The record-union., 1899-04-11
Rather Unexpected.

Silly eh Sil0EI- time d$u we lSde q iiioSS
interesting article in one of the leading
dailies about milk and the immense
quantity canned for use in the United
States. The number of cans stated
was so great that we had to read the
line of figures over the second time to
be sure of the millions indicated
The various uses to which condensed
milk is put is growing in extent every
year, and its recommendations by both
physicians and food experts may soon
make the consumption of raw milk in
cities only trade note
The proper, staid city of Philadelphia
had never passed through such clean
winter weather as that season of 1888,
and the Street Cleaning Department
had shaken hands with itself in a con-
gratulatory way when thinking over
what a beautiful report would be made
to the ever gullible public of the care
exercised in it's expenditures.
The evening in question was briskly
cool for March, and the light whirling
snow frightened up the pedestrians
and made more cheerful the glare OF
gas lights from many shop windows.
Next morning what a difference! for
the fierce wind and the tremendous fall
of snow and the lowness Of tempera-
ture had blocked everything. Not a
car or wagon could be seen in any
direction, and the almost futile efforts
OF the few men trying to shovel path
ways was pitiable.
How natural it all seemed to us, for
1t brought back the memory of many
Western blizzards we had faced, and
soon We had put on the old time ulster,
fur cap, mittens and huge goloshes, and
were plowing our way with keen en-
Joyment through the many heavy drifts.
All day the storm had ragged unabated,
shutting off communication with the
outside world and holding thousands Of
people prisoners in the great passenger
depots of the railroads.
Nothing could come in, nothing could
go out from the city, so that by the Sec
ond day the store of provisions had
shortened materially, and milk from the
dairy farms was not to be had at any
price. The morning of the storm we
had received a most charming reminder
from a friend of our promise to dine
the next day, and an enjoinder mot
to faH''
Oh, yes we kept the engagement!
Ride? Oh, no! there wasn't thing
on wheels or runners that could get
through, but the walking was all right
II you didn't mind wading through an
eternity of snow.
The welcome really repaid the exer-
tion, for the snow would have been
excuse enough for not coming if one
mad been necessary. and we slipped off
our heavy coverings just as the tinkle
of a distant bell announced dinner. The
hostess, with natural anxiety, referred
to the condition Of the markets, the in
ability to procure what might have been
more acceptable, and was making fur
ther explanation, when the arrival of
soup interrupted.
The gracious look of the host to his
wife as he stirred the soup with the
ladle. was explained by his saying,
We'll, dear, this is a treat, my favorite,
too. clam soup; and then helped it out,
beaming broader satisfaction when he
had at last served himself. AS guest
we We're helped first, and after tasting
the soup, we dropped our spoon and
with caution born of long experience,
opened the conversation and waited.
In moment more the smile of satis-
faction on the doctors face changed to
absolute CONSERVATION, and instantly
he shouted Good heavens, wifei what
is the matter with this clam soup? The
cook has sugared it.n
The usually pale face of the sweet
wife turned a most roseate hue as she
explained, We'll, dear, you know we
couldn't get milk anywhere, and as cook
said there was can of condensed milk
in the house we used it, and I thought
you might like it anyway, if it was a
trffie sweet" and her lips trembled just
a little.
e 4 do, my dear" roared the jolly lit
tie doctor, but you know it was rather
Robert Mitchell Floyd, in
New England Grocer.