McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-02-26

time to eat it, and then they have
something fried. There are thousands
VI intelligent women who are willing
to devote large part of their time to
some branch of art study in which
they can never hope to become any.
thing more than imitators or common
place amateurs, who regard the
practice of cookery as mental en-
ployment, instead of fine art which
is worthy of careful and intelligent
study.
81 am born for something better, {"
dlsdainfully asserts the ambitious or
the incompetent woman when the sub
ject is presented to her. Doubtless,
for something better than the drudg-
cry OF dishwashing and similar merely
mechanical work which can be done,
under direction, by an unskilled do
nestle. For something better, also,
than the routine methods and tradi-
tons without reason which make up
the sum of many housewives culin-
airy education. But the wise and en-
lightened development of an art
which. in all the centuries past, has
scarcely advanced beyond the bare
gastronomic necessities of race that
must eat to live, which has not yet
outgrown many of the mistakes of it's
earliest experiments, and which holds
possibilities for physical growth and
well being without which higher and
more harmonious moral and mental
growth are well-nigh impossible, opens
held where any woman may become a
royal benefactress, not only to the few
who make up the little kingdom of her
home, but to many yet to live in this
growing and wisdom-gaining world.
And this knowledge is not difficult to
attain. Thought, intelligence and in
terest will solve many problems and
achieve many results which will bring
their Gown exceed ng great rewards" "
rewards without suspicion of drudg-
cry or degradation. With the newly
found knowledge of cause and effect,
of reason and fitness. which general
interest in this art will diffuse, Will
come a recognition of this necessity of
pure air, of cleanliness and meth
cd, and of improved and convenient
appliances for kitchen work. Per-
haps, even, the modern parlor, with
its confused and ill-assorted decora-
tons, and its useiessness for honest
family comfort, will become of less
Importance than a bright, Clearly,
well-appointed kitchen, where the
housewife, be she rich or poor, will
not find it punishment to spend the
time necessary for the wise discretion,
or even manual work required. The
woman who, because she does not like
homework, remains in willful igno-
rance of the truth that upon the diet of
a people its health, its character and
its power for usefulness and
attainment also wholly de-
pend, is not fit to assume the
responsibilities of housewife. In
replying to some poetic masculine
warnings suggested by remark of
DIR. johnson, made in the days when
the classic tongue was in higher favor
than it is at present, to the effect that
a man would rather see good dinner
on his table than have mis- wife speak
Greek, witty woman POLITICALLY ex-
presses the belief that, if such wild
fancies were to become facts, the
world would be full of starved brutes
making love to tired cooks
But to know the properties and uses
of different kinds of food, and tie
best methods of cooking to obtain
nutriment for brain, bone and muscle,
will add pleasure and interest to the
manual labor, and, at the same time,
make it less complicated and tiresome.
1t is hap-hazard fashion of taking
up the duties of daily life, the doing
what she must and Sinking what she
can, that makes the life of many
house-mother one long, dreary task,
barren of acquisition for herself, or of
beneficial results for others.
Wholesome food, well prepared and
daintily served, whether it be coarse
or delicate, will materially lessen the
number of starved brutes, tired cooks
and exacting gourmands.
Until the time when the science as
well as the art of cookery becomes
generally understood, and the work
can be honestly and economically done
for the people by trained professional
workers, "the separateness in cook
ing" which the English writer de-
plores as being pushed everywhere to
preposterous limits,'' is the best
means which the world has at com
mand, and should be made as infuen-
tial for health and consistent develop
ment as knowledge, interest and
careful thought on the part of the
individual housewife can make it
Martha EoWe DAVIDSON, IN The Current.