The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-08-26
The Kitchen Mechanic

DR.. Harvey NJ. Wiley, head of the
United States Chemistry Bureau mas
issued a timely warning in the matter
of impure food in the household. Dur
ing a recent Interview in Denver,
where he will attend the National Con
vention of Pure Food and Dairy COM
missioners the doctor said that
through the lax attention of the house
wife in the matter of keeping the ice
box and the pantry IN sanitary con-
dition, she is causing widespread sick
ness. THE modern Lucretia" he said
hands out poison from The ice box
from the broiler and the skillet and
the little tins of dinner she buys
when breatnlessly rushing home af-
ter her exciting bridge games at the
club"
1t stands to reason that no house
hold can be sweet or wholesome so
long as its essentials are neglected.
The kitchen is a very important part
Of the home. In the restricted con-
fines of a room, generally too small
for the comfort of the presiding gen
us, the staff of life not to mention
many foods which cater to the appel
ties of men, women and children, is
made. During the summer months,
the icebox is considered the mainstay
Of the family. Unless the one in
charge of the kitchen is very care
full person that receptacle for food
is neglected in a manner to cause IL
TO transform pure articles into poison
GUS matter. Stale vegetables, the
90 lie hnf MIA in MOI n
tries, are liable TO breed the germs
which are in evidence in typhoid few
er and in ptomaine poisoning. The
unclean milk can has cost more hum
an lives than were lost in the battle
Of Waterloo. The halfwashed pans
and dishes have been mere produc-
tive of illness than defective sewer
age.
A quarter century ago, the Amerf-
can housewife did not scorn to work
in the kitchen. There sne toiled or
supervised in a manner to secure the
best possible results. Food was pure
because 1t was baked and cooked in
manner to escape the contaminat-
ion which now is often due to neglect
Or ignorance.
have such a horror of the kitchen.
Is there anything demeaning in work
wnich supplies the inner man with
the food which nourishes the children
and makes the husband good natur-
ed Surely not There are many
things in homework which suggest
drudgery. Even so, any occupation in
life may be made disagreeable
through a determination to dislike
that occupation. This life is not all
beer and skittles. If we employ
servant who poses as the tyrant OF
the kitchen, we have only ourselves
10 blame for all the discomforts which
may follow. FIVE abhor the very
sight of the room in which the range
stands ready to perform the service
necessary in good housekeeping, we
cannot expect to enjoy a happy home
life. If we neglect the things essen
tial to health, we~can not hope to re-
tain the favors which nature has be-
slowed upon us.
The one who works in the little
room where the food is prepared has
often been described as a Kitchen
mechanic" There is no reason for
that term one of con-
Tempt Such mechanic" can be a
good fairy i'm any family. While she |
oils, she may secure sunshine from |
he thought that she is performing a |
service for humanity, a service which |
makes for health and happiness.
The Kitchen mechanic" who per
orms her duties in manner to dis |
ribute pure food to those who rely |
lpon ner for the things which go on |
he table at breakfast, dinner and |
upper, is a crying need at the pres
mt time. May her tribe increase