Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-08-02
COOKING.

UieHCchSht eAtIClScS u Tue W. II. D.
June 10, 1902:
Conceded that the home is the foun-
dation, the nucleus of the nation. can
we not declare the kitchen to be the
nucleus of the home? In the building
of home we can dispense with every
apartment except the kitchen, because
that is the temple and shrine of the
one absolutely essential piece of furni-
ture-the cooking stove.
Marvellous as have been our mechani-
cal and scientific improvements since
the days we herded in caves, no where
have there been greater marvels ac-
compl.shed than in the appliances of
the kitchen. 1t it far cry from the
hot ashes of the savage to the auto
matte eggboiler.
improvement in cooking facilities
/ implies an equal advance in cookery.
Have we advanced? True, we no long
/ er roast an animal whole, tearing from
/ it such portions as we desire, finging
| the bones and remnants over our
/ shoulders we have now our cannelous
| and croquettes. But how much more
do we know of the chemical properties
and combinations of foods or of their
nutritive values, or how widely is the
knowledge we have, applied? We can
enumerate the classes of foods, recite
/ glibly their ultimate elements, but
the most of us are rather vague as
/ to just what food contains these ele-
ments or how best to prepare 1t so
that they may be extracted. Is it un
worthy orr consideration?
| Progressive farmers study carefully
what forms a balanced ration for the
cow or horse. Are the rat:ons for a
human being less important? Insanity
experts tell us that mental derange
me mt is frequently traced to imperfect
nutrition, physicians are constantly
reminding us that in every form of
disease diet is as important as drugs.
That food is our fuel, our working
| force admits of no denial; as certainly
then would it's preparation be based
upon scientific principles OF hygiene if
it were given its proper Importance in
the consideration of health.
Now if food is to be prepared solely
with an eye to its nutritive value, it
must be immaterial whether it is pre-
pared by a cook or u chemist, whether
we get it in the form of broiled NUT
ton chop or in neat little tasteless
tablet, ignoring the pleasures of the
palate. But good digestion waits
on appetite, and health on both.
Many men have no appetite and their
number is increasing in proportion to
the increase in sedentary occupations.
For such as these, those who re uire
nourishment yet do not crave it, the
food must be tempting as well as nour-
ishing, the cooking of it an art as
well as a science, The foods nature
gives us cooked by the sun and ready
/ for use are not only a delight to the
palate, but Joy to the eye-tbe Grim
son strawberry, the rosy peach, the
purpling grape
1t SO happens that for ages since
the days when Sarah took the three
measures of fine meal and kneaded it
into cakes and baked it upon the hearth
for the heavenly visitors, the kitchen
has been especially the realm Of wo-
man We would then naturally expect
to find her after all these centuries of
practice, thoroughly conversant with
the resources and possibilities of her
kingdom. But do we? And if not,
why not?
There is hardly profession or walk
in life in which women have not en-
tered, from lawyers to laundresses
from parsons to pilots. They have
achieved distinction and won fame
national and International but has it
ever been as n cook? True we have
our Mrs. Lincoln and scores of lesser
lights hut have we ever had a Vatel, a
Careme, a Gorot or Il Joseph? And
wonder why. 1t is not that the profess
sion is lily paid If a maker Of perfect
sauces-mind you sauces alone-can
command $500 month what would he
the salary of chief cook? The salary
OF the chef of the Waldorf Astoria is
SO, 600 year
The disparity in the wages of men
and women engaged in the same work
is attributed to the fact that women do
not prepare thoroughly, looking upon
their occupations as temporary, engag-
ing in them only untiI a man comes
holding out a wedding ring, Is the
greater part of a womans working
life before or after the advent Of this
obliging man@ If it is after, then the
, preparation Of food cannot be a tenn
porary occupation for that IS the chief
work, actual or vicarious, of the aver
aca married woman