Morning journal and courier., 1890-03-12
CORRKSPONDENCE.
Boston Boys Learning to Cook-0ther Matters. s'S3t F <,

I% Af BOSTON, March 10. To the Editor ethe JOURNAL AND COURIER: ;. Having had occasion to visit one of our
 cooking schools here in Boston the other day.
 I wonder if your readers would like to hear of the class of boys there being instructed. The room is especially fitted for the work. At the right as we enter are the large sinks. In the corner large range. Around the sides are dressers, shelves for dishes, black boards, etc. A counter is placed near the center of the room, forming three sides of 8 square, leaving space in the center for the teacher. The pupils are seated upon sliding seats, so that when the order to stand is given these seats may be pushed under the table out of the way. At regular intervals are placed some dozen or more gas stoves. Before each pupil are two little drawers, the upper one for book and papers. The lower for cap, apron, and towels.
 Imagine, if you can, twenty or more boys seated around this counter, each with cap, apron and protecting slums of white linen, ceipts which they are going to try by and by. To day the lesson is on 'batters," griddles cakes and pop. overs. Each one has finished writing. All rise, the seats are pushed in,
 a small moulding board is placed before each boy. Three boys acting as housekeepers sup ply the rest with large bowls, measuring cups, spoons, flour and everything needful. Then the teacher asks:
 "What is a batter 2" "Well, Johnny" "A batter is something liquid" "Is water batter?"
 "No; 'tis something liquid that you put flour in to thicken."
 "A batter is something thick that you put liquid in to thin." After this question was satisfactorily set- tied most puzzling one arose. 'Which is the most-a spoonful of melted butter or a spoonful of butter mslteds" How many grown up "boys" could give tho cor rect answer without stopping to thinks They all decide that soda and baking powder give
 the light quality, butter the crispneas, and,
 after some dispute, that one-quarter of tea spoonful is equal to tablespoonful. At last all is mixed ready for cooking. A housekeeper Is sent to the dresser for carv- ing knife to cut the pork for the grlddles. On the way back a boys cap is held aloft and the knife brandished over his scalp-lock in threatening style. You must remember that these are boys with all the love of fun usually credited to boys, even though they do look solemn as owls and ss wise as five thousand dollar chef.
 Such beating as those griddle cakes re- ceived! When one boy was tired another stood ready to relieve him. It was beating. No stirring was allowed after tho first, as
 that destroyed the lightness. Suddenly,
 "When shall we turn thema"
 "When brown on the bottom" "When you try to and they don't break" "When As each cake was taken from the griddle 6 boy buttered it; another sifted sugar over it. Of course there were mishaps. One turned his upon the griddle handle, another
 overheard completely; but, on the whole, everyone did we'll. The teacher announced that they only had five minutes left for that
 part of the lesson. One boy remarked, I assure you 1t did not. They were good; I ate one. The dishes were cleared away, fresh ones brought out, the ovens placed over the little stoves. The pop-overe were as euc. csssful as the griddle cakes.
 In the report taken one boy had made eight dishes at home since the last lesson, all had prepared two or more, and another bright l little fellow hsd cooked the dinners at night for a week, being the s'only daughter" his and prepare toast without burning it while she was i'll.
 While tho small boys and girls are busy in school their brothers and sisters have been ] improving the fine slsighing of the past two
 weeks. Such lovely moonlight nights as we
 have been having! So much the moon will have to answer for.
 |
 music. Too much, almost. One wonders how one small head can hold it all. For once
 all must feel satisfied. for if one does not care | to go out to the Meehanies' building to hear
 the Italian opera, stay here and go to the
 German season. or if that fails wait for our
 Handel and Hayden festival beginning the
 9th of April. As for the theater we have
 been flooded with good things from Dixey te
 Salvini.
 Lent of course made some difference in the
 whirl of gaiety, but there are many quie,
 little family dinners, which prove to be
 very enjoyable. Very few people have giver
 up whist or musioalss either during Lent a far as have ascertained.
 Yesterday afternoon Rev. Hsber Newton gave his last lecture on socialism at Fremont
 temple before large and representative au'
 dienoe. There seems to be moro or less dis
 cussion going on in the different churches
 regarding his latest movement.
 If anyone wishes to visit Boston when
 there is sslots going on" come now for th'
 next month or six weeks. Everybody car
 be satisfied. T. H.