The age-herald., 1902-03-02

MT and Mrs. Daniel Pratt of Prattville,
 Ala.-Photo by Harrison.
 <~v<~~~~>~<-><< ing school is the most practical work yet undertaken by the club.
 Next to the men who are wonderfully excited over the vision of the delicious dinners that will be served to them after their wives attend few cooking lectures is PeneIope of the kitchen. She Is bother ing her woolly head over the prospect of being discharged almost any day that her mistress may come home from the cooking class. Penelope is disturbed over the situation that has presented itself to her mind ever since she heard her mis- tress intended going to a cooking school Penelope's ideas of a cooking school are somewhat vague, and she is In mental dread that her long career of service may be coming to an end, and that all her efforts to please her mistress in future will ba futile. Her mistress will come home with so many new ideas that Pen elope's life will be made @ burden.
 But if the ebony goddess in the kitchen is shiverinG over the situation, the butcher and baker, the milk and butter man, the vegetable man are also awaken Ing to the consequences of Madame at tending the cooking school They know that she will be even more careful in what she selects for her table and that she will not be satisfied with poor meats and thin milk and stale vegetables. The managers of cafes are also trembling over the prospect They see a gloomy outlook and a decided falling off in pat ronage. All the men will be inveigled into lunching and dining at home and the most elaborate supper in the most elegant of cafes will be dispensed with if a more delicious one Qearned at the cooking schooD will be served at home.
 The influence of the cooking school will be very far reaching, for 1t will effect all classes from the woman who will pat tuys her vegetables.
 Every woman realizes the importance of some knowledge of cooking, and while she may seldom have occasion to cook the entire meal, when such contingency does arise she feels woeful lack of ex- perience if she is entirely ignorant of the preparation of foods. But even If she has no occasion to cook there are op- portunities arising every day when she finds her knowledge of cooking very es sential In directing the ebony goddess in the kitchen.
 One sometimes hears woman say, 70, I never have to go in the kitchen" but such cases are the exception rathen than the rule.
 The incompetency of the average cook Is discussed with greater frequency than is the treasure" who has undisputed sway in the kitchen. As long as the serv- ant problem remains unsolved women will find 1t necessary to hold repeated con ferences with the Penelopes and the Min ervas And every woman who is capable of directing the cooking of her meals Is joy to her family.
 The cooking school will be extremely popular and from all indications will be a great success. Mrs. E. G. Stevens will give her first lecture tomorrow morning at 1030 o'clock. It will be preceded by a talk by MT George w. Smith. who will dem onstrate the use of the gas stove. It is requested that the women attending the lectures will arrive promptly. The women who have not yet purchased tick cts may secure them at the club tomor- row morning and they are asked to come early if they desire to enroll their names MT. Smith, of the Consolidated Gas Com pany has offered a years subscription to the Household Magazine" to all women purchasing tickets to the cooking lec- lures.
 The cooking classes which were an- nounced to be held in the armory of the Jefferson Volunteers will be held instead at the Woman's Club at Elk's Hall The club occupies delightful quarters on the first floor.
 The lectures will be demonstrated and the dishes prepared will be served tc those attending the lecture Mrs Stew ems first lecture tomorrow morning will be on bread. hot rolls. bouche cases, fritters. roast beef with Yorkshire bud dirg, and orange omlet.
 The second lecture will be Wednes- day morning at 1O:SO o'clock, and the subject discussed will be croquettes esoaloped and other dishes.
 The third lecture will be one of the most interesting of the series. and will include the making of different salads Every woman realizes that sine can never know too much in the art of pre- pairing salads, and those who are ac-