Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-17

In the midst Of the hurry and
| worry Of the Christmas shopping. don't
| overlook the dinner 1t Is Important
| No Christmas is complete without a
satisfying feast of good things not on
the daily bill of fare of the average
household The preparation of the
| OF the generallssimo of the cuisine,
and the price is only a part of the
problem, as the truck gardner Is hiber-
mating and delicacies must be selected
from those arriving by the refrigerator
route.
The grocer the fruiterer and the
butcher must be visited in person, and
a round OF the Marshalltown stores
has been undertaken by the Times Re-
publican for the purpose of telling you
what the shops contain, and rendering
an account thereof.
NO increase IN cost.
Your Christmas. 1908. dinner will not
cost more than 1t did last year, guam
tity and quality being equal Mar
shalltown's food distributors have
splendid stocks. drawn from the orch
ards, fields and gardens of the east and
west, the near south and the tropics,
with fowls and corn-fed beef from the
farms of Iowa
Oysters for soups or for combination
dishes are to be had at reasonable
prices, and the quality is unexcelled
The pure food law and sanitary meth
DDS of packing and shipping have in
creased the cost to the consumer to
10 cents per quart but with an attend
ant economy. The purchaser Is assured
OF nothing but oysters, while the guam
tity of melted ice under the old meth
DDS of shipment and preservation in
creased with every hour. A pint of good
oysters costs 25 cents today but under
the system of packing in sealed receipt
acles a pint almost equals in food value
a quart packed in the old, unsanitary
way.
Turkeys Will Be Scarce.
Market men report turkeys less plen-
tllul llldH az luduhSSlSllS, anu DIS
they are just placing their orders with
the farmers and the commission men
they do not venture to quote prices, as
they are not fully informed as to the
exact extent of the shortage. They are
paying around Is cents per pound for
the live birds, and say the retail price
for the Christmas trade will not be
less than 20 cents, dressed
Chickens and other fowls will be
substituted for turkey and many ia
bles, and are not beyond the reach Of
the average purse. Chickens, dressed,
will retail around Is cents. ducks at Is
cents and geese at 121a cents.
Delicacies at the Grocers.
Grocers arc offering an endless va
riety of substantial edibles as we'll as
seasonable and out of season delica-
cies. Prices are no higher than one
year ago, except in a few minor in !,
stances. There are raisins, currants,
citron, boiled cider, etc, for the prep
aration of the pies and the puddings
Sweet potatoes are of excellent quality |
and selling at the usual price of 5 cents
per pound. There are also offered rad |
ishes, lettuce and egreen onions. grown
fully refrigerated when shipped. Rad
ishes are selling at 8 cents per bunch.
lettuce at cents per head, and onions
at 3 cents per bunch.
Celery is Fine.
Celery direct from Michigan is be-
ing received in large quantities and tho
quality is much better than usual.
There will be a plenty to meet the
demand. at prices ranging
from 10 ITO 1914 cents per pound.
This is in contrast to one year ago,
when the supply was exhausted before
Christmas because of short crop in
Michigan ana limited supply at home.
Cabbage Among the Luxuries.
Cold slaw will come high this year,
as cabbage is listed among the luxur-
les. The crop of. the local gardeners
has been exhausted and the vegetable
Is being shipped in. Four cents per
pound is the prevailing price and the
average head weighs from three to four
pounds. One grocer reports selling
single head of large size at % cents.
Cold slaw is good, but not essential
10 the menu.
The Fruiterers Offerings.
No Christmas dinner is complete
without fruits and nuts, and the Mar
,halltown fruiterers as well as the gro
.ers are offering an appetizing assort-
nent at moderate prices. Apples alone
ire high, compared to prices Of other
,ears. There are oranges from Cali
ornia and Florida, Malaga and other
hoice grapes, bananas, pineapples and
ating pears. Fine California. navel
FRANCES and Florida seedless are retail
ng from 25 to 40 cents per dozen.
srape fruit is growing in popularity as
epalatable and healthygiving deli
acy.
Apples range from 1925 to s2.75 per
OK for the fancy and choice varieties
rom the orchards of washington.
which seems to be outstripping New
,ork as producing state New York
pples, including the popular Spies, re-
all from 1925 to IS per barrel.
Nuts Of every variety are plentiful
nd are retailing at 20 cents per pound.
hen there are dates and figs. And
ont forget the cheese and the pickles.
The old fashioned dinner can not be
upon, except in the manner
f serving and the quality served. Quail
" is more essential to health and COM
ort than an over abundance, and
,sser Quantity entails less work upon
ne housewife upon whom the burden
R.11e nod tn, III, | .