New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-06
Hotxseevi,es' EXCHANGE.
ooK1NG IS NOT UNIVERSAL

WHY GOOD COOKING IS NOT UNIVERSAL
Although cooking would seem to be an essential
in our lives more apt, unfortunately 10
find It the pleasing exception than the rule There
are amusing and ingenious explanations OF lhs'
but one aspect OF the problem which is rarely re-
marked upon seems to me TO be the very essence
Of IT, Wherein lies the difference between COOK
ing and any other art7 There is none. Cooks, ike
poets are born. not made In order to be gooo
cook a man or woman must first have natural
talent or gift for II, or least great inclination
toward IT, Do we expect every one who turns MS
or her thoughts toward writing to become an
author? Have the least basis for believing 'haI
any one who chooses can excel in the medical. 'he
artistic or any other field? Most certainly not
Yet to cooking an art requiring just as much nat
,,rai ability and as much inherent aptitude these
others we apply none OF the ordinary rules 1t Is
our misfortune that without cooking we could not
live and OF course, life is more Immediately de-
nendent upon eating and consequently upon cook
ing than il is upon drawing or writing FER
haps for this very reason hundreds enter the Gull
nary arena who are totally untitled to do So But
do not believe this is necessary. There are IN
this field as others, plenty of workers llteeo 10
secure satisfactory results in our ktchens, icl
70 become skilled cooks from trying to fGreS Piao &c
IN them, Just as we discourage the huhdreos OF
But there countless ones who are glIte6 ~i5n
their talents and Just here is where the great fault
lies There il q science as well as an arr OF cook
ing and good cook must master both theory ana
IS less important than other duties, ! speak OF
women particularly partly because they make up
so large a proportion Of cooks and partly because
they are really less serious N the matter tnan
men. The modern woman is too athletic to care
much about the confnirg pursuits or too IN
rellectual TO be practical. She has too many out
Is often lightly considered, II included at all IN her
list OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AS for the woman who Is
obIiged 10 support herself, all too often does sac
BECOME cook simply for this very reason. that
sfe ina gines cooking need little effort and, work
ing with this idea implanted in her often not over
fnfellieent brain, gives US the haphazard results
from which we are frequent sufferers
r te mistake 10 suppose that cooking consists
entre Il possible For diferent women following
faithfully the same recipe to get utterly dleTsn.
80 Though painstakingly we ulingle words by
eJsTv rule Of poetry, we shall not make poem
NOR think Of measuring ingredient. which
eins 10 prove that the natural gift Is the first
oosas.ss,ttaf But there are exceptions and though
one Gan close to rule still II is far the safer
sIlc -. 70 80 following recipe faithfully, know
P1H IN Is the outcome OF careful study, and to
VARY it only after mqTs s'qbs ana wlrn reason
MOI for mere whiHl Iiis IN etie poilil ny
many takes brains. good. sound common sense
CoV 80 work. Although not every one can be
ana marc .ook for we are more equally gifted
nrst cs .han in other ways every can. by close
~ LINZ learn to mix acceptable dishes and ap-
oftt fhe knowledge II necessity arises we cannoI
al pc aue, Ia English such IL win offend the
f-nsei', rsad The idea prevailing to-day that al
eye 49, are horn cooks is completely fallacy ana
is resp whose inclination and ability
II oniy 80 So, too many digestions have been
IoI Nv The efforts OF unwiInns cooks-will take
Iuiieu ana take It up earnestly and calmly and