Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-03
GIRLS LEARN TO COOK.
Importance of Kitchen in the Home
The American Stomach.


From the Philadelphia Ledger.
The Federation of Women's Clubs testi-
fies by the discussions and by the papers
to the usual ambitious aims and aspira-
tons. but there was also a glimpse Of the
practical which appeals to the ordinary
person in such world as this" The
beaming woman who keeps house fu-
riously'' in her impractical way was
there and talked of the crying need of
''repOse" In the home. The formula was
this for complete happiness in the house
hold: simplicity. system and poise. -
and these three were to be treated to a
daily blast Of that sacred flame Of Joy
which throws dazzling light over life =
Naturally that was needed.
Some of the more prosaic women dis
cussed subject which comes home to
mems bosOms-the real. actual house and
preservation and comfort Of the home
provided fine formula-.Simplify, cras-
sify. jollify and glorify." Simplify is ex-
planned thus: "Differentiate between the
essentials and the non-essentials. and
then pray for the courage to eliminate
the non-essentials." Classify means to
be executive and administrative and to
eliminate irregularities" Jollify lis the
singing-at-your- spirit" and the ''ra-
diaticn of sunshine principle, and
glorify means to idealize your work OF
common living.
1t is to be noted that I'VE are getting
warm" in our approach to the real prac-
teal homemaking. and at last one OF the
speakers touched on it-gtngerly and at
a distance. to be sure-but she just men
toned at last the kitchen.
The kitchen-some day a great woman
reformer will arise. She will be Susan
B. Anthony or Joan of Arc or Flor
ence Nightingale-a woman of massive
| courage. mighty energy and splendid
sense and she will tackle in earnest the
American kitchen and will smite It. and
millions will rise and call her blessed.
The Americans cannot cook. The
American housekeeper does not know
how to show the cook how to cook nor
how 20 demand decent product from
the material bought and provided. The
Americans have nearly every fine ira
dition. but no tradition in cookery. The
American hired cook Is a person who
| takes up cooking just because she can
not get anything else to do. She is
ephemeral and evanescent, and does not
stay long enough at one post to learn
anything. and if she did there would be
kitchen is provided-the most humble
kitchen-with convenienCes which our
grandmothers did not dream Of. and the
product iS-a shame.
There never was such a spectacle OF
incapacity. wanton and sinful waste and
general barbarty is to be found
in the ordinary kitchen OF respectable
and comfortable Americans. The most
sinful part of it, next to the NTH. il the
shocking waste due to the ignorance of
the art of cooking.
The Americans are lovely people. who
are doing pretty we'll in the world. but
the ordinary American family, with an
income from 81 100 to 5000. is an OBJ
ject OF just compassion. All the men,
bers in it want to place their gear too
high: want to live above their means:
to rid themselves of all the discomfort
of attending to the commonplace and
of knowing anything whatever about
diet or cooking-the real "humanities'
and in consequence they are badly fed
and often shOckingly iii or maEnourished.
| The Federation of Women's Clubs wants
| to abate tuberculosis. 1t is a laudable
| aim, and If II shall teach the ordinary
household to cook It will aid in the n ork.