Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-11-18

Special Correspondence OF Gazette and journal
New York, Nov l2.-lt came on the post
card. did this request. 1t was from u man,
mud he said: Dear Bah, / wish YOU would
talk little about things to eat" II was u
Fortunate request, since il he had asked ne
"a discuss parliamentary law or the advnn-
ayes Of Crack in every dav life, or de-
inanded my opinion regarding some very |
abstruse book, should have been unable to
answer him. But have opinions on things |
70 eat. very decided opinions, and, tlatter |
myself very sensible opinions. Once in /
awhile one is privileged To how to oneself |
and appreciate ones own ability. and do |
this when it comes TO choosing dinner.
Talking about eating, did YOU ever happen |
tuihink that we were Tie most fortunate |
people in the wnrld-we people who live i'll
the lited states? There are not more than
two months in the year when fruit is not
plentiful and cheap, and during these two
months We have superb apples and fine
nuts. We have the best heci and mutton.
quantities of game, a great deal of good fish,
Tie greatest variety of vegetables and an
embarrassment of riches as far as frnt
goes. But there are women who wonner
what they can order for dinner. The Eng
lish or French woman looks at us with
horror, She cannot understand our great
waste. She does not realize, that we are a
Young nation, and that everything to eat IS
so plentiful that we do not find the necessity
Cor economy that exists in the older COIN
tries and those where the earth is less boun-
.tiful. ,.
sometimes think that all over this big
land Of ours the earth absolutely laughs, be-
cause IL gives forth such good things Our
cousin across the sea pays 80 Tor pine
ample and S25 for q tasteless melon. The
pineapple is put on the table when great
dinner is given. On its first appearance u IS
not cut. but is simply decoration. On Its
second appearance it will he cut in tiny
squares, ono given to each person. and that
pineapple is made to serve for at least three
dinners A melon has the sametreatment
accorded to it. And. while it IS gloated over,
IT no more compares with our magnificent
watermeons and our spicy cantaloupes than
filtered water does with the richest Dur
gundy.
the eating line we do not appreciate 1t. Inc
average American woman does not study
out how each dish can be made most dainty
and most attractive. Her market basket
comes home filled to the brim, and for
dessert she can choose many fruits and
many sweets, where her English or French
cousin has but two or three fruits from
which to make her choice and is forced to
fail back on made dishes We have too
much, and the consequence is that in the
average household proper service ana
economy are unknown.
Until within the last 10 years the Ameri'
can dinner consisted of heavy meat,
served with rs many vegetables as tne
market afforded, all put upon the table al
once, aud topped off with rich dessert;
oitenest pastry or puddng-no fruit--and
.ea or coffee served with the main dinner
NJ cunrse all this was wrong, You who are
DELICATE in your taste lose all appetite wher
the steam from vegetable OF which you
do not care flies in your face. You who ar
tired and have hoped to find rest during thu
dinner hour become disguised at seeing s.
much, and consequently can eat but little
and there is waste and waste and waste
Even among the people that we call poo
there are no such hungry faces us are note'
among the poor in the old countries. II
the proper seasons our poor get fruit OF tn
best, and only occasionally IS aDsolut
starvation found While absolute starvation
my friend, exstsleYery day in the maSnii
cent city of Londbd ~
The first mistake made by the American
housekeeper is that she buys in too grea
quantities. She would consider hersel
mean ii she locked up her groceries. An
as for giving out the quantity required 10
every day she would suo(t at that as stingl
The wiser woman who elects to buy enonE
TO last for one week finds but little waste ]
her household, for. before purchasing Sd
has discovered Just how much OF each WI
last for certain length of time, so that n
impertinent cook can tell her that she DOT
not know what she Is talking about
She is a poor housekeeper who does nj
comprehend the meaning OF the order whc
she gives, and it is strange, but true th
the best housekecpers IN Ihls country ~
among the very wealthy. The vile OF u
man who has 81, 900 year who keeps 81
maid ia less art to study household econom
than the wife of the millionaire, who has
4 housekeeper and many servants uhaer ~
control. You insist upon saying that Whe
there is only 4 moderate income there ca
MOI he daintiness OF service, ana tell 70
/. I In nv pprsh1tlul GXDeElpuEe, n
this is not true.
=, The woman who looks well to the way
her household can be economical, can have
dainty table. can offer appeli1ing dishes
her husband, and yet sine need not
overworked nor need she leave her tat
for one minute during dinner. Proper
trained, the maid who has cooked III
ncr can serve it. | No not advise 7
housekeepcr who has determined 70
right 10 engage as her one MAD
elderly woman who has what the S
wants call set ways" But instead lei !
choose a Young woman, one al least Nount
Than herself, who has lived in this capac
with no one but her, for then she cam
cite to her just how Mrs. br n'N OF NJ
Black managed her affairs Inc aver
maid declines to wear cap. regarding
as n badge of serYitude. pf course Z
is folly. But in few households WI
one maid is kept can she ne lhauceu
assume the pretty white measures s' VIC,
mistress has no trouble i'll convincing
maid that for reasons OF cleanliness, as Y
MS suitability, il is best for her TO wear
hair nerfectly plain while III the kitcl
ar tine diuing-rounl. Then she VIII
object 10 the long white apron ana =
she finds it becoming, to the deep WI
collar. She learns-does the Wiling nlul
to care for her aprons and 10 nave W, !
The white one the dark ginShan one
protects her frock while she is away u
The dining room and dishing up her am
You look al me with surprise "heh ! III
that in a household where there Is only
maid dinner can be served III Igri
courses, and the lady OF the houst ii is y,
no necessity nor be Obliged 10 EiNe W
position as hostess for one ihln minus.
course it is impossible TO accoihl3iiis to
with u large family, but whet g,. W. !, so,
done Tho proof OF this pudding is ltS
ing. ana will cite to you the three H.
in a household that goes ON as TeSu M
does the town clock honSehola WI
consists of three grown up peoplc ~, ~,
which none but the maid ana Tue llis ;,
has ANYTHING to do with the mouse II
auement, Breakfast which IS serVeu
l O'clock. consists usually ut eS@s ~ Z
form, of oatmeal OF some other GeIvH ~
coffee made in the best manner lhS
toast or hot bread always prel a'e ~
fruit. As long as they are IN season "
loupes are served, but wheh liie es,, a. III il
grapes, pears, oranges or apples G IN e. T.,
be found US an Introduction " the -
fast. v.,b,
know your breakfast table hnn ,i u"
heavy beefsteak --perhups thag Noo'n u H. H.
Il of desolation pork, but certainly = -
IA I,.a Y.,t,, Vi