River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-03-05

pepper and salt, then minces it fine.
With this for foundation she varies
the dish from time to time Sometimes
she warns it without other addition
than little gravy, and serves upon
nicely toasted slices of bread. Some
times she adds double the quantity of
chopped or mashed potatoes, and, put
ting a little good dripping into the
spider first, she leaves it on the back of
the stove to slowly form a crisp, brown
crust, which is uppermost on the plat
ter when served. Again, she uses var
ious cold vegetables chopped with an
equal proportion of meat and potato,
and so on, in an infinite variety of meth
DDS by which the remnants are made
appetizing.
The next point is, after good hash q
use the word with respect) is provided,
to make individuals already prejudiced
against it willing to partake it. This
was successfully accomplished by a
shrewd woman, an acquaintance OF
mine. When she married Mr.. R,
and went to take charge of his elegant
house and large family of young people,
she was dismayed at the enormous
quantity Of provisions bought and cook
ed, but certainly not all eaten, as far as
she could learn. There seemed to be
no limit to the food provided. A large
roast of beef appeared at table but once,
and what remained after the servants
| dinner was given or thrown away.
| With her New England training, such
prodigality cut her to the heart. A
change must be inaugurated at once;
but how, without subjecting her
self to the charge of meanness !?
One morning she prepared a small
| quantity of the cold roast left from the
! previous dinner, sliced and warmed it In
the gravy, and put it beside her own
plate. The others glanced at it inquir-
| ingly, but made no comment. The next
/ day she had a savory hash, we'll made
and hot, but only enough for herself.
Her husbands attention was attracted
by it this time, and he inquired "What
| have you there, my dear?"
"Only simple DISH, which was a
favorite of mine at home, "she replied.
"May l taste 1t 2"
Certainly" but there was so little he
might only taste.
General curiosity was aroused, but it
was evident that if each at the well-filled
table took but single taste there would
be none left
The next morning the demand was so
great that the small portion was divid-
ed into samples, and the originator
went without; and finally came the
question for which she had waited :
"Why can't we have enough of it for
all 2" and the wise woman willingly
consented, and warmed-up meats have
| had place at that table at proper times
ever since.
A neat country housekeeper and ex-
cellent cook, who took summer board
ers, told me she could distinguish be-
tween those who were accustom-
ed to good home fare and those who
lived in ordinary boarding-ho houses sub
ject to the whims of ignorant green
horns" who set themselves up for cooks,
by noticing which ones accepted her
hashed meats without question, and
which refused or regarded them with
suspicion. Undoubtedly those who
willingly ate it at her table would have
declined it at some other places.
The subject may finally be disposed
of in the words of the immortal Sam
Weller concerning veal PIE "It's a
very good thing wen you knows the
! lady wot made it."