davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE "VEXED" QUESTION.

body knows we are better fed and lodged than we would be in sixth rate boarding houses. But when we think of all these things We come back to the plain truth that We are nowhere and nobody when 1t comes to having congenial companions and being noticed as If we were human beings and no better than, we will say. vacuum cleaner.
 t" don't expect you to print this letter or any part of It. I have worked on 1t all the evening, writing upon tho kitcnen table, with not a creature to speak to since the dinner things were cleared out of tho dining room. It Is Bridget's evening out The madam never asks me where go on my off evenings Nor she doesn't know whether go out or not. Where should l go? There Is not downtown settle ment where I wouldn't be looked down upon. was brought up carefully and don't fancy moving picture shows when have to go alone.
 But you seem to have e kind heart and you speak kindly of working women In one piece you said that God has a place for everybody who would just look for it. Where do l belong? EMILY F.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20

MAPLE ICE CREAM-One large cup ful of good maple sirup, pint of sweet cream. three eggs Bring the sirup to boil and pour 1t gradually upon the beaten yolks, stirring steadily all the time. When the mixture is perfectly cold add the whites of the eggs beaten stiff. Stir and beat for a minute and freeze. This Is easily made, de- licious, and not expensive.
 CREAM CAKES-Break an egg into a large cup and fill the cup with sour cream Beat light and turn into a bowl. Add a cup of sugar, cup and half of flour, a pinch of salt, and at the last when these in- gradients are thoroughly blended an even teaspoonful of baking soda dissolved in very little hot water. Beat for a minute and bake in pate pans well buttered. When they are turned out of the pans and cool ice all over. MRS. J. W. McM."
 The recipe for maple ice cream will be particularly welcome now that fresh berries peaches and other juicy fruits are no longer in season. We depend upon them mainly to impart character 10 home made ice creams. True, we have Hawaiian pine apple and chocolate always with us. but everybody knows the maple flavor.
 The housemother who is chagrlned to the verge of patient endurance at discovering that the pot of cream set aside for break fast cereal has soured overnight, having been left carelessly in the kitchen. may be measurably appeased by the prospect of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20
Are Girls Thus Barred Out2

have every reason to believe that this story Is true in the main facts. The letter Is clearly written. and 1t has needed little editing to prepare 1t for the Corner. have had letters from the wives of multimiliion- aires that were not so well spelled and sx- pressed I confess myself somewhat at Q loss how to meet the outpourings of a proud. morbid soul, stung to bitterness, maybe to injustice, by tho conditions she depicts. I appeal to readers conversant with the workings of what are known in England as girls friendly societies to confirm or deny what this woman asserts of the mem bership of such societies-in the United States. Is 1t true a weil behaved woman. reputable In character and with moro than ordinary intelligence tand ths the person before us evidently possesses), Is barred out from church clubs and secular organi- zations of like charaoterif 1t be known that she Is in domestic service? The Corner stands open for confirmation or for refuta- ton of the charge.
 May I suggest to our complainant that there must be other domestics of American birth with whom she might associatef Also the possibility of getting these together for the purpose of mutual enjoyment and im- provement7 She cannot be the only one of her class In the great city from which she writes Personally. do not know church members. kind of nature and diligent in the performance of religious and benevo- lent duties, who would remain so-indiffer- ent to the happiness of those who compose a part of their own household as "t the madam " and her daughters appear to be. The occasional gifts of refuse tickets. tho chance pleasant word. and the perfunctory visits to the sickroom are so many formal ities of decent daily living that have in them neither heart nor grace.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20

