The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-07-26
IN APPLE PIE ORDER.
The Origin OF This Familiar Phrase Cor
sidered by Mr.. G~wlllpnnbly.

sidered by Mr.. Gwlllphltbly.
Il know" said Mr.. Gwilplillbly. 'this is
pretty hot weather to be asking questions.
but l would like 1t II somebody would tell ne
the origin OF the phrase in apple pie order
meaning, as you know, that the thing Or
place 30 characterized Is in the very slick
est and tAmmest sort Of shape, homely.
perhaps, but attractive and wholesome.
1t originated in New England, no doubt;
this use Of pie as a basis Of comparison
seems clearly to indicate that; but how did
apple pie come thus to be set up as the
symbol OF superior excellence?
Il suppose it was partly because Of apple
pies priority Of invention. for / imagine
1t will be conceded that apple was the first
pie; but / suppose that it's continued use
In this manner has been due to the apple
pies u%nbrokenly continued prominence in
all good pie qualities. 1t could not have
been long after the invention Of apple pie
before pumpkin pie wal introduced. and
mince is certainly an old time pie, and 50
order certainly could not at once have
become so firmly intrenched among the
contemporaneous native New England
forms Of speech as to preclude the posi-
bility Of its being supplanted by In pumpkin
pie order or in mince pie order. II these not
much liked productions of Pilgrim ingenuity
had either Of them displaced apple pie. from
the highest pinnacle Of popular esteem;
But neither Of them ever did. which
shows to my mind incidentally not only
the clearheadedness and correct taste Of
those sagacious early inventors OF pie
but as well the perspicuity OF their succeed.
ing generations. In apple pie order, still
| apple pie is undoubtedly the best, and II we
are to nave a pie figure to denote excel
-As it Is made in New England homes
by New England housewives truly there
is no pie like apple pie such as this, with a
] equalled in the production Of any other
I kitchen and with contents Of surprising
| pie Joy, this apple pie when 1t has finally
been made ready for eating.
For this pie, the real apple pie Of New
England. goes through a final clarifying
process after it has been baked. When
they have taken the pie from the oven
and placed it on he kitchen table they
def y remove the top crust. Sc deftly
that it is never broken nor even it's edges
Of crust has been thus removed they spread
around on the alrface Of the pies filling
a little fine butter. and some people sprinkl e
in a little grated nutmeg-though / rant
say ! fancy the nutmeg-and now they
crust. You see the idea OF adding the
sugar after the pie is baked? With at
least some Of the s%weetening left to be
added now you do not have a thoroughly
%sweetened pie. but you get still the keen
taste Of the apple, and you get the sweenten-
ing too, but you blend these delightfully."- in
the eating.
And thus prepared the apple pie is
ready to eat. And it may be eaten hot.
and in that condition there are few things
more delightful; but as for myself / prefer
this pie %just'at the moment when 1t has
first got cool.
OF course it will be understood that
the apple pie in this form is a work Of
love and pride. to be found only In homes
and to be had and enjoyed at its very best
only where one can get home TO eat it.
But there are New England homes. and
some elsewhere, l hope. where apple pie is
still so made, and though you may think the
weather too hot to discuss It,, that such
apple pie should nave been coined into a
phrase signif ying everything that is good
is TO me no wonder. 1t Is in this pies
simple excellence. I believe. that we find
the origin of in apDle ME Order