davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
Recipes and Remedies

MAY I enter the Exchange with few
hints?
Canned tomatoes-Wash the tomatoes IN
warm water and wipe dry. Peel care
fully: fill preserving, kettle halfway 10
the top with them. Allow about two Tea
spoonfuls of salt to each half-peck OF tne
tomatoes Cook slowly without stirring un-
til plenty of juice is formed. Half an hour
should DO the. work, FIJI new glass lars s
that have rather thick rubbers with the
hot tomatoes seal at once and stand up
appear in the contents. the jars are air
tiTht. Then slip them inside OF paper bags
and put away In the cellar. / save the
bags In which groceries come for this prr-
lars last winter That had cracked lid
that I had overlooked.
No when baking pies, ! neither grease
nor -four the plates. but lay dough rolled
out thin in them, and as soon as | take
them from the oven shake While the
crust is crisp and slip off upon plate;
and edges of the pans with butter. then
cut piece of waxed or creased paper the
size Of the bottom of the pan; lay this In
place in batter. My cakes never stick
While they are hot l remove the paper IL
draws off easily.
. No All, in boiling soups. I find one
too salt 1 cut a potato into small pieces
and drop into the pot. II you have mucn
or little soup. ADAPT the size OF the i,ntato
minutes before taking UP the soup. 1t Will
absorb the salt and modify. the taste.
No. ga hairpin., or bit of wire hung
upon the top Of lamp chimney. Will pre-
Mrs n S. E. tFranklin county. Pa.).
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07

modern housemother's friend to depre-.
eiate it's worth by disrespectful word.
Yet it cannot be denied that in careless
hands it has notable drawbacks. The
inferior grades are gross in smell, and
unless covered when they are spilled
take unto themselves dust and CRIME
that make ugly smirches upon clothing
and furniture. L digress here to recon-
mend that, when lamp is upset upon
carpet, mating or rug, the greasy spot
should be covered at once with oatmeal
or cornmeal. In absorbing the heavier
elements of the oil the meal will allow
the volatile gases to evaporate, leaving
not a trace Of the mischief. I have
omitted even this precaution when the
kerosene is of fine quality, ana In
twenty-four hours not a vestige OF the
widespread smear was left to tell the
tale. The heat given out by the kero-
sene lamp upon summer nights Is an
other weighty objection to the use OF IT.
If one attempts to remedy it by lower
ing the wick, the smell reuoupies-
Another point many housewives fall TO
comprehend is that 1t is the low, nor
the high wick. that giveth forth VII
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07

cubes. Have ready in a frying pan two
tablespoonful of hot dripping; scar"
the meat in this for two minutes before
adding a cupful of boiling water and
two tablespoonfuls Of washed rice. Turn
into a saucepan and cook CLOSELY COW
eredl until the meat is tender. Have at
hand two red peppers from which you
have removed the rind and seeds then
parboil and mince them. Drain off
the gravy from the meat, keeping the
latter hot over boiling water while you
prepare the sauce. Do this by adding to
II the red peppers q teaspoonful OF
minced chives or garlic and the same OF
chopped thyme. Cook these. covered,
half an hour-very slowly. Put through
your vegetable press. 1t should be quite
thick and reddish. Season with salt 10
taste; pour over the meat; let all stand
in the open oven for five minutes and
serve This is one OF the simplest
recipes we have for the Mexican dish.
We have published many.
Spaghetti
Break half a pound of spaghetti into
inch lengths and cook tender in salted
water. Drain and arrange in LAYERS in
bakedish. Dot each layer with butter:
strew With Parmesan cheese and, lib
orally. with Hungarian red pepper
epaprika). The tcpmost stratum should
be cheese. well peppered. Add half a
cupful OF milk. Cover closely and bake
fifteen minutes. Then brown I'm
paprika will color the spaghetti family
ana, being mild. will not make it too
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
child upon her hands. hope you will
RECONSIDER NrnlIr decision.

