The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-07
tot UWnmen


From the days OF Jack Horner. who. in
eating his christmas pie''-that was
shaped like a coffin to represent the man
ger of Bethlehem-put in his thumb aild
pulled out a plum, 4 Christmas cake has
seemed incomplete without an abundance
of plums and spices. At other seasons dl-
gestive powers, may be taken into conF-
sheraton; but fer the especial season sf
good cheer the general motto seems to be,
the best of everything. and plenty of 1t,
says ~.IHarper's Bazaar"
our great-grandmother's receipts are
sure to be laden with and spice and
all that's nice. with frequent dashes of
brandy and wine, and such wonderful in
genuity in the way of ingredients that
each seems to exhaust the alphabet of
cooking materials.
1t would appear, however, as a saving
clause. to have been the custom to par
take sparingly of these. mountains of rich
ness at any given time. as great stress is
laid upon their keeping powers. sIndeed,
a regular fruit or black cake was built
up. as it were, at intervals, and took for
the time being the entire mind and body
of ali who were engaged in it. There Were
painful housekeepers then, as there were
painful preachers" and lacking all the
la~bor-saving appliances of the present
day. they furnished forth a feast with
infinite toll, and were usually too tired to
partake of it. Their treasured receipts
entail far less work now than they dia
then, and their fortunate descendants can
even improve upon them.
A rich fruit cake win last, if put in some
generally inaccessible place, and a little of
it, except with a ~schooboy, goes a great
way. Many persons think it absurd to
make such a thing, even If its use is APP
proved. because sit saves SO much trouble
TO get it at a confeetioner's. and it is
nearly as cheap They forget, however,
that ever when bought at the best places,
where such things are made in quantities,
there are often unpleasant surprises in
the shape of gritty substances, raisih
seeds, currant stems. etc., which imply
hasty handling, to say nothing of the
strong temptation to use inferior and even
hurtful materials.
The homemade cake is manipulated
with well-washed hands, and keen eyes
for all contraband substances, while none
but the best materials are permitted to
enter into its composition; and if less
snowy in appearance, as professionals
~ l4dtG ways lIGdl l 4eki III tAAC
of icing and general finish. it can at least
be eaten in perfect confidence.
But it is quite time to begin its manu-
faeture; and among several good receipts
for this browning triumph of the cake
makers skill, this old-fashioned formula
for Brides cake carries of the palm.
Everything that can be prepared the day
before the cake is made should be ready
at hand as by thus dividing the labor it
will not appear so herculean a task:
One pound of powdered sugar and four
teen ounces of butter are first creamed as
smoothly as possible, warming them a lit
tie at first if the weather is very cold.
Twelve eggs are then beaten to the ex-
IRENE of Iightness, and worked into the
butter and sugar alternately with a pound
of flour, stirring very hard. When we'll
mixed, add one tablespoonful of CHINA
mon, two of mace, two of cloves, sitting
them ali, and one grated nutmeg, with a
gill of cream and a half a pint of brandy.
Then three pounds of ~raisins. seeded and
halved; two pounds of sultanas, picked,
washed and dried; one pound of currants
ditto, and one pound of citron cut in strips
AL the fruits being well dredged with
-four. Mix them in by degrees all through
the mass. keeping out ~one-quarter of the
citron to strew out on top, and stir for
ten or fifteen minutes as hard as possible.
A tablespoonful of orange-fower water
added gives a delicate p%erfumed flavor.
Bake in pans lined with buttered paper,
nearly filling them; smooth with a wet
knife-bladet and bake in a moderate oven
about three hours. Leave in the pan un-
til cold; then rub it with flour, wipe with
a cloth, and ice with white-of-egg icing.
finishing with chocolate or orange icing.
Perhaps there is nothing that adds
more to the happiness of a home than the
habit of cheerfulness,g writes Mrs. F. NJ.
Colby in the December "Woman's Home
Companion" TT is a potent factor in the
secret of housekeeping, and the housewife
who has always a PLEASANT smile and a
smoothing word has already acquired one
of the most valuable accomplishments.
AS long ago as the days of the wise man
a merry counteI4nce had it's recognized
value. Yet how many neglect this mpor-
tant requirement. Some women are con-
stftutionally cross and morose; others are
weak and nervous, and are made fretful
by the exactions of their household cares.
But there is no excuse for much of the
friction tha exists in many households.
l have been in some where the atmcs-
phere seemed actually to bristle with hos
tities. Everybody was in a fret, and
wns and cross words were the rule
& not the exception. How uncomfort-
able life in such a home must be to the
inmates. as well as to the passing guests.
One learns to shun such homes as one
would a pest-house.
"A women cannot be beautiful, blu 1t
is the duty of every woman to look as well
as she can, and nothing adds more to a
wonan's goods looks than a cheerful
countenance. I have always said the
good Vicar of Wakefield, been an admirer
of happy human faces The sentiment is
universal. The pleasure thus derived
compensates for the absence of beauty,
and supplies the deficiency of symmetry
and grace.
"Cheerfulness can be cultivated and ac-
quired as well as other qualities. If ones
work is exacting and tiresome, it makes it
no1easier by being fretful. Form the habit
of being cheerful under adverse circum-
stances. Our happiness observes a stan
dard writer, is a sacred deposit for which
we must Civ account A serene and ami
able temper is among It's most efficient
preservatives 1t is a virtue not to be
gainsaid. Admiral Collingwood, one of
England's great naval heroes, in his letters