The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-02
''Bab'' Writes Bright
Words OF Wisdom

he Change was forced before me in
rather an odd way. My maternal parent
was educated in the old schoOi-that
SCHOOL which teaches that you cannot
eoin1nand unless you are able to MI your
own orders; that there must always De
SHOWN certain respect to anything mas
cuiine. and there must always come
from anything masculine the utmost sym
pathy and most perfect consideration 10 Il
lady, OF course this school is Old 1asn-
Toned nowadays, but it was good sciiooi,
and school that taught its graduates 10
be good housekeepers, devoted mothers,
and faithful wives 1t was a school III
which the word divorce was counted
decidedly improper for young lazy 10
speak. Since when God Himself united
two people together in the holy bonds or
matrimony until death did them part,
there was no suggestion that these two,
even if they had made mistake, could
be separated by civil laws. 1t Is true
that occasionally, when woman mad
borne brutality. unfaithfulness- and
drunkenness from man, it was permit
ted her, if the living with him caused a
scandal. to 90 away from him and take
her little children with her: but no SOCIAL
law ever limited at the possibility of either
of these two people marrying again In
fact. how could they marry again! Then,
too. the woman who had suffered much
before she left the man whom she had
chosen to be her husband and the father
of her children. though given certain
sympathy, never quite reclaimed her posi-
ton among the other matrons. for 1t was
IL cl,., To h1
wisdom in the beginning. Harsh? WE'LL
perhaps it was; but in those days people
married for better or for worse, and not
merely to enjoy each others society for a
short time and then to separate.
But all this is getting away from what
my maternal parent said. We were at
luncheon. the table was charmingly dec
grated, although | confess to not caring
for ribbons as table trimming, since all
its decorations, with the exception of the
flowers, should assert themselves as be
ing capable of standing hard rubbing and
plenty of soap and water Il do not mean
that hard Rubbing should be given to fine
cut glass; Well, after the luncheon was
over and we were back in The Hut,
my maternal parent surprised me by say
ing: MY dear. l think | shall write a
note to Theodore, asking her to send me
the recipe for that cream soup. because
it's the first time I've ever seen you en-
JOY a soup of that kind" | did not want
to laugh at her, for she's a bit tender
hearted. In little while she got out the
writing implements, wrote her request in
her simple quaint fashion, sealed the en-
yelope with wax, and sent it on its mis-
sion. Then l asked her: do you sup
pose that your hostess knows anything
about the making of that soup! 1t either
came from some famous restaurateur, or
her chef composed it, but no matter how
it had its birth, she will be more sur
prised at getting your letter than If you
asked her for one of the babies"
But" continued my mater, "hOw can
a good housekeeper give orders unless
she fully understands the manner OF
their execution? And, if, as yon say, her
chef made it, then / know exactly what
she will do. She will go to the kitchen
armed with bit of paper and pencil,
ask him for the desired information,
write it down very carefully, and | shall
get it. probably by the next mail Again
laughed And my mother said: Il wish
YOU wouldn't laugh in that way; it isn't
respectful"
Mater answered /, in my most re-
spectful tone, If Theodore asked her
chef to teach her anything about cooking,
he would, with the greatest promptness,
notify her of his immediate departure.
The old, old school, in which you were
trained, appealed, wisely enough, to the
appetites of their mankind, and when you
had concocted, or old Nanny May had
made some specially fine dish the great
est compliment was paid you If your
neighbors and friends asked for copy
of the recipe, wrote it out IN the family
cock book, and underneath it added: Tins
was given me by my dear friend and
neighbor, Elinor James, who vouches for
its goodness Nowadays the exchange OF
opinions about dishes is counted bad
form. We have taken from the French
their dea of serving dinners, but we have
not taken from them the simplicity which
governs any private household in France.
no matter how great its wealth may be.
Take the woman whose husband is said
t. make a good income-that very vague
description of affairs-and you will find
elaborately dressed, when a few flowers
in graceful vase would have been much
more artistic; that she serves many
courses, including a great many vege-
tables ana a great many sweets. would
be willing 20 take oath that man, tired
out after his busy day, is bored with such
dinner He'd rather have good soup
a joint from the best part of the meat
done to the proper turn, not more than
two vegetables with it, bit OF cheese
with the heart of head of lettuce, AND
then that mysterious dish that l do be-
lieve every man likes ,and which ne
vaguely calls ''puddin's' This may DC
made of rice, of bread, of tapioca, of Gus
tard. of all the many things that are
within the reach Of any American wo
man. Then he likes a cup OF coffee, anc
then sits at his ease, is proud of his WIFE
and never realizes how his pride has IN
creased as the dinner progressed. Wht
hasn't dined in house where, HAVING
one servant and an Overambltlous ms
tress, an attempt was made to serve al
overela borate dinner? Who hasn't ha'
that horror Of horrors, smoky soup
Overdone fish, meat that is rags, ant
sweets gotten from a confectioner $, an'
upon which hungry people must fill~up
You probably think that because. tall
SO much about things to eat l must D.
something of a glutton. NV friend, y0'