child upon her hands. hope you will
reconsider your decision"
Said a fellow-housekeeper to whom
related the incident: "Oh. give her the
reference and let her go! had COOK
two years ago who drank hard, ana
nearly burned us in our beds IN one OF
her sprees When asked by woman
who called herself a lady, IL Mary Wero
honest and sober, / told her the truth.
Whereupon, she told Mary and Mary
told lawyer, and I was brought into.
court upon the charge of defamation OF
character and an attempt to prevent an
honest woman from earning her living.
THAT was a lesson that will last me
lifetime j..
nv sister-housewife as / would have
her do to me- Yet l make no eI3u doun:
or Emma Dolan (she had two olner
names) secured a paying SITUATION
through the compassionate agency.
If I write at length and strongly, IL
Is that I am now firmly convinced tnat
to this disloyalty to our own honorable
order of housemothers We owe the gen
eral disorganization OF what snouid %
a domestic system, whereas 1t Is notn-
Ing of the kind. 1 appeal to other mousse
wives to join with me In refusing 10
infiict upon a confding neighbor or
stranger what we have found odlous In
our own houses.
Very plain English, this! The. thlng
l reprobate deserves IL have SAID, anu
volumes more.
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
THE HOUSEMOTHERS EXCHANGE

7 have worked for Will receive shower of
blessings I have her written up. and all
% ho hoog is DUE 6r have e
years. The last home 1 held was best of
all. That was in the month of October,
lady preferred younger maid. That was
why was compelled to discharge myself;
VIII write you al oS a6Sut + If you , M1ula I'D
prove prove tbs that q ali mad madams % are % not monsfrous no
give give good references always! All ladies
Will not do even this much toward helping
q poor unfortunate to find a home.
] not serving now, as learned 70
SOW pretty well, and am treated far dif-
ferently from when was a seryant girl
ANNIE B. M. louisville. ky).
Unless the promised reference" Of
a worthy mistress U beg pardon!
'.madami'') should be too long for
our narrow bounds, dt will appear In
due time.
/ subjoin to the foregoing but one
comment. Even this right minded ex-
maid cannot withhold a fling tns
employer who refuses a certificate OF
character to servant leaving her
house. A wide experience as a prac-
tical housemother, and a wider sphere
of observation, qualify me TO express
the opinion that not one mistress in
Almost without exception they. lean
to the side OF mistaken charity. I
say mistaken" because but one
party to the transaction is considered.
saer shs s aGss front 0 eaFens Fa to an kfsp nppness
living" So the woman who would
not keep the poor. unfortunate" a
day longer in her own house sets
pen to paper in q plausible ansr1ie recon
fortunate to some other home.
Pardon an illustration that Is dis
tinct in my own mind: A long time
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
.OWOURIIOMES ARE LIGHTED

Twas only throwing words away"
One and all decided that the injunc-
ton was "stingy and vulgar and utterly
opposed to American ideas of breeding
and hospitality
1 offered no demur to the latter prop
osition. The request in the circum-
stances was utterly un-Amerlcan. l am
fast coming to the conclusion that
everything pertaining to small and SEN
sible economies Is contrary to our prin-
ciples and practice. To leave a gas
burner faring for two hours in an un-
tenanted kitchen or bedchamber signl-
fies an increase of perhaps cents In
the months bills "Only a nickel!' AL
most thirty years ago Edward Everett
Hale set us all to pondering the posi-
bilities of lending a helping hand to our
needy neighbor by writing Ten Times
One is Ten" We have never learned
to apply the rule in the art of saving
the fractions of pennies-or the pennies
themselves. "Only a nickel" settles
the case in hand The native-born
thinker, on a large scale, and his i'm
ported imitator cannot stoop to the sum
of ''ten times five cents Is fifty" when
the waste is repeated in ten rooms or
at ten different times.
To burn daylight" is a slovenly and
expensive practice. Have plenty of light.
but see to 1t that it is put TO a legtt-
innate use.
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
"Filled and trimmed, often by her own hands"

famous smell. Even intelligent house,
maids dixie my Serena" for exampl0
do not always take in the significance
of this. Many time have abated the
nuisance of the odor creeping after the
winter twilight through the rooms by
slipping into parlors and library and
raising the wicks in lately lighted lamps.
touch to each screw is all that Is re-
quired.
In nv country home I introduced, six
wears ago. what we consider the safest,
cleanest, most convenient and altogether
satisfactory light we have ever tried.
The light is pure white, steady and yet
brilliant In the matter Of sustained
brightness it has the advantage over the
otherwise Incompatible illuminating me-
dium-the all-pervasive and well-nigh
omnipotent agent that has revolutionized
traffic and trade in thousand ways
electricity. The electric light, consist
ing. as It does, of fast series Of sparks
or flashes, Is condemned by some stu
dents as unfit for reading lamps. This
is undoubtedly true of the unshaded
electric light. But who that has any
knowledge of optics ever works or reads
by an unshaded burner? In the library
a thick green shade lined with white
throws the light full upon the work.
table or book. while the Opaque porce-
lain prevents the glare from striking
the eyes. This Is the philosophy of the
green silk shield worn over the brows
OF bookkeepers and other incessant toll
ers by artificial light.
In reading or writing or sewing by
lamp or burner. always contrive to have
the light fall over the left shoulder.
Allow me to emphasize this Injunction
by personal reference. I attribute the
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
'It is done by the Pickering light of
a candle"

