Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-01

HOLD
lINTS

In America no hard and fast lines can be
laid down regarding breakfast, whether it
be frugally continental or generously
American. 1t all depends. Each family
needs decide that matter according to it's
individual circumstances
In France the slight refreshment served
in the early morning in the form of coffee
or chocolate, with a roll or rusk, does not
amount to a meal. 1t is merely a stand-off
until the dejeuner served at noon This is
not only varied and substantial, but a
function not to be hurried over in its per-
formance. So thoroughly established is
the custom of a long-drawn-out MONDAY
rest that shops are frequently closed for a
couple of hours, the while customers pro-
prietor and staff of workmen take their
- time for sociable and restful meal. Here
where, as in all large cities, quick
lunches" are the order of the day, and rich
man, poor man and beggar man alike
graSpS his sandwich or segment of pie and
gulps it standing, with a cup of coffee or
glass of beer to wash it down, it goes
without saying that a substantial break
fast before leaving the house in the morn
ing is a necessity. Children, too, who go
to school and carry their light lunch with
them, should have hearty breakfast
There is good, sound common sense in this,
for it stands to reason that the interval
from o'clock dinner to o'clock dinner
again should be broken by at least one
hearty meal half way between, and that
would be breakfast. Even If a brain work
er can have dinner or a substantial lunch
at midday, 1t is not to advantage as one is
more or less doggy" and sleepy after eat
ing heartily, and finds II impossible to put
his best energies into hrs work. For such
the hearty breakfast, an extremely light
lunch and dinner early at night as may
be after the hard work of the day Is ac-
complshed seems the best thing from a
dietetic standpoint. For those who do not
have hard work, physically or mentally,
the continental breakfast, with leisurely
and hearty luncheon, is often quite the
best thing.
The individuals who are able to command
breakfast in bed are in the minority;
feeble folk or those whose duties or
pleasures keep them up until unusually late
o. nights. Students and the worlds work
ers have to be up betimes, and the woman
who looks well to the ways OF her house
hold feels it one of her choicest privileges
as well as duties to give them happy
"send-of." An attractively laid and we'll
provided breakfast table, with a neatly
dressed and happy-faced mother at Ns
head is quite sufficient to call out shining
morning faces from all the family round
and refute the Countess Won Arnims testi-
mony that lit is the hour of savage in
stincts and natural tendencies: the triumph
of the disagreeable and cross.
If breakfast needs be early, much of the
preparation can be accomplished the even
ing before. The cereal can be cooked and
left in the double boiler, to be simply re
steamed in the morning; hash can be
chopped. bacon sliced. fish picked up, kid
neys boiled tripe parboiled or eornmeal
mush made ready to fry. With gas range
even quite an elaborate breakfast, includ-
ing hot gems or biscuit. can be on the table
in half an. hour. and this without great
hurrying. Like everything else, however, 1t
REQUIRES common sense and headwork.
If little ingenuity be exercised, the little
dishes that go to make up tasty break
fast need not cost much, and yet the table
be well supplied Expensive steaks and
not hraa L ia CT
Fish is generally acceptable being light
and yet tasty. II fresh fish Is not obtan-
able, any of the sailed fishes can be used in
such a variety of ways that they need not
grow monotonous. Eggs also can be cooked
and served in innumerable ways. left-overs,
that are quite unpresentable in themselves,
can be turned in savory relishes. and bacon
served by itself or combined with green