When green peppers are in season we sometimes lay q slice of fried pepper upon the toast and heap the ham upon thls.
 Made dishes are popular in our house. hold and I enjoy getting up tempting vari- etles of these. MRS. J. L L."
 If yours be not the genuine and only reel pc for chicken la King, some one will be sure to tell us how to better It. I accept 1t as pleasing variety In our list of left overs" You betray the instinct of the born cook In your remarks about made dishes" To plod obediently along the macada mixed road traveled by the adfer- ents to plain boiled, roasted, and fried in- dcates docility without enthusiasm, palms. taking without enterprise.
 An honored proverb tells us that the " man who makes two blades Of grass grow where but one grew before Is a benefactor" So the woman who teaches us to make A new and appetizing dish of leftovers {" confers a benefit upon her kind. especially upon the housemother who Is glad to fol- low but has no initiative talent
 observe that you write from Utica. N. Y. We have a fiourishlng chapter In that lively city. It may we'll be proud of you as a member.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20

cream cakes for luncheon, which could not have been but for the mishap.
 * s
 Cleaning Feather Pillops.
 WILL you tell me how I may clean feather pillows at home? SUBscRIBER.' A correspondent sends In this formula. do not youch for 1t, but she assured me upon the word of veteran German haus- frau that she has washed pillows in this way for thirty years and with satisfactory results. wish other housemothers would pronounce upon the method.
 ITO WASH FEATHER FELLOWSHIP your tubs with hot soda and plunge the pillows one at a time into this. Souse them up and down and scrub with stiff brush Then rinse in clean warm water and hang upon the line in hot sunshine. As the ticks dry. beat and shake the feathers violently up and down and over and over. grabbing the tick with both hands and separating the punches of feathers you feel inside. Do this again and again, hanging on the line fin a different position after each shaking and separating. By the time the feathers are dry they will be light and huffy, and If they were little musty at first they will be sweet and nice when you have done with them.
 Don't be afraid 10 try this way. It sounds odd, I know, but It can be done. It will take pretty nearly all day. though.
 MARGARET E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20
Has 10 Room with Cook.

"Of course couldn't be dependent upon my stepfather Nor was he willing to sup port me. So I went into service in another city, My mother didn't want her acquaint- ances to know that l was living out as servant. l am now 10. and doing chamber work and waiting in a family where there are father mother, two grown young wom- en. and two sons, IS and 70 years old. get Sz5 a month. l room with the cook, a fat Irishwoman, who takes glass now and then before going to bed that makes her breath smell all night. The room Is small and has one double bed. bureau, washstand table, and two chairs It Is clean and decent but has only one window, which Bridget will not let me have open at night.
 " spoke once to the woman Of the house about it, and she told the cook 1t wasn't healthy to sleep in a close room. That was the end of it. for Bridget had her way. and l didn't want to make a row. My employ CTS are kind, never speaking sharply to me- and they are not unreasonable. either. l have my days out regularly. The madam likes to know that I go to church. She Is an Eplscopalian and so am I. so We attend the same church. She has a pew in the
 
 we go to evening meetings 1 sit near the door and slip out as soon aS the services are over.
 The rector doesn't know so much as my name, and I don't know any of the parishioners Sometimes the young wom- en give me theater and concert tickets they don't care to use. At Christmas each mem Der of the family makes me a nice present. One winter when fell sick the madam and her daughters were very kind and looked after me for the three days was upstairs, having their own doctor to attend me. The washing is put out, except that the cook and do our own a odd times. The house is convenient and the work Is not hard, ex- cept that we have a good deal of young company, and that makes it rather severe during the winter. We have dinner party about once fortnight and company drop ping in three or four times a week.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20

slice of corned ham and run 1t through the meat chopper Return to the fat in the pan with an equal quantity of boiled rice and tomatoes.
 Season with salt, and If you like them very hot, with paprika With this mixture stuff large bell peppers which have been freed from seeds. Put back the tops of the peppers to their former places. Bake in covered roaster, laying slice of fat bacon upon the top of each pepper to season and 10 mosten 1t. MRS. J. B.
 Unless the peppers are very young and fresh 1t is well to parboil them before bak- ing. Cook them in boiling water for five minutes and lay them at once in ice cold water When they are chilled through. wipe nd proceed as our Kentucky me ember directs. The addition of the slice of bacon to the pepper makes the dish yet more savory. I suppose canned tomatoes will do as well as the stewed fresh when the latter are no longer to be had in the markets.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20
Bread Formula Is Wanted.

