Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-28


Serving Meals in Hot Weather.
To one who observes II must be app1r-
ent that the pendulum of good tasse
swings TO the extreme of fadism in gas
tronomic as in other fields. Refined in
stinct dictates certain rules, less refinei
instinct ampiiies them. and unreflned in
stinct carries them into absurdities. As
an Instance Of the progressive sequence
tWhich means anything but progress take
the matter of Il table which .'aupeals to
the eye" When the idea is carried out
advisedly, nothing could be better. more
sensible and delightfully."- satisfactory. But
the situation Is clearly absurd and inez-
cusable. Caterers are chiefly responsible
for the strain put upon our tolerance by
present vogue. They have undoubtedly
come 10 regard the attractive appearance
of dish Of first importance, its quality
u secondary consideration. Any one who
has longed for something that was really
excellent At pink teas white and
gold. or "all-green" luncheons, OF at
elaborate evening reception buffets, will
confirm the statement. Even where there
- no question Of color scheme. the fad
ism Of csthetics is still oppressive. A.
The force of bad example is no less potent
IN culinary matters than in other things
the ambitious housewife finds herself to-
day cuitivating the aesthetics OF the eye
10 the frequent sacrifice Of far more i'm
portant considerations
There is no reason why dishes should
not be both pretty to look at and delight
to the palate; but If they can be only one.
surely the palate has the first cain. Tho
quality Of a soup IS of vastly more i'm
portaHce than its color or the tureen i'm
which it is served. The fine cooking Of Il
roast more important than its garnshing
IN the serving. a solid. iiavorleSs GRO
quette. even If done to turn. laid on an
exquisite napkin on an artistic plate with
a dainty bit of green at its beautifully
Ns4d mod
pointment-a mean substitute for an hon
est. well made hash which could satisfy
and please the palate.
a sham j. a sham IN any guise and per
haps there is no more eXasperating and
lneXcuSablc sham IN the world than ia
bic sham-certaiHly none which evo1es
sWiftcr diSappoint ment and contempt.
And there l. no time when such Shams
are more unbearable. more impatiently
received. than in midsummer. when our
supply Il 81 abundant and at its best.
Gastronomic morality for dog-dayi
should mean telling appeal TO the appe-
t1te-One that includes refrcShment and
pleasure to tho eye. Winter appetites
need no pricking. but those Of the sum
mer flag. There are days when the whole
system drOOpS, and these days are the
opportunity for the housewife and mother
who is good general and loving one
The stay-at-homes Cand most Of the world
stays at home. perforce) may be as com
Portable and unwearied as need be. if
careful thought. management and skill in
the right quarter are brought into play.
The right quarter. of course. means the
mother Of the family: hut her reward goes
with her effort. since loving service Is es-
tablishing itself as the best definition Of
happiness.
OF all theories which need exploding.
the one which stands first is that which
associates costlness with beauty Moth
ing could he more misleading. and the
most practical thing that could be donc
for us and our homes would be TO add
the study of true art principles to our
common education. The woman whose es-
thctic sense suffers from her surround
inSs has only to set about making her
nome harmonious and beautiful. What.
without money? Without more than is
spent TO make it inharmonious and I'M
lovely. The plainest room may be har-
monious and the simplest table a delight
by the exercise of care. taste ana easily
acquired knowledge.
dining rooms furnishings may proper
~ ne 50 simple that there exists little eN-
cuse for inharmony. The wall aud floor
coverings, the table. chairs side-board
and window dressings are the only neces-
Sary considerations. They may cost many
hundreds. Or but few dollars and be
equally tasteful and harmonious As for
the table. however plain the service and
rare. II can and should be made tempting
II both appetite and eye. There is in
nlne out OF every ten households no
shadow of excuse for disorder or care
iessncsS in this important phase of life
phase which has to do not only with
mental possibilities and our bent" Tor
order in all other things.
The first special table item of import
ancc is the cloth. and table linen in every
well regulated household should be re-
Sarded as that department of laundry
work requiring the first and greatest care
A badly Numbered cloth is of necessity
an indictment against the housekeeper
Inc iaundrcSs or general servant may be
to blame. but the real responsibility rest
with the authority who accepts such work
Al haarR = M Cd
der-pad of cotton table felt is consist
ent with the most modest table expendi-
tlire. and It's absence argues either lack
OF care or ignorance Of table propripties
These pads require only occasional wash
ing; they make the cloth look heavier ami
smoother. and above all they promote
nolse!essness. The laying Of the table
should always be done with eXactnesS
everything showing that order which in
itself is soothing and refreshing. The best
OF dinners may be spoiled by careless.
dlsorderly serving. and the simplest meal
made enjoyable by the order and the evil
dence of a directing taste.
Even slender purses can afford the lux
ury of few flowers for the table in the
season of flowers, and no table should
be without them. They are so reStful. |
so gratefully inspiriting when one is fag-
ged, hot or tired by general weather condi- !
tons. n Towering plant may be substi- |
tuted for cut flowers acceptably bit |
whether plant or flowers be used. only |
those without heavy odors should be |
chosen.
1t is wonderful how pretty and tasteful |
a table may be made with the plainest |
table service if the cloth is wei Numbered. !
each article arranged with care and or |
der. and there is added the transforming |
touch of bunch of bloom. Even a knot |
or field daisies sets seal of refinement |
upon table which is not to be disputed |
In summer ii costs but trifle to add 1,
pretty furnishings to various dishes ANA |
such touches add to their act !
ual enjoyment.
Let nose who can afford it land in mos /
places ii is an inexpensive luxury make |
much of ice on the summer table; not in |
lce-Water necessarily but broken into |
small pieces and placed under or over |
such articles as need chilling to be gpod. |
such as cucumbers, small melons. butter, |
etc. Not much is needed. but the very |
sight of it is cooling and refreshing. For
a midsummer company dinner. luncheon |
or supper. there is nothing that makes |
a more effective centre-piece than cube |
of clear ice. fern-trimmed at the base. /
with hole in the top made with cot |
poker to hold flowers. 1t should be plac-
ed on slat-barred dripping pan. which in |
turn should stand on thin board of like !
size all this foundation being concealed |
by the ferns or other green.-N oman's /
Home Companion.