Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-28

learned to toss up beefsteak suppers In
Snahhg dishes, brew punches and make rab-
bits, he is often sought after for post
theater entertainments.
He never affects to be aware that the
secret of his popularity is his usefulness
Other men stand about with their hands in
their pockets, or iirt with pretty girls on
the stairs, but the handy man glides grace
fully into the performance of his specially
as though 1t were high art
Perhaps the salad mixer is the most vivid
type OF the handy man. Once he attains
pihoiiciency In this art, nothing can feaze
hiH In the first place, the salad maker is
newer than the chatting dish expert and he
learns little tricks like a parlor magician
taking rabbits out of his sleeve and there
by fascinating beholders. He adds a little
powdered sugar or glass of wine to the
bowl as though 1t were an inspiration OF
the moment.
He reminds one of an artist, in a fine
frenzy, adding touches of color to a land
scape. No one seems to think him a bore
although, II you analyze him, he is a good
deal of one, for nobody else gets a chance
once the salad maker sets to work.
He fairly chains the attention, IL it shows
any symptom of tagging, by introducing
some startling spectacular effect Some
times, when the salad is a green one he
wraps the leaves in table napkin and
beats the bundle fiercely against the floor
holding this to be the only proper method
to remove the moisture
Salad makers have been known to stand
on their chairs and pour the oil, drop by
drop, from height of six feet over the
BOWL This has tendency to keep the CAL
cium Of attention strictly on the salad
artist and, as he gets warmed up, he some
times spatters oil and vinegar into the alb
sorbed faces Of those who may be interest
ed in his feat.
No matter at whose table the salad mixer
may be performing-and 1t is always at
some table other than his own-he makes
no secret Of his disdain of the means at
hand for his e,br 10 hoe
air OF critical superiority-as of one who
knows thoroughly what he Is about-and
TINS always stuns persons who have been
willing to take their salads from head
waiter without question or cavil.
He knows all about the best oils and
Ylnegars and his favorite brands are never
the ones that people have on hand. He
tells of wonderful olive oils fmported nv
the hogshead from Italy and seems to think
that every household should have its cask
OF salad oil. as country houses have their
rain barrels.
He shifts at vinegars, and often sneers
at them openly, never seeming to realize
that ones vinegar cruet is a part of ones
family, so to speak, and as such should be
treated with respect. He states that all
properly constructed salad dressings should
have several different sorts of vinegar in
their composition.
He wakes enthusiastic as he proceeds and
calls for the pepper mill, putting aside pep
per cruets with wave OF the wooden
spoon. Ii you have to acknowledge that
You have no pepper mill he becomes posi-
lively sad. He tells tales OF insect tribes
that generate and increase in ground pepper
and hints darkly at adulteration and liver
complaint.
He raves about garlic shallots, chives red
peppers and things that are not likely to be
on American tables. For this salad-mixing
education is always acquired at foreign
table dhotes, and, like too much dexterity
at pool, it is eloquent of much practice But
the salad mixer holds the stage, and when
he Is done and his handiwork Is served
every one breaks out In rhapsodies. No one
enjoys it, though, more than he does him.
self, for he always makes it exactly to his
own taste.
He explains that with the proper ingredi-
ents he could accomplish far better results
and affects TO belittle ths dish. But II any
one else should do 1t he would probably ex-
pire from chagrin.
He Is such a cheerful worker. and 30 en-
thusiastic and impressive. that he makes Q
sensation ont OF the simplest salad. And
as sensations are the social fashion he
starts a fad for hogsheads Of olive oil,
booms the sale OF pepper mills at the silver
smiths and receives heaps Of invitations for
similar occasions, where, with plenty Of at.
tention and elbow room. he will proceed to
his claim to consideration as Q
handy man.