Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-12-21
HOMEMAKERS COLUMN.
on topics o. inlsrss, oshs lsdiss
COLUMN. Oxford Democrat. PARA. Maine.

A CHAT ABOUT ENGLISH CAKES.
IL has been said that the English cele-
brate oil OCCASIONS with some kind Of
cake especially dedicated to e. And
there is certainly some truth In the
statement England II not by
any means the only country where cakes
are honored In this way. Bride cake,
for instance, Il Of very ancient origin,
and In oldeu times the use Of cake ut all
religious festivals was almost universal.
Ii would be most interesting study to
trace the origin Of our cakes Of to-day
back to those olden days Of ancient
splendors and mysterious religious rites.
Certain II II that for time immemorisl
poetry and sentiment have attached
themselves 10 q strange degree to these
cakes Of festivals, which even this nine
tenth century, with all Its "national'
ideas has not quite chased away.
The christening Of our children would
hardly seem complete without the
christening cake, generally respondent
In white and silver icing, and almost "a
rich as wedding cake itself.
Then the birthday cake appears from
year TO year, sometimes decorated In the
German manner with "a many candles rs
the hero OF the day can count summers
past.
The wedding cake hiss lost none OF IL.
former glory, though no longer sent
around to friends Ia dainty little toxes,
tied up with white ribbon. Aud though
many Of the pretty old superstitions
are gradually dying, the fair bridesmaids
still sire known TO sleep With small
piece Of Wedding cake under their pill.
lows, that vision OF their knights may
be given them In their dreams.
Not many years ago the custom OF
sending funeral cake Kind Of rich
sponge finger--arouBd TO the friends OF
the c.psrt' d, with pair Of black gloves
and hat band Was still In vogue. This
custom has now entirely disappeared.
The fifth Of November brings the gin
eeibread parties, and gingerbread, by the
Way, may found all the year around
10 Yorkshire, and II well made Is by nc
means to DC despised.
Then there Il the bonny Christms.
cake, bringing Joy to the heart Of thu
email boy aud fun aud merriment 10 all
for In its rich Interior IL often hidden /
ring and a thimble. The very though,
Of n Christmas cake brings before my
eyes the memory OF merry, happy scenes
for what can be happier than . real old
fashioned Christmas party, which younl
and old enjoy alike, when fun and froli,
are the order Of the day:
The old Twelfth Nigh, cake. In Older
times one OF the dearest Of them all. !,
now seldom seen. Shroye Tuesday It'll
brings Its pancakes. These cakes AT,
said TO b, OF very ancient origin. The,
we're offered 10 the sun by the pagan
Saxons. The English pancake Ia no
quite Ike the American, being thinne
sud crisper. Ia f,rmhouses piles foo
or more 10 height NAV sometimes b
seen, IL being the chief concern OF tn
day 10 make and eat pancakes. Vel
can | remember running home frou
school To have a delicious pancake fresl
from the pan. They are never so nic'
ne when eaten In this way.
The hot-cross buns must not be for
gotten. They form the breakfast OF al
good church people on Good Friday
The old street cry OF "Hot cross buns
hot cross buns; one penny, two pen
ny: hot cross buns" may still be heard
very early on Good Friday morning II
some districts. These buns are, o
course, very plain. They are highly
glsz red, and have cross on the top.
Most countries have their own hsrves
cake, ba, they are generally made Will
yeast, and have some fruit In them.
All kinds Of gingerbread make ,hei
appearance at fair time; Indeed, thel
are In many places all that Is left Of tn
fair. Some are made Ia the shape o
men and animals, aud are gilded, henc'
the old saying that takes the gilt OF
the gingerbread" Among these may b
found the lion and the unicorn, He
Msje.ty, her chief ministers, and so on
But IL Il not TO times aud seasons VI
owe all our own best cakes. NAM
places, too, are celebrated for specialize
In the art Of cake making. What travel
er on the Great Western Railway, foI
insts nee, Is not familiar with the LITTLE
packets OF Banbury cakes, 10 be founC
at all stations along the line: The,
sre somewhat indigestible production
II Is true, being made Of puff pastry
with rich mixture inside.
The quaint town OF Shrea sbury claims
the delicious little biscuits known Al
shrewsbury cakes. Americans woult
call them cookies. Cornwall Is famous
Tor It's sffron cakes. To those unsccus
toned 10 IL the flavor IL often found dis
,greeable, but one can easily imagine
what delight piece OF this once f.milial
bright yellow cake would give 10 III
exile from his country. The rAisin loa
is m especial fxvorite In Sxffordshire
IL l. simply made from bread dough
nth the addition Of little fruit, sugar
butter aud spice, with sometimes an egg
The country people OF Wsrwickshir,
make what they call lard cakes. Thes,
also are made from bread dough, spreaC
it'll lard and rolled out thinly severa
times. Some little time ago, when cycl
ing with q friend 10 Warwickshire, u
fell 10 my lot TO Unexpectedly assist II
cooking one Of these lard cakes. IL wa
in little village near Henley-in-Arden
Nv friend and had had good Ions
run. and felt hot, dusty and tired, s,
| looked about for some place Of refresh
ment. At length very small country
inn came In view, which we boldly enter
ed. For some time no one appeared Il
greet US, but at last very old woman
presented herself 10 clean white apron
md lilac sun bonnet. When We mad,
her understand our wants, she was hos
pitality itself, but alas. the larder wa
empty. So with many apologies ant
perfect faith Ia our honesty, she left u
in sole charge OF the inn, while she wen
% get eggs, etc, from n peighbor
There's n cake In the oven," she said
~ she went out. "Will We be pleased I,
look arter 1t aud see 1t don't be burnin'g'
This was the lard cake, and very good !
proved to be, when the old lady returned
with the beautiful fresh eggs, and ",
were seated at her simple table, drink
ing tea from her best china and listening
10 tales Of the village and countr,
around; for, she observed, II 1t wer,
agreeable to us, she would "set cup
for herself. We discovered, by IN,
way, that the old lady lived all alone
excepting for the occasional visits o
her little granddaughter, and managed
to keep the tiny place clean and bright
and to supply the simple needs Of he
customers.
Though the bell of the muffin man i
not heard so often as 1t was In forme
times, winter itself does not come NOR,
surely than does the muffin In Novem
Der.
Many other cakes might be mentioned
but enough has been said to show some
thing ofthe interest to be found 10 thi,
every day subject.
YORKSHIRE GINGERBREAD.