River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-09-25
UNCLE SANS COOK BOOK.
: Wholesome Fare of the Strong
Men of the Navy.

The most highly recommended cook
book in the world has gone through
its first edition, and preparations are
being made to get out the second.
The volume, bound in very substantial
canvas, bears the imposing title, Gen
eral Mess Manual and Cook Book, u. S.
Navy" The title page says that for
use on board the vessels of the United
States navy it has been prepared under
the direction of the paymaster gen
eral and published by authority of the
secretary of the navy, says Washing
ton report.
The book is divided into three parts
the general mess, the commissary
store, which is the marine counterpart
of the exchange in the army, and the
preparation of food. That part of the
book set aside for the general mess re-
marks that the general messing sys-
tenn is now obligatory upon all YES
sells of the navy.
Under the head of 'organizat ion
and administration" the cook book
remarks that the messes shall be ar
ranged according to divisions. and not
according to the rating of the men,
so that all the men accustomed to
work together shall also eat together
Each mess is, to have messman-in
civil life a waiter-who shall receive
the food from the cooks and place it
upon the table.
But if any man thinks he is not get
ting all that is coming to him he is not
at liberty to swear at the messman.
Instead, he is to state his grievance to
the captain by going "to the mast"
If the captain does not correct the
trouble it is his privilege to complain
to the secretary of the navy.
Tipping the waiter, either by in
dividuals or by the whole mess, is alb
solutely prohibited The book says
the messman shall receive no extra
compensation.
On ships that have more than one
the cooks are to be rated according
to ability, and the senior cook is to get
all the blame for burnt steak, muddy
coffee and overdone eggs, unless he re-
ports the shortcomings of his assist
ants. He is also responsible for the
condition of the galley.
The ships cook cannot go on strike
or resign except at the risk of being
sent to lonely prison for three or
| four years for characterization. On
the large ships there are to be meat
cook, a man to look after the vege-
tables, and still another whose sole
duty is to make tea and coffee. There
are also to be two bakers, but the Sc
nior is to be responsible for the quail
| ity of the bread.
Exactly half the book is devoted to
| the publication of recipes. The first
| is from Boston. 1t tells the cook to
soak five gallons of beans in fresh wa
ter and so pounds of salt pork also in
fresh water, over night.
"Put the beans in copper and let
them come to a boil" says the recipe,
"then add Is pounds of the pork. Con-
tinue boiling until the pork is tender;
| then remove. In separate copper
boil the rest of the pork until tender.
Cut up six pounds of stale bread, brown
in pan, and add"
The mixture is bean soup, something
that Jack has been singing about ever
since beans were discovered to be good
for sailors. The recipe holds the place
of honor for that reason. Beef soup,
vegetable soup and macaroni soup all
come from the timehonored "puree
of the beam"
The tastes of the sailors of German
extraction are consulted. Under the
caption "Frankfurters and Sauer-