Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-02
HOUSE,
HOLD
IlINTS

A charity not widely exploited, but one
that is doing a beautiful and practical
work among the poor is that of the kitchen
classes carried on under the auspices Of
the New York League for Home Econom-
les.
Wherever in the heart Of the great
swarming tenements q woman is found
willing to lend her kitchen one afternoon
a week and invite her neighbors in, ca
pable and devoted teacher goes and shows
the women how to make palatable and
nourishing dishes in accord with the weekly
wage of the earning people.
Most of these women were shop or fac
tory girls before their marriage, and have
not the slightest idea of household SAM
tation, or cooking or caring for their fam
lilies lily fed and poorly nourished, the
children cannot do well in school. the hus-
bands drift into the saloons for stimulus
and the light and cheer that they cannot
get In their dingy, ill-cared-for homes, and
the women, thoroughly discouraged, ire
uuently follow suit. Much diplomacy is re-
ouired in the conduct of these classes not
to antagoniZe the women, but to make the
class hours so cheerful and interesting
and the dishes so toothsome, with all sorts
of side suggestions thrown in of caring for
home and children, that the women VIII be
encouraged to keep on In the good work.
Each Dup1l contributes CcIitS lSSSoii,
which partially pays for food cooked
Where the women cannot really AFFORD even
this small sum 1t is returned to her AFTER
the lesson without the other members OF
the class being any the wiser. This to en-
courage self-respect. An important feature
in these classes has been that the women
have been led to realize the extravaganza
of living upon food bought at the delica-
tessen The teachers give to each MEM
Der of the class at the time of lesson a
written recipe of the dishes taught and
these are always highly treasured.
In all the classes the men nave taken
great interest. sending messages, writ
ing letters and asking that some favorite
dish be taught. Nor is it only among the
very poor that the greatest need Is found
for domestic economy y quoting IRON 1ov the
cultured woman who is giving up her lie
to this work among the poor and Ignorant
women of the tenements:, For instance,
shop girl marries young clerk. Ihey nave
enough to pay the rent of a modest home;
they want things nice and try hard TO
have them, but are simply at loss 10
know how to start. The wife mas no iaea
of the quantity of food to buy. and rather
than be thought mean by the butcher and
grocer orders far more than Is necessary.
Then without knowledge OF what to 90
with left-overs, throws away enough 70
der that in a short time debt follows ana
trouble ensues between husband and wife
because of extravaganza"
The sum Oh I'D pays q SooASO Va
twelve lessons, during which the women
are taught to make from thirty to thirty
six different dishes, these being Inexpensive
and nutritious.
AS many Of these classes are carried on
as the means provided by those interested
in the work will perIait. Many OF the
classes are named after the person paying
for their maintenance. or as loving me,
MORALS of some one to whom nome naa
represented the dearest spot on EARTH
fayorite dish this winter in these COOKING
classes has been mock oyster soup, SO
GOOD. indeed that people with larger In.
comes need not disdain making 1t one OF
their stock dishes. To make 1t, wash and
peel four potatoes cut In pieces. and put IN
q kettle with just enough water to cover
Ada q small onion, bit OF soup celery or
any soup greens on hand and boil until very
soft Mash the potato. strain through
coarse sieve or not as preferred, add ta-
blespoonful butter, salt. pepper, a little nut
meg to season, q Tablespoonful rolled
cracker crumbs and q quart OF milk. Serve
with toasted bits of bread or oyster crack
ers and you will hnd those who do not
know the ingredients Of the soup hunting
for the oysters
DuIch Apple Cake.
This IL another favorite dish in the cook
inx class. It 10 sometimes made with soda
ana cream o. tartar. and again with yeast.
Tor the former, stft together two cups