The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-11-25

Dinner THAT FAILED

Us. and we were facing rather q long
stay, SO, after the manner OF such trav-
elers. our enthusiasm over home anniEer
saries passed in foreign lands was great.
and our confidence that we could cele-
hrate them in traditional fashion even
greater. nd that way why, in Florence
last November. we hurried into the apart
snent we had rented for the winter that
cur Thanksgiving dinner might be taken
at cur own board
we will have a real turkey carved on
the table, said Priscilla. I'm so tired
OF pension chicken. which. am sure. is
cut crosswise with q cleaver. Think OF
great slices of white meat and gravy
Priscilla was quite naughty young
woman at times; but after all her bread
and-butter days were not out OF sight
The boy. the only male of our party,
who had already after six weeks expert
ence DECIDED that Europe vas like me3i-
cine-good for you. perhaps, but hard 10
take, cried out for cranberry sauce and
pumpkin pie. Ills opinion of Europe de-
seconded still lower when The hou ekeeper
shook her head obviously. we cant get
them here she said, but we will have
jelly and a plum pudding" fourteen
fortunately, ones menu is not limited, 50
the substitutes We're accepted. Oysters
Were vetoed by common consecutive had
made one trial OF the little, dark copper
favored italian oysters and wanted no
more. Chicken pie was considered risky
with our kitchen priestess. and that too
was left out Then one of the younger
girls created a diversion By signing St
fully for canned corn, which C course
We can't get here either" and was cor
resDondingly happy. when she was told
that it should be forthcoming by means
of the English shop. where timed Aneri-
can vegetables We're kept Thus the din
ner grew with evasons and suppressions
and substitUtions. but with always the
big, aromatic. juicy turkey looming as
the grand piece de resistance of the feast,
imposing and unchaneea bic. like tire Ply
mouth Rock from which its traditions
sprsng
The trouble began as most trouble
does. through ignorance. 4 kind Italian
friend had given US few rudimentary
hints on housekeeping in Florence. one
OF which was that it was advisable to
let the maid Go the marketing. She would
take a small bonus. of course, but at the
most a few soldi (peunies) a day, and as
none of US spoke Italian we would cas-
ily be imposed upon to that extent if VIC
tried it ourselves. So, when we took pos
session of the little apartment on the
Monday before Thanksgiving. and the
Fame day, though we did not know it
then. Maddaiena, our maidservant. took |
possession Of US, the housekeeper decided
nm - III
after the easy Continental breakfast of /
rolls and coffee and honey, the house /
keeper called Maddalena to the dining
room. and with 4 little Italian dis;ionaGy
as interpreter conveyed the informa ion /
that various things would be needed for .
luncheon and dinner. which Maddalena /
was 10 buy with the money that was
given To her and 70 make memorandum of 4
h a small blank book provided for the /
purpose, We were a party Of six of 4
mixed relationship. and our housekeep- /
ing was to be cooperative, and on the pro
rata plan.
The important task. however, of select
ing the Thanksgiving turkey was not TO
be left 70 any Italian judgment. and the
housekeepeT on Thursday morning took
the marketing in hand herself At the
poulterer's she noticed that one side If
the shop was given UP to cooking various
things. including chickens and turkeys. !.
This interested her in ;die fashion. but
that was all. When TIE Italian turkey
became her property K was intended to
be quickly A-nericanized. ana rs dress
Ing and roasting were 10 be on strict
New England principles. The fowl was
ordered to Be sent home, and the house
keeper continued her way. The canned
corn waa- bought at ruinous price. with
an expensive. meagre lumber of Jelly
and timed plum pudding. Then in pass
Ing a patisserie shop a most marvellous
structure that was neihter cake pastry.
nor pudding entire. but combination OF
all. with slace fruits on the top and signs
Of a creamy filing wi hin. and icing in
artistic dabs everywhere. was seen by
the housekeeper. ana she succumbed to it,
The thought OF the JOY Of the eye and
charm to the palate or each Of her five
young charges which this creation would
be. was too tempting aud il was bought.
we really ought to try Italian special
ties now and again. she reflected, pacify-
Ing herself as she paid very good price
for the dainty
1t was not long after the housrkeepcr
reached home that she was summoned t.
the kitchen by Maddalena The turkey
had come and when she appeared on tn
scene the man who brought II and Mad
ialena began TO say thiass TO her about
L in fluent Italian. pointing often To the
IRE. 1t was finally discovered chat they
were trying to tell her that there were
no arrangements in the Kitchen for cook
ing the fowl, and that the man must take
L back 10 the shop. where il could be
smelly roasted and quickly returned. The
repetition many times of the words due
ira" conveyed the further infoima lon
hat the process would cast two Ilra. or
forty cents The h1usekeeper was in
iignant DO you mean u til ne" she
aid. sarcastically. "that with these yards
md yards Of stone range thar turkey can
rot be cooked here Why. the chicken Is
'n fireplace but her listeners for OBJ
rfous reasons did moi appreciate her irony. T
who had big. lustrous eyes.
opened them very wide and looked re-
oroachful. though meek, and the man
picked up his basket with an air Of n
lality. The case was desperate. The
turkey must be cooked. and if not 1T
home why then abroad. In the erd. with
much p2ntomimic explanation o. how i
should lee prepared. 20 which Maddalena
ind the man replied over "si sicno~i" as
n perfect understandings. though suits
proved that not the faintest eiimmaring
# the housekeepers meaning HAD rea he'd
hem he turkey vr1e ,-Y-sa -svoe- - ba 4