New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-28

Lecturing recently in Montclair. n. J., on The
Luxury Theory Superstition of Economics" Pro-
fessor Edward Howard Griggs said it was a fall
lacy to suppose that the poor improved in
condition by being employed in making luxuries for
the rich. He instanced the profuse use of lace by
the FRENCH aristocracy before the revolution for the
purpose of giving the means OF livelihood to lace
makers.
Montclair- particularly the feminine portion-has
taken Professor Griggss assertion very seriously
and woman. Mrs. Annie v. Rand. has taken to
writing and getting published open letters in which
she takes issue with Mr. Griggs and his theory
She cites Burano that little island just off Venice
which could not support in decency its small
population until lacemaking was introduced bv
Queen Margherita- Thenceforward the people be-
came prosperous with prosperity that is still in
creasing Certain districts i'm ireland show similar
economic changes due to the introduction of lace
making Bat then as Mrs. Rand SAYS the luxury
of generation becomes the necessity of another
Professor Griggs's theory that the classes that
produce the necessaries of life are oppressed Mrs
Rand combats vigorously. If that is true she
thinks. then part of any class of producers
may feel itself oppressed by some other portion
of the same class, as for instance. the small
pressed by such a cattle raiser as Mrs Adair
with her million acre grazing ranch, in Texas and
the almost immeasurable farms of the north
and middle West IF Professor Griggss theory
Rand we shall soon find ourselves haunting
the woods dressed in skins and subsisting on nuts
and wild fruits
In these days of aduIterated foods the house
wife who much olive oil on her table has
to exercise untiring vigilance not to he imposed
upon by the INSCRIPTIONS dealer. To be able
to test in some simple way the oil she buys may
be worth good deal to her, although the exact
analysis of it would he beyond her ability and
the resources at her command
Price cffers certain criterion of excellence
Real olive oil is not cheap. good imported
article costs from % cents to 81 a quart; a good
California oil is a little higher say. from 81 10
TO 81 % a quart When the price for a pint or
half pint bottle is very much below the proper
tionate half or quarter of these prices the pur-
chaser viii naturally have her suspicious aroused
Color indexes approximately the quality of olive
oil. The finest virgin oil is pale green. with an
opalescent Simmer about il that reminds one
OF absnthe. Olive oil should taste of the olive
II il is negative in taste, If il Is thick in CON
sistency, a deep green, II has been adulter-
ated.
A perfectly simple test Is To place some oil ina
little bottle and immerse IL in pan Of chopped
ice for hours II the oil has been adulter-
ated il will out of this ordeal clear and
fluid as il went in But II il Is the real thing
II will have broken up into little whitish grains
which II will to be holding in solution Cot
tonseed oil and peanut oil not considered
unWhOlesome by medical men. but one who is
the least fastidous the oil ne eats is likely
tolerate the taste of these inferior articles