About a year ago last March there ap- peared in your paper a recipe for making bread. It called for potatoes and a small quantity of compressed yeast. l have for gotten the rest of the formula
 My mother. who was with me at the time. used the recipe several times. The bread she baked then was the best ever tasted She said she had never made any other so good in forty years of experience
 " Would 1t be possible for you to get that particular recipe for me?
 " I think the woman who sent 1t in got s5 for 1t. MRS. JULIA H."
 As no prizes have ever been offered in our Corner. that last sentence in your letter puts the inquiry entirely out of my province l laid by the communication when this thought came to me. and in the crush of correspondence let the matter slip from my mind. Yet marked the letter Answer!
 The request is in our line of research for whatever may help our housemothers to gain the goal of their desires in the cuIi- nary sphere. It may be that some care ful reader has preserved that particular recipe for her own use and that she may be willing to copy 1t for us. I am filing the address of Mrs. Julia H." with this possibility in mind. and shall be happy to reprint the formula for the best bread made in forty years by veteran cook.
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 Tomato and Tdpioca Soup.
 " note that. like myself. you count no dinner perfect that Is not prefaced by soup. In my opinion the repast that con- talns meat. vegetables. and dessert with out soup is luncheon. not dinner. You doubtless have an endless chain of soup recipes. Yet there may be found room for one we enjoy in wintry weather that brings in John and the boys cold as Christ mas and savagely hungry.
 " TOMATO AND TAPrOCA SOUP-A can of tomatoes, run through a sieve; a ten cent can of beef tea; halt a cup of pearl tapioca, soaked two hours in little cold water; two teaspoonfuls of onion juice. a teaspoonful of white sugar; a saitspoonful of salt; a teaspoonful of chopped sweet herbs and paprika to taste. Put ingredients over tho Are tleaving out the tapiocal to heat. and bring slowly to the boil Keep this up fer five minutes and stir in the soaked taploca. Simmer five minutes more and serve. Any good stock you happen to have may be substituted for the canned soup to flavor the abovea
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20
Maid Should Work Your Way.

Yet my husband says: For all that, she is so good to the children. hadn't you better put up with a few inconveniences? Please tell me what ought to do?
 NELLIE S. Without singling out any of your count against the domestic who Is imposing shameessly upon your indulgence, l will say without hesitation, that she is dis honest and impertinent and that her pre- vious training argues i'll for her former em- ployers. She has no more right to take delicacies and letter paper without your permission than she would have to pick your pocket or to help herself to bit Of jewelry that took her fancy.
 You should explain this to her frankly and kindly and If she knows no better make her understand that if she were to leave your service the story of her peculations would tell against her were she to try to get another place. Moreover, that 1t would be your duty to tell of these when you are questioned as to her character by her pos sible future employer.
 It is just possible that she has never
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20

lived out !" before, or that her former mis- tress was an easy mark" and that you are getting the brunt of her shortcomings. In any case, 1t Is your duty to set her right upon certain points. If she be untrained, you ought. in justice to her. to your fellow housemothers. and to yourself begin now the business of teaching her how to coll port herself while she Is taking your money for doing your work in your way-not In hers Make her comprehend this cardinal truth If you can-that she Is hired to do your work-not her own; that while in your house she is paid to obey orders received from you without exercising the right of private judgment. Some maids never ar rive at a just appreciation of this basal fact.
 Yet that the rule Is recognized and strictly obeyed in every department of labor con- ducted by men should bring modification to the soul of the woman who contends for the right to stand upon an equal footing in the business world with her big brother.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20
N two letters upon which I base the Familiar Talk of today.

