Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-07-30
The Care OF Food.


Next to purchasing the raw mater
ials, the most important consideration
to the housekeeper is the proper care
of cooked and uncooked food.
In families where there are children
twill be found economical TO keep the
food uncooked as long as possible for
the little ones will not be likely TO mo-
lest the crude materials, except i'm rare
instances.
Where there is boy in the family.
with scientific turn of mind, il may
be necessary to confine the potatoes
under lock and key to prevent their
being used for ammunition for his pop
gun; and like disposition of the sugar
and cinnamon may tend to discourage
any precocious leanings toward COM
mercial transactions on the part of the
youngster, and turn his distractions
into other and less expensive directions.
1t may also be found expedient to con-
ceal the molasses jug when the young
man is left at home to keep house
while the rest of the family are ENJOY
ing themselves at some place of amuse-
ment. BY taking this precaution the
house is not liable TO become permeated
by the scent of candy in process OF
manufacture, and the necessity of call
ing in the family physician is likewise
obviated t.
There is little danger of the girls
messing practice at one time in
high favor among youthful femininity.
but which has grown into desuetude,
and been considered vulgar since the
cooking habit was relinquished by
mothers. Girls, like men, are initiative
animals, and there was time when
they could not be safely left alone with
uncooked food, such was their propen.
sity for playing at housekeeper twas
for this reason, probably, that mothers
gave over cooking entirely Now that
the practice is confined exclusively To
ladies imported from abroad, who are
wholly deficient in that superior ms-
thetic feeling for which the American
mother Is so justly celebrated, our
girls would sooner do anything Or
nothing, than encounter the profana-
ton of the touch of uncooked provs-
ions, or have aught to do with the COM
pilation of sustenance for the vulgar
physical system.
Therefore, as we said above, il is best,
generally speaking, to keep the food in
a raw state as long rs possible. The
real difficulty in the care of food begins
after il is cooked. Then it is never
safe.
The young lady who, in its natural
state, could not tell bean from a
robins egg, and would hesitate before
deciding whether it grew upon tree
or was caught with n hook and line
somewhere on the Grand Banks, has
been known to devour two quarts Of
the cooked lentils on coming home
from q ball at two o'clock in the morn
Ing, as dessert to the oysters, ice
cream, lobster salad, hot coffee and
like tritles with which she has been,
from time to time during the night, en-
deavoring to keep soul and body to-
| gether.
Indeed, with the exception of pickles,
there is no article of food which stands
in such imminent and perpetual danger
OF destruction as cold baked beans
when brought into juxtaposition with
the delicate young American female.
When pickles and baked beans are TO.
gether presented to her vision, they
disappear from it.
But the Acknowledgements of the girl
are limited; those of the boy are limit.
less. He is omnivorous. 1t is esti.
mated by scientific writer's that a
healthy boy will consume three times
his own weight in twcnty-four hours
while a boy who is not healthy will
double the best record of his vel
brother
The following achievement of lad in
anything but robust health is adducct
in illustration of the alimentary powers
of the small boy. This is what he ate
in one day.
Eight ounces of oatmeal.
Seven ounces and hall of butter.
Ten quarts of water (estimated).
Seventeen hot biscuits.
Thirty-cight eriddle cakes.
Ten potatoes Qargo).
Three pounds of beef.
Two and half pounds, net, Of NUT
ton chop (weight Of bone having beer
deducted).
Twelve slices of cake, eighteen
cookies, twelve doughnuts and three
ounces ginger cake.
Two-thirds dozen of bananas.
Three pints of peanuts.
One and half pounds candy (as
sorted).
Five wedges of pie (motherly sliccs)
Eight quarts of water (additionaD.
Raisins, figs, walnuts, chcckerberr,
leaves, iiagroot, birch bark, etc., on
half peck (about).
Squash, cabbage, onions and othe
vegetables, four pounds (estimated).
We have possibly omitted some of tn
items; but although the list may be de
fectIve, IL is sufficient evidence of tn
possibilities of the small boy rs foo
destroyer.
1t is unnecessary for us to say more
If we haven't proved that cooked foo
requires more care than food uncookcd
it is useless to attempt it.-Bosto'
Transcript.