The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-16

Out and About
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Mrs. Mary ]. Lincoln of Boston, ed
itor of the American Kitchen Maya
zine, and the author of numerous cook
ing books and books on household eco
Monies, told a large audience at the
| Woman's Club yesterday afternoon,
that the cheap cuts Of meat were quite
4 as nutritious as the expensive ones,
that purchasing provisions in small
/ quantities was the most economical,
and that every housewife should keep
a daily memorandum of expenditures.
Her subject was Economical buying"
In introducing it, she spoke in q gem
eral way of marketing and buying as
| taking prominent place in the life of
women; compared the process of mar
keting in ancient and modern times,
and the old pantries and closets with
the modern hygienic ones, and de-
scribed the old corner store and its
modern representative. Then she
went on to speak of economical buying,
which she divided into two great di-
yisions-the buying in quantities for
storage, and the purchase from day to
day. Taking up the first, she said it
/ depended entirely on your income-it
might be wise for some, unwise for
| others. Purchasing in large quanti
ties was often spoken of as eXtrava-
gance, but free expenditure was not
necessarily extravaganza. The number
of persons in the family, their age
and physical condition, had a bearing
on this question. as also on the ques-
ton of strong, stimulating food. The
conVeniences for storage, the cellar,
whether it is damp or cold or warm,
the size of the refrigerator, ETC., must
all be considered.
Accessibility to markets is another
thing to consider. Although doubtless
there is economy in purchasing many
things wholesale, too much stress is
laid on the economy of it-as the ten
dency is to waste when one has large
quantity of anything on hand. Mrs.
Lincoln said she had found it most
economical to buy in small quantities
The speaker next spoke of the care
of household articles. Starch, soda and
boraX, she said, might be bought in
large quantities, but naphtha gasoline
and things that evaporate should be
purchased only as one needs them. Of
flour it is estimated that one person
will eat one barrel in a year, but it is
unwiSe for a small family to buy a
barrel at a time. To buy it in bags
is the best way. Breakfast cereals are
another thing that should be bought in
small quantities. Those are best that
come in packages, but the contents
should be emptied at once into glass
or tin jars. Cornstarch, rice and tapi-
oca are easier to keep, but These also
should be put in glass or earthen-
ware vessels, AMI all should be labelled
plainly, to obviate the having to taste
things before one uses them.
Crackers and waters should be
bought by the month, as they loose
their crispness when kept Coffee
should not be bought in large quantities
| nor exposed to light and air, but, on the
other hand, tea does not deteriorate.
If extracts are freely used in the
family, there is economy in buying
them in large quantities, if they are
| kept tightly corked. Dried and canned
fruits may be bought by the season;
| so may oil and lard, but it is not wise
to buy sugar by the barrel, as more
| than is necessary is used.
Among perishable supplies are butter,
eggs, cheese, fruits and sailed and fresh
| fish. There is no economy, said Mrs.
Lincoln, in buying stale eggs; it is bet
ter to economic on them than to try to
preserve them by any of the methods. In
winter when eggs are dear, do not make
! angel and other cakes that require
them. Have them for breakfast, but
vary them with articles that are in sea-
| son. Rancid butter would better be
| thrown away. On the other hand do not
buy gilt-edged butter unless your purse
will permit There are so many different
kinds of cheese that it is best not to buy
very much of one kind, but to change
often. Apples, potatoes and some other
vegetables are cheaper by the whole
| sale only when used every day. Apples
! should be inspected often, while all
| roots grown underground keep better
| if packed in sand.
Meat and summer vegetables are arti-
| cles that can be economical if one
| can restrain himself from buying the
| first of the latter and the best of the
former. The first peas and asparagus
are always dear and disappointing and
spoil our appetite for the perfect fruits
Parsley, cucumbers, celery and water
cress may be kept fresh for days if
| picked over, wrapped in wet napkin
and laid in the refrigerator.
Dried and canned fruits should be
bought in large stock. AS for meats it
may be said that on no point is there
so much waste or culinary ignorance.
Americans pride themselves on eating
the most expensive meats and it is hard
to convince them that there are no more
nutritious than the cheaper parts. In
large family it may be good economy to
buy a side of beef but small family
will find side OF lamb or mutton more
economical and easier to dispose of. If
money is an item do without so much
meat and take eggs and milk instead.
Indian corn, beans and peas, maca-
of nutritious foods, but they require
considerable fuel to cook and good di-
gestions to digest.
AS to where to buy, the best advice
is to experiment among the provision
Dealers then if you can find one who
suits you, give him your trade and
show him that you trust him, and you
will be better served than if you go
bargain hunting. There is an advan-
tage in daily or regular marketing, but
there is great difference of opinion
on cash and monthly payments. One
thing is sure-it is wrong to run up
bills unless you are morally sure you
can pay them. People buy more on
monthly bill. In concluding, the speaker
| recommended the housewife to keep a
| daily account book, so that at the end
Of the month or year she might know
| just how the money had gone.
| After her lecture, Mrs. Lincoln was
asked number of questions by the
audience, which seemed greatly inter-
ested,
Prof. Kuno FRANKIE of Harvard col
| lege spoke last evening at the second
of the series of lectures before the
Worcester Art Socity in Memorial hall.
| His subject was on the masters of
| the Rhenish, Franconian and Swabian
schools, and dealt especially with the
religious paintings. The next lecture
of the series will be given on Jan. 10,
and the subject will be ''Duerers bibli-