Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-01-09
KITCHEN ECONOMIES.
The Traditional American waste In KIteheE
and at Table.

au0 NJ Anblgs
Again and again do we hear it reiter-
ated that the people Of these United
States live extravagantly, and right
roundly are they abused therefor by the
domestic economists. In part we may
admit the general truth Of this ACCUSE
tion, but we must be permitted to make
some reservations. We do live expen-
sively, but that does not of itself mean
extravaganza. If we look into the mat
ter carefully we may find that there are
abundant and good reasons for this, as 1t
appears on the surface, extravaganza in
living expenses.
Comparisons between the cost Of living
here and abroad are apt to be deceptive,
for the reason that there is no common
basis from which to start the considera-
ton of the topic. The average American
makes more money than the average
man abroad, and, as an inevitable conse-
quence, in accordance with the laws Of
demand and supply, to preserve the
natural equilibrium, he must pay more for
house rent, for food, for servants wages,
for fuel, for clothes. And, of course, he
is financially able to do this
Taking these things into consideration,
it is an open question whether this large
cost of living, as compared with that of
other people, is, after all, extravagant.
/ have lived among Latin people where
oranges were sixty for a cent, bananas
ten cents bunch, and other food in pro-
portion. The kitchen economy there
would astound a New York housewife.
Twenty cents worth of food would make
meal for large family, and an excel
lent meal it would be, for the cook was
sure to be an adept. But wages there
were from ten to thirty cents day, and
big income was $1,000 year. The
cost of living had to be low, and, besides
that, time was of so little consequence
that it could be very proftably expend-
ed in planning economies and in study
ing how to make the soup bone go the
farthest for the dining table.
The essence of real economy is not al
ways in the economy that is most super
ficially apparent. You cannot have an
inexpensive table unless you make a
study of the subject. You must take
time to think out your bills of fare; you
must learn the relative values of food
products as nutritive elements; you mus
understand the science of cooking; yor
must know meats, vegetables, fruits a!
you know your alphabet; you must FIRE
uuent the markets and learn when tt
buy, where to buy and how to buy
Now, when you have done all this, yot
will, no doubt, be abundantly able to Sc
table that will be the delight of you
most dainty epicurean neighbor, and tn
source of plentiful satisfaction to you
own pocketbook.
But what has this cost you? You vii
find that it has consumed great part O
your time; it has absorbed your atten
ton in all your leisure time-nay, il
even more than your leisure time. Now
true it is that time is money, and 20
will suddenly discover that while 20
have saved at one end you have waste
, at another. That is, where ones carr
, ing power is large, it is decidedly falls
, economy to spend time in small saving
: and thereby lose more in lessened il
7 come than is saved in these retrencl
q ments, It is only the very rich WI
have plenty of time to spare and can il
: dulge in the kitchen as pastime, or tt
. very few whose time is of little wort
!. and whose circumstances compel to I'll
S most rigid economy, who can afford
r give the requisite attention to this ma
). ter. The time of the average America
d is too valuable, either for business I
y pleasure, to warrant him in this pursu
L of economical living and saving. F.
= every dollar saved he would lose two
wasted opportunities.
So, the talk and argument of all the
rists to the contrary Notwithstanding
shall probably, at least the most of U
continue to live along about as we ha
been and are now doing. Our bills
fare will be large and substantial, ev'
if they lack many niceties Of touch. '
shall not spend our time in planning
our dinners, but we shall probably ha
just as good time as though we d
that, will have quite as much money Il
in the end. and, on the whole, be quite
happy and as long lived.
Alexander Dumas used to boast tn
no one could excel him in making
salad, but probably even he, with all
leisure, scarcely would have cared
spend all his time over the kitch
range. Few men care to haunt the m;
kets, even if they have the time, a
most of us prefer to have our wives
sometime companions, rather than
ways cooks and housekeepers.-W. e..
in New York Star.