The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-10-13
A Timely Talk To Girls.
Ella IVhecler Wilcar.

A Timely Talk To Girls.
Ella Wheeler Wiicar.
First of all, every girl ought to know
that cookery is fine art and the mastery
of it an accomplishment. 1t matters moi
how high or how low her station, know
ledge of house-wifely matters is invaluable
No one is better able to appreciate this
than one who has never put the theory into
practice. Rushed by the force of fate
from cradle to writing desk there seemed
no appropriate opportunity for me to learn
even the rudiments of cooking in my girl
hood. 1t seemed wiser to drive the pen
and far more profitable, while some one
who was skilled in culinary matters reign.
ed over the kitchen. Kind matrons urged
upon me the great necessity of acquiring
some knowledge of housekeeping secrets
if ever intended to become a wife. AS
that experience was always embraced in
my future calculations, made one or two
futile attemps to learn to cook, but my en-
trance into the kitchen was always follow.
ed by reign of disaster. Pots, pans
boxes and dishes were misplaced and lost,
and was begged to desist from my spas
modic efforts to learn to be cook, and to
devote myself to more profitable labors
There is nothing so gratifying in life as
to be advised by our elders to do exactly
as our inclinations lead us to do. l had
no natural taste for kitchen work, and
experience in life had not yet taught me
its importance. 1t has been my good for
tune to never find any practical disadvan-
tage from my lack of these accomplish
ments. l always feel that my time was
well and suitably employed in my own con-
genial labors but my ignorance of house
work has caused me much mental disturb
ance Housekeepers and domestics, how
ever well paid, once conscious that the
mistress of an establishment is ignorant of
their methods of work, are liable to make
her feel her dependence.
I know of no peoplein the world so
inclined to tyranny over the uninitiated as
the women who are "born housekeepers. u
The thought of any disaster which could
leave me without cook, and with family
to provide meals for, has been the cause Of
more terror to my soul than the hereafter
Everybody knew that / could not cook
Everybody impressed upon my mind the
tremendous undertaking it would be to
learn. Old housekeepers assured me it
was a mysterious sort of business requiring
lifetime to acquire. Young housekeep-
ers told me it was an exhausting labor, re.
quiring the sacrifice of every other aim in
life. Nevertheless determined to learn to
cook With no small amount of fear
undertook to master the rudiments Of this
great art l supplied myself with good
cook books and bolstered myself with a
few manuscript recipes from old house
keepers, and began to practice on agree.
able breakfast dishes first. Then | pro
ceeded to the preparation of lunch and
finally of dinner. At the end of two
months | had bid adieu forever to my
s'stage fright" | was only an amateur
cook, to be sure, but never again could
be made to tremble with fear at the threat
ened departure Of housekeeper or cook
l could prepare palatable meal, no mat
ter how sudden the emergency, and ]
would not part with this happy conscious
ness-no, not for the wealth of Gould.
did not find it necessary to remain il
the kitchen after acquiring my knowledge
To know how was a great comfort; to bt
able to instruct servant delight; but
to continue to do the work myself ''when
more agreeable and profitable labors await
ed me- would have been sheer nonsense
There are people who are born to cook, anC
people who are born to sing. Let the sin
ger learn to teach her cook the right anc
economical way, and then return to thu
singing.
No girl or woman can ever become ;
good cook unless she loves the work or love
the one for whom she performs it. 1t i
impossible to construct thoroughly pala
table dish, no matter how carefully you
follow recipes, if you feel disgust or angel
over your task Even the inanimate fooc
feels the influence of heart full of love OIL
GOODNESS. / have always believed this t
be the explanation why hotel food is as rule
tastless and unsatisfactory. The work i:
done for money-not for love. The mis-
tress who can inspire her servant with affec
ton will lend SAVIOR to. her cooking at the
the same time. It is far wiser to instruct
your servant to perform labor than to dc
it in an upgracious manner yourself. ]
haveseeR wives and mothers come to the din
per table so irritable, and tired and full oil
complaints of the fatigue they had incurred
in the preparation of the meal, that every
member of the family felt like criminal in
partaking of it. Far better serve less
pretentious dinner and make no comment
on the labor it cost. [ believe that two
months of intelligent and interested work In
the culinary department will enable any cir
of ordinary brightness to understand the arr
of cookery sufficiently to minister to the
wants of a family.
OF course high art is not acquired in
that time, or the connection Of varied and
difficult dishes; all that requires study and
attention to details like the perfection Of
any art But have been surprised to find
how easily one could learn plain and pala-
table cooking, and the peace of mind which
the knowledge brings is beyond all descrip-
ton to one who has ever been tyrannized
over by domestic or housekeeper
/ think no mother does her duty by q
daughter unless she gives her thorough
training in all hcusewifely matters. No
matter if she cannot keep in practice and
forgets what she has learned, it will all
come back to her when the necessity to put
1 it in use recurs.
1t is all folly to say that to be a good
cook or housekeeper requires the sacrifice
of every other aim in life. It is not true.
J I think this idea was originated by some