CD In my girlhood home we
 were fortunate enough to get along i. with day helpers, but now that am mar ried and have little ones am faced by the problem of keeping maid.
 am good to my maids. for know now to work and what work is, and l always put myself in their place.. My friends say that I spoil them. I am simply doing what 1 think is my duty to my fellow creatures. What troubles me Is that they seem to take advantage of my Kindness. There are some things that bother me. Will you kindly set my mind at rest concerning some of these?
 Has my maid right to eat the jams and jelles put up for my husband and the babies, taking these when she likes and without asking leave?
 "When purchase delicacies for the table which I wish to save for special occasions, has she right to help herself to them when she chooses to do so?
 " Has she the right to eat all the fruit in the house, and when breakfast comes and there is none left for us. to say carelessly that she has had no more than she neededT
 If I take an egg shampoo Is she privi- legged to do the same?
 "What am l to say in all or any of these cases that will not hurt her feelingsT IL pains me more to offend an inferior than 1t hurts her. When. for example, she helps herself to my stationery after have re- peatedly told her not to do 1t. She uses my telephone while am out and has 1t charged to me, and takes a holiday without permission when 1t pleases her.
 T am just at the end of my wits and my nerves are worn to an edSe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20
Loneliness Brings Tears.

'' Sometimes woman is hired in to help Bridget in the kitchen if the dinner or even- ing party is large. I wash all the silver. glass, and fine china, and do all the waiting and clearing up and setting to rights when the affair is over. It is often past midnight when get through. The young gentlemen are in college and school and must have their early breakfaC-, 70 matter how late we were up the night before. Next comes the masters breakfast. Madam eats with him. The young women have their break fast in bed when they have been up late
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20
Other Side of ihe Question.

Now for the letter which shows the "other side of the vexed question:
 Let me observe before beginning the dis cussion that when I read the title of this chapter to veteran housewife she startled me by the abrupt, even vehement declara- ton: "There is no other side!' l disagree with her, although she added. at least in this country"
 Let that passl Acting upon the principle l have ever striven to keep before eyes and mind in the conduct of the Helping Hand Corner, of lending respectful atten- ton to both sides of an argument or a dis pute, make way for one who shall have a fair field and all the favor her sincerity deserves. ask for her and the class she represents a candid hearing and unpreju- diced judgment
 T read your Corner every day in the week, and I must confess that what you say seems generally fair and kind to all parties. l cannot help seeing. however, that you lean towards your own class in discussing the question of domestic service in America. Now, I am an American, and not particularly partial to foreigners. all though I am obliged to associate with them as equals. as you will see presently.
 " I was brought up in my own fathers house about as most middle class girls are, suppose. I went to public school and was graduated from high school. and then stayed at home and helped my mother with the housework We went to church regu larly and took part in church and chari- table matters. and had our own neighbors and amusements, and were altogether comfortable and contented. When l was 2S years old my father died and left very little for my mother and myself except a life insurance of $S,0oo, which was taken out for my mothers be" eft l took in plain sewing to eke out our income, and we got along pretty well until my mother
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20
"Menial Position " Shocks.

h CfHul OStltOU OHOCHS.
 know what I am talking about Why, there Is a sort of club connected with our church to which young women belong. They have reading in the evening in the church house. and sometimes a sort of lec- ture with stereoptIcon views and music The madam put up my name for member ship, and I went once. Tho president spoke to me, asked where was born. and all that, and was sociable until she happened to ask where I lived and what did.
 My, but you should have seen her look when I told her
 Oh-h-h! she said, as if I had thrown cold water In her face. And when she got her breath she began to advise me to learn to run the sewing machine. Or maybe the typewriter? They had classes for learning both. If you could run either of them you stood chance of rising in the world. That meant getting place in factory or office She told me that 1t was pity girl who seemed so intelligent as did should occupy a menial position When said that was not At for anything else and that must make an honest living by what could do well without beginning at 36 10 learn something I wasn't sure I could do. she drew in her lips and raised her eyebrows and said she supposed so, but 1t was pity. for she should like to have me get acauaint- ed with some of the members who might make me feel less lonely She did not offer to introduce me to one of them.
 "They were shop girls and seamstresses and some factory hands. and all that. you know. Not one of the girls clubs know in this big city has a member who Is servant girl. If there Is one, should like to hear of 1t. The madam Is charitable nd I told her what a lonesome time had or It et the club, and how I wouldn't ever go again. I came away without waiting Tor the amusements and refreshments. That was one of the nights when cried myself to sleep Bridget was out late and told ma next morning that she had the jolliest frolic she had ever attended
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20

