New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-09
SEHR SCHON.

group OF women sat on the shady porch OF
country clubhouse idly talking. The subject
under discussion was the ever interesting one
OF household servants. especially cooks good,
bad and Indifferent. and an argument was going
on as to what really constitutes their various Ge-
srees OF excellence
My husband condemns everything that isn't
Of the simplest" said one. who recent
bride. and therefore somewhat given to quoting
the head Of the house. HE says we women are
toe prone TO order entrees and kickshaws called
made dishes"
"Oh, nonsense. Alice" retOrted her elder SIS
! ter. you are new at the game. For PHYS sake
don't take up fad and inhict plain roasts and
boiled things upon your friends and family"
We'll. 1 don't know" said another. now and
then very occasionally men do hit off z truth.
My inferior half declares that rlaraschinO cher
RES and gelatine are the bane OF his existence
and the curse Of the age"
Children solemnly began Mrs. w. give
me hve minutes and 1 Will tell you melancholy
tale Of suffering that was called upon TO en-
dure last winter. think when YOU hear il that
artist. had a German woman as cook, so truly
conscientious and pOndeTOusly worthy that
sometimes felt like slapping her. just 10 rouse
her a little. But no one could fail TO recognize
her good qualities. for she certainly was most
dihgent, economical and Industrious. Moreover,
did not want TO make a change IN midwInter.
so l endeaVOred to bear with her queer WAYS
and trying eccentricities. I think I might have
survived If she had only been satisfied with the
such extraordinary dishes she sent up US
were very exasperating We had castles built OF
lobster shells, forts constructed by the aid OF
gelatine. little macCarOni guns sticking out OF
the sides, and many other ingenious horrors.
The children enjoyed 1t enormously but I al
ways trembled when had a guest present.
one day said casually Qest she should be fired
70 fresh zeal by anything out OF the common),
Katrina, i have few old friends coming 70
luncheon with me next Thursday. 'Ach 500 she
replied. Well, we must make the old gIadP on,
no" exclaimed, L don't mean that kind OF
old" just intimate friends, we can have
everything quite simple Yes. yes" said she.
Simple. surely, but very finer NY heart sank
lapsed into my poor German that 1 might
make myself better understood Don't take TOO
much trouble. Katrina; our everyday dishes
viii be all right. But IL is my duty 70 take
trouble said this terribly worthy one, looking
at me reproachfully. as II were tempting her to
deadly sin.
Now If those invitations had not already
gone should have torn them up on the spot, so
certain was I that there were awful breakers
coward I composed the most elementary menu
that 10 was possible to devise. A cup OF con-
somme some cold crabs with mayOnnaise sauce.
chops and mashed potatoes. a salad and an ice.
and fattered myself that even the ingenious
Katrina could not be very wild over these absO-
lutely conventional dishes. Alas! even then I
did not know her capabilities. The day arrived.
With ntsgivingS In spite OF myself, ! selected my
prettest guipure trimmed linen. and made an
artistic arrangement OF flowers upon the table,
befeu me, when we we're all assembled was the
sight OF maraschino cherries floating in my cup
Of soup. otherwise admirably made. After all.
this wasn't very terrible, but quaked fnwardly,
huge plumped-up prune within Hastily whis-
pering TO the butler 70 get some toast, again
endeavored to converse calmly with my neigh
bors The crabs appeared duly. with my initials,