Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-22
INSTRUCTION FOR GIRLS.
A COVERINGS WHO MIGHT TEACH IN THE krrcHl

A COVERINGS WHO MIGHT TEACH IN THE KITCHEN
In his very best style, Du Maurier has pleas
ant picture in the last Punch. Drawn up In the
young ladies' study-room, there stands a line OF
five girls, who bow to the French cook who is
about giving them their lesson. On one side is
a bookcase crammed full OF volumes, sur
mounted by classic vase, the cast OF one OF
the Egin marbles, but to the right is an exteu-
sive cooking apparatus. Near an easel hangs
frying pan. Under the picture runs the follow
ssThe school-room as it ought to be Exit Herr
Klein, the music master; enter Monsieur Max
tme Bechamel, Chevalier du Gordon Bleue. Bon
Jour- MesdemoisellesI To-day We construct re
SOupe a foignOn, We approfondfSe re mysteries
of re omelette aux fines herbeS We accommodate
re skait to re black butter, We make re potatoes
jump; and zen, to mitigate re allsterity OF our
studies. We execute a leet1e deeSh OF pufS a la
neige. Allons Mesdemoiselles Tout est pre-,
JeSpere?' GoverneoS and young ladieS-Oui,
Monsieur lie Professeur.'"
The pleasant smile naturally arises at the idea
OF young ladies acquiring, with their usual edu-
cation anything else than that which is found
in books. Possibly, there are no women In the
world more prone to change OF fortune than are
American women for exceptionally lucky are
tho Sc who pass their lives In prosperity but In
certain class there can be no greater ignorance
shown than in regard to the domestic duties.
II Is good thing to be thoroughly cOnverSanJ
young ladys modest sum OF knowledge, but il is
OF innDiie Use that She should have some ac-
quainiance with domestic details 1t may aot
be always her fate TO peck at the wings of an
oltolan, or trfe with dss ~ Ia neile, bat she
may have to face some day the actual boiling OF
potato, or even to make her own bread. 1t
SENS that every now and then the world. or
lis teachers, have certain CLEANS OF COM
mon sense, and stand amazed at the utter igno-
RAJ &C educated people display about the simplest
things. We are very much prone especially in the
nlted States and i'll England, to complain OF the
want OF knowledge displayed by the middle
classes In regard to their own comforts white
they who cali themselves the more Intelligent,
are woe ully ignorant of them. They are very
ait TO theorize, perhaps with the smallest
al cunt OF practical knowledge. Between that
over standard OF human requirements which
only fit her for drudge. and that higher one
Which Is so lofty that she Is nuisance, there is
a middle pa h. Ii the German woman is said
TO have few ideas beyond her worsted work and
her kitchen, going to the other extreme the
American young lady has not even these ad-
Vantages. II is perhaps, the French woman
who occupies the proper position. She looks
upon a knowledge OF the kitchen somewhat as
a necessity. She does not labor over the ac-
Quilenent Oh her culinary lore, but takes to it
naturally. OF course, the French female world
Is not copied with princesseS and countesSeS,
and the enGeavor is made 10 draw parallels
among the educated classes in America and
france. French Wife dresses elegantly with
tie savings she effects in her cuisine. There
Is no perceptible curtailing of quality In the
l. od out II Is by her management that good food
is prepared in the most palatable way, and chat
nothing is wasted. She has as far as
the detail OF dinner gees, Just that amount of nge-
nEity in which English and American women
tr, de Gent. With no less confidence than our
uttNc III lUT Tile
pleasant familiarity exist between the French
mist eSs and her cook, only the head OF the
comm SS'ry department has thorough ac-
quaintance with what should be the efficiency
OF The Suba ern. 1t is not the cook who is the
mistress, 10 the two roles are never interchange
able. Because The lady knows how food should
be dressed, she eXerts constant surveillance
over her kitchen. She is entirely unaffected
about such matters and thinks it not beneath
her dignity to talk pleasantly about her dishes.
1t is natural with her to expect that her hus-
bands table shall be well served, and is willing
TO be held responsible for it. No one can tell eX-
actly how she has picked it all up. Perhaps the
proximity of the kitchen to the other apart
mentS in house carries her, when child amid
the steWpanS, and she Is encouraged to be
handy.
No one can doubt as to the excellence Of such
cooklng-SchOols as are now to be found. In
Structon of the most excellent character may be
the cardinal points OF the cuisine are explained.
Still, home Instruction in all such things Is the
best. Pt,nch's picture shows NJ. Bechamel about
opening his class the gOvernesS acting as inter-
mediary. In the education of such of our girls
as are fortunate in having a gOverneSs why
should not this most important parsonage COM
bine with her French, Italian, and music some
sound knowledge OF the kitchen? Though the
regular cook might stare at the Invasion OF her
realm, gOverneSS with certain handy neat
ness, even If she kept one day ahead Of her
class, might find such trouble as she took with
her pupils amply rewarded. We may see some
day the advertisement of lady willing to in
struct pupils in all the higher branches Ian
gl,ageS, and the piano included: with primary
instruction in plain cooking.-[N. T. Times.