Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-17
USING CANNED GOODS

All sorts OF reasons nave Deen as
signed as an explanation for the high
prices demanded for all food cofnmod1-
ties. Anyone who has a pet grievance
against the government or the world In
general has made haste to offer that as
the one and only reason why living
expenses are so high. Almost no one
has forgotten to blame the women OF
the country, one way or another. A
prominent grocer testified, not long
since, that women were to blame for
the high prices because they insisted on
using the best and demanded so many
canned goods.
Like all the other statements, this
has its grain of truth. And, likewise,
it has it's other side, full of merit For
some women to use canned goods at
all is an extravaganza. For other Wom-
en- to use canned goods is a positive
economy. 1t all depends on other cir
cumstances which enter into the case.
Not all women are compelled to prac-
tice rigid economy as far as their bank
account is related to their expenses, but
all should practice reasonable economy
from principle. There are other forms
of economy which at first glance do
not concern money. There is economy
of time and bodily strength and nerve
force. ones relation to the family
will often dictate an expenditure
which is extravagant on its face, and
the Wisest economy at bottom.
The value of an attractive menu can
not be overestimated as factor In
successful home making, and where
would the housewife be without canned
goods? So many things that are ma
tive to one part of our country Woulu
remain unknown to the rest OF the
world were it not for the Gamers art.
To be sure, people lived and died with
out the goods when they were not to
be obtained, but that is no reason Wny
we should do so, especially since they
are valuable adjuncts in home building.
What a boon canned goods are TO the
woman living miles from good markets!
What would she do without canned
goods? The only alternative is to live
in a boarding house, which can never
under any circumstances, seem like
home. And there she would be served
with the same canned goods anyway.
One of the cleyerest short stories
written in recent years clustered around
this question of canned goods. IL re-
suited in a borrowed dinner, borrowed
in order to deliver the unexpected
guests from a sort of horror which the
mere mention of canned goods pro-
duced in them. This was owing to the
fact that the guests had nVed toI
months on nothing but canned goods
and far away from civilization. Ii the
cook of the party had known just now
to handle canned goods things mlgh'
have gone better.
In the first place, use none but tnf
recognized best brands. AS a rule the
cans are smooth and perfect. III they
are dented in, however, you need no.
eve the can with suspicion on that ac'
count. 1t shows that there has beer
no fermentation inside to generate gas
which causes the can to bulge outward
Beware of a can that has more tnaI
one mark of the soldering iron on tnt
end of the can. 1t is almost certall
to mean that the contents have Ter
mented and an extra opening has beer
made to allow the gas to escape. II
other respects the can will look al
right. Be careful, too, Oh puylns
can that is bulged out.
With the best brands there is prac'
tically no danger of ptomaine poison
ing. In fact, there is more risk II
using articles in the open market
Neither is there any unfailing way o.
detecting ptomaine poison, for 1t Il
the result of action by bacteria tha
have perished. Heat no matter nov
intense, will never destroy the poison
This is found in fish more frequently
than in other food and is more likely
to be found in fish from carelessl1
kept market than in a canned article
for the reason already stated, that th'
conditions under which first-clas
goods are put up are ideal. Ptomaln'
poison is frequently developed In th'
home after can is opened. Under M
circumstances allow the contents o.
the can to remain in the can even TIVE