits knows that
nothing conduces more to good humor,
sparkling wit, and good fellowship.
than an elegantly cooked dinner. Peo-
pie, too, who are accustomed to good
cooking, are generally handsome or, at
least, they always "show their keep
ing" Thus, for the peace Of the home
circle; the health of mankind in the
interest of good humor, and for Hsthet-
ical considerations there should be a
new era in the profession of cookery.
1t should be regarded ms one Of the
learned and liberal professions. and no
man or woman should be allowed to
cook until he or she has passed a rigid
practical examination and received a
diploma from some we'll established in
stitution of learning.
BY all means, then, let us have the
"Chair of Cookery" in our colleges,
and let the beauty and nobility OF the
profession be inculcated let the ambi-
tious youth of both sexes be taught
that in the kitchens they will be miti-
eating human suffering; checking the
ravages OF disease; diffusing happiness
and contentment among mankind; that
there they may accomplish what philo-
sophers have gone mad in seeking a
means Of accomplishing, the prolonga-
ton of human life; that in their soups
will be found the tabled fountain spoken
of by Ponce de Leon, which reiuvinated
man and added to his youth; they
can there feel that while the sol
der is devastating fertile districts /,
while the doctor is drenching his
patients with diabolical nostrums while
the lawyer is bamboozling the jury. and
the journalist is pouring hot shot into
everybody, they, benignantly standing
In the midst Of their pots and kettles,
are boiling, frying. stewing and baking
blessings for all mankind.
We hope for great reduction OF the
ills of humanity when the time arrives
in which the maiden's eye will beam
with Joy and her cheeks will flush with
pride as her young lover proudly tells
her he is going to study for a cook, and
when the baster OF meats, and the con-
coctor of pastry can look down with
serene contempt upon lawyers. doctors,
preachers and editors.