over night, and take 1t up to them. also do their mending and help them dress for parties.
 "Things migfNbe worse in some ways. but it is the ioneliest life ever woman led Bridget fills the kitchen with her company almost every night she is at home. She goes out about three nights in the week al soon as her work is done. am glad when
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20
Hns No Place Anuphere.

"No; tell you the living out girl porn on this side of the ocean has no place any where! Yet you wonder more or us don't take service? I don't deny that we are a great. deal more comfortable and safe than the factory hand and the girl behind the counter. We make more money, too. in the long run, for we have no expenses except clothes and car fare. And every
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20

to say she hoped would marry. One sum- mer when I had months vacation when
 the family were traveling she introduced me to widower who was on the lookout for a wife At the end of the month told
 him must be going home, and he asked me to marry him. Up to that minute he had thought that I was living with rich woman as a companion. My mother let
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20
The Right Kind of Rice.

You make liberal use of rice in your menus, and you have more than once rec commended its use as substitute for what you once called the tyrant potato. Per haps more people would eat rice if they got the right kind. Cannot you contrfve to bring before your constituency what is given herewith on the subject?
 To satisfy the consumer who would not take rice in its natural condition, when it is of a dull brown. the rice merchant is com pelled to polish it. This IS done with a mixture of tale and glucose. It is then white and shiny. but 1t loses in flavor and in nutritious qualities
 The rice flour obtained by the removal of the brown outer coating is used by the merchants and those who know the value of 1t in making the rice cakes, which are highly prized. But it is a pity that the most intelligent nation in the world should be so ignorant of the food value of the cereal on which more people live than upon any other, as to insist upon having their rice made IS glossy al glass beads. No rice eating nations treat their ries as we do. It is to be hoped that the smalAmarkets that have been established for the sale of un- polished rice will lead to tho propa ganda in its favor ANNIE W. J."
 This communication from a highly es- teemed correspondent whose intelligence cannot be doubted reminds me that friends who have traveled and who have lived in Japan report to the like effect They say that rice prepared by the native cooks and eaten without any seasoning except a little salt, if the foreigner chooses to add 1t, is very different vegetable from the pale paste which usually figures upon our tables un- der the same name. Years ago learned from the South Carolinians how to cook the cereal so that each tender grain stands apart from the rest. 1t Is much liked by all who eat 1t when 1t Is prepared in this way, except perhaps by a few who like starchy musb. I have never seen the rice as our member here describes 1t. Nor have l been able to procure t from leading gro- cers In our largest cities.
 should like further information upon the subject. Who has eaten the unpublished " brunette rice in this country? And is the small market ccessibe to the aver. age buyer? It Is a shame and a pity that so excellent a product should not be within the reach Of those who are tired of the tyrant potato. now so expensive as to be beyond the means of thousands who once made 1t the chief of their diet" {
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 Tho Dessert Recipes.
 "Can you make room for two recipes of nv our devisinp7 Roth a re tried nd trffA
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20

him believe 1t. When told him right out that was chambermaid and waitress he was terribly shocked. I didn't blame him for letting the matter drop just there. No working man wants to marry a servant girl; at least not unless he