IRON a letter written in the un-
IL formed characters scrawled by
a lo-year-old child extract g
postscript:
Please excuse the bad writing. It is
done by the nickering Hight OF g candle.
am sorry to say there are no lamps OF
here IN the country.
I scrawled the letter 20 my mother in
the ''forties." I was visiting an old
homestead on q Virginia plantation,
where candles by the dozen in the
planters house and nghtwood knots in
the negro cabins supplied feebly and
luridly the departed daylight when the
sun went down.
In my village home, where We had
more direct communication with the
city. we had lamps. In the drawing
room there was a stately astral lamp.
I can see IL now and recall my pride in
it. Il stood three feet high upon the
centertabie. No parlor was furnished
Alright without the ponderous center
table" that never budged an inch from
the exact middle OF the floor from
Christmas 70 Christmas. A cutglass
globe topped the bronze shaft that shot
up from a marble base. A shade OF
green paper was near by TO temper the
light haring through the tapering Chin
ney, II weak-eyed visitors found the
glare painful Usually we took ell the
light we could get and gloried in what
was 10 our provincial ideas ilumina-
tion. The ceilings were lofty, the rooms
were spacious, the corners were always
IN shadow. Yet we read, wrote. en-
broidered and did the most fanciful va
rieties of crocheting and knitting by
this light. Nor do I recollect that the
country people I pitied patronizingly IN
my stilted home letter ever complained
Of candlenght. They were omniYorous
readers, these planters families, and the
gentlewomen left TO their granddaugh-
tiers heirlooms. fondly treasured. of fine
needlework now our marvel and our
pride, most OF which was done by the
flicker despised.
IN THE DAYS OF SPERM OIL
Were the eyes of that generation
stronger than ours? Or would ours be
more independent OF the ocuhst's lenses
II our forbears had not strained the
visual organ under insufficient light?
We burned superfine sperm oil IN our
lamps, tall and short. We had the
shorter for overnight use and work.
None OF these were shaded. And COM
paratively few had SO much as Chin
neys 10 regulate the light. A touch OF
elegance imported into the village by an
ex-dweller in town was an inch OF col
ored water in the bottom Of the clear
= L. mn
why IL was there. But 1 was wonder
fully taken with the esthetic erect OF
the cpntrasted blue OF the water with
the pale amber Of the oil, and vainly en-
treated my sensible mother TO introduce
the innovation into our lighting plant.
She was very fastidious as 10 the quail
ity Of the oil burned in her lamps. IL
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07

unusual excellence OF my own eyesight
to strict obedience to this rule and to
the habit of never working by an insult
ficient light. Dim radiance is direct
and severe strain upon the optic nerves,
for which the transgressor must pay,
and with interest.
It goes without saying that in the use
of all illuminating agencies we Ameri-
cans are consistent in the practice OF
national extravaganza. II is right and
proper, it is duty, to have our homes
well lighted. It is an extravaganza to
burn daylight in any circumstances.
The cook turns on the gas to light the
preparation of the early breakfast and
forgets to turn it off when the sun
streams across her sink.
THE WASTE OF LIGHT
The waitress, in laying the table for
the evening dinner, finds it convenient
to leave the electric bulbs blazing until
1t is time to light the candelabra which
sre to diffuse over the gathered COM
pany the softened glow adjudged TO be
most favorable to compilations, real or
borrowed A travelled countrywoman
once related to a group OF horrined
compatriots how, in visiting at the
country seat of Lord B. in Blank
shire, England. she beheld, upon taking
possession of the superb suite of rooms
assigned to herself and distinguished
husband, a printed notice in small char
acters, hung by each electric light:
Visitors will kindly turn off the light
before leaving the ROOM
"And why not?" l ventured to say
when the chorus of disdainful comment
subsided 1.-THE visitor might leave the
light blazing for hours, if he were not
reminded that 1t would be a useless
waste of light and power. Lord b
has a right to protect his electric
plant.
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07

was refined to the clearness of water;
the lamps were brought to the breakfast
room every morning and filled and trim
med under her eye, often by her own
hands. We had scissors made for that
purpose. and for none other, with slightly
curved blades. For. be it known to mod
ern ignoramuses, the fame Of lamp Is
not symmetrical and adapted to give the
best light If the wick be cut square
across the top. The care of the wick
was a matter of serious moment. It was
renewed weekly; ii was never allowed
70 cake at the top, and each wick was
boiled in vinegar before using, and dried.
Then II was warranted not to smoke,
or give forth an offensive odor Each
OF these ancient rules, let me remark.
may be obeyed with excellent effect by
the owner or manager Of the kerosene
lamp of today. To the oil succeeded
camphene, an ill-smelling, indammable
liquid wise housemothers were glad to
exchange for burning fluid" This was
colorless if the lamps were properly
tended, there was no odor from 1t in
combustion, and ii was a clean COM
pound. AS one housekeeper said; IF
you chance to spill little on the lamp.
wipe il off and the glass is the brighter
for it, and it does not grease the table,
cloth"
Burning fluid held its own until super
seded by gas in city homes. Kerosene
has taken its place in the country and
in the show lamps which fashion de-
orees shall shed a mellowed light over
state drawing rooms. relegating electric
burners TO a secondary place. Kerosene
is likewise preferred by the student for
reading lamps. We are indebted too
deeply and in too many ways to this
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
When Storing Furs

Please advise me how to pack down furs
so the moths will not harm them during
the summer. Mrs. A. B. lDeering. N d..
First make sure, beyond the possibil-
ttv of doubt, that the furs are entirely
free from dust and the inevitable ac-
compartment of dust-the germs and
eggs OF moths or other vermln. Beat
comb until there is no question on the
subject. and then lay in the hot sun.
After summing for some hours, wrap
each article in perfectly clean news
papers which have been summed or laid
In an oven. Into each parcel put a
handful of camphor balls; pin up the
corners securely. and pin OF sew the
this is to keep the papers from tearing
pack IN a trunk or barrel. and nan or
lock up for the remainder of the sum-
mer Mark each package with pencil to
signify what the contents are. that there
need be no confusion should you wish
to get at one before the season Is over.
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
Green Tomato Catsup

I feel real sorrow for any one who has
highly prized By our housshoid in autumn
and winter. / inclose a recipe that has
pesa IN our day de nd yes aae Ws GsS enjoy 20
every year If it were novelty.
Grind or chop green aa tomatoes @ fnsi NIB. mix
bage as you have tomatoes. Salt to taste;
Then add half teacupful Of mustardseed
aGsh vs ten green as peppers chopped fine All
this to one peck OF green tomatoes Mix
we'll together; pack into a jar; press down
this plate or saucer fitted closely. to the
inside Of the jar. Let all stand for two
weeks and 1t is ready for use.
II one likes sweet catsup. add a table
spoonful Of sugar TO the dish at table. II
i,osls delicious 3 19 Us sSd M Resp e any
One thing more. Has any one Of ''us''
bread? / wish the Exchange would Try i'll
Eggless Gingerbread
One cup each OF sorghum OF nnolassss,
Of buttermilk. lard or butter; one-hair cup
Of sT9 tSsa hsags 4 and sh
oughly: have ready enough flour TO make
dough, into which you have sif1sd three
used for common gingerbread. You see, you
have both sour milk and molasses in this.
and there must be soda TO act upon both.
The dough must be stiff enough TO roll out.
Roll as for cookies; cut into any shape you
SILT; SILENT Fra KENTUCKY READER CPsOnia,
Ky.l.
This Is the first time you have favor
ed US with a contribution. May I tempt
you to do this again by asking a ques-
ton or two?
l. Do you put no vinegar into the be-
witching catsup? Does it fernent dur
ing the fortnight of seclusion? If not,
what preserves ii from decomposition?
q And won't you make that eggleSS
(and economicaD gingerbread once
more, and for the sake OF the novice,
tell us how much -four should be sifted
with the soda before working it into
dough? We-you and /, and other
kitchen-scarred veterans-may have
tolerably correct idea what measure of
-four TO I'LL for the proportions of mo-
lasses and milk. But we are teaching
raw recruits, and the more explicit our
directions the less danger there Is OF
disaster. Have l made it plain that
we must have another letter from our
silent sister Of the bluegrass country?
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
IMPORTANT NOTICE

BECAUSE Of the enormous
X mum Der of letters sent to the
IL Exchange, I must ask con-
tYfbutOrs 10 limit their cOmmnai-
cations 10 one hundred toords, ez-
cept iR cases of formulas or REQ
fpes sDhSch require greater space.
7 sCaht all my correspondents TO
haze q sh010iN0 Sn the Corner,
and If s7sy request in this respect
is complied t0ith, it sCiIl be possS-
bic TO print many more letters.
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
English Plum Pudding

From several recipes for genuine
English plum pudding I select the
following. I might rather say that it
selects itself, having been the first to
answer to the call for the famous deli
cacy. The donor is a young girl who
tells us in a PREDATORY note:
Ny great grandmother received a prize
offered by Queen Victoria for the best
One and a half pounds of -four. one pound
OF beef suet chopped fine. one pound ot
washed and dried currants one pound OF
seeded and chopped raisins. a little lemon or
orange peel chopped fine; four eggs. well well
spoonful of soda and enough sour milk
to make thick batter You may add
noured cloth for eight or nine hours. Tie
: the cloth rather loosely to allow the pud-
ding to swell
Sauce for the Pudding.
Half a cup of butter. one cup of sugar,
one tablespoonful of -four, little nutmeg
and boiling water enough TO bring 1t to the
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
Cleaning Lac Curtains

Fsase advise through the ExchAngO hoD
70 eiean lace curtains at homs.
READER Battle Creek Mich.).
The quickest and the easiest way 10
10 wash them in the bathtub with plenty
OF gasoline. IL. however, you prefer Q
pet In an unused room OF tack II to the
hoor In the attic. To this fasten the
curtains with a multituds OF pins. max
ing the lace taut in every part HayS
at hand big pan Of sifted flour. mixed
with handful OF salt With a COM
plexion brush go over the curtains with
Rub it In faithfully This done. sift
fresh flour all over the lace: Law a thin
cloth over all and leave for three DAYS.
Brush out -four carefully. then hft
the curtains and shake in the open air.
Should they need ironing. cover them
with thin. dampened cloth and press
with hot iron through this. II prop1/
new, and keep clean much longer thai
II they had been washed
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
WOnted-Recipe for Aniss
Cookies

for anise cookies. I lost IT, and worAd ike
70 have i again. Am I asking too muoh
In requesting you 70 reprint lff
c. ". 8. (Bunalo. ". II.
Referred TO housewife who contrib
uted the original recipe for anise
cookies. VIII she mercifully let VI
have copy?
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
MN4s. H1ako,s5
SUNDAY

BREAKFAST.
Fruit, cereal and cream. deviled lambs
kidneys, graham gems. toast. tea and
LUNCHEON.
Galantine, brown and white bread. celery
aspic on lettuce, crackers and cheese,
huckleberry cake, raspberry vinegar.
DINNER.
.~-.n of tomato soup. stuffed shoulder OF
lamb. green peas, vegetable marrow.
peaches and cream. sponge cake. black
coffee
MONDAY
BREAKFAST.
Oranges cereal and cream, bacon, French
rolls. brown and white toast. tea and
coffee -
LUNCHEON.
Yesterdays galantine. sliced and served
on lettuce with French dressing; cream
cheese and olive sandwiches. crosses and
radishes, custard pudding, iced tea.
DINNER.
Marrow vegetable soup Ga left-over), cold
lamb Ga left-over) eouffle Of green peas "a
left-over), new potatoes berries and cream
with cake, black coffee.
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
From an Ersfgchile Servant

Your article upon the domestic problem
cals FOR an exchange II thoughts and
have served my time as maid. and
j am prepared TO cast both sunshine and
shade; but If YOU will let me hold the
reins Tor little while some kind mistress
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
II HeIpfaI Quartet

WITH regard 10 using nitrate OF soda
wv fo- plants. I would not advise 1t
as plant food" for flowers. 1t is
10 plants what whisky is TO man. II
stimulates for a while. and then comes a
reaction. We have forced" vegetables
with It for market, bA Shey last only a
short time.
As You speak Of substitutes. here is G
recipe that may ba useful later IN the
year.
Mock Mincemeat
One cup Of raiEins one OF breadcrumbs.
three-ouarters Of q cup of moiasses and the
same OF water and Of vinegar. one cup OF
brown sugar. one teaspoonful each of Gin
namon and OF nutmeg. Boil all together
for hve minutes
When you are ready TO use IT, add two
cupfuis OF chopped apples. II will keep
long time before the apples are put with
the other ingredients.
Can YOU give recipes for chill con carne
and for spaghetti that looks red2
Mrs. Q. c. d. Omaha Neb.).
Chilli Con Carpe
Cut two pounds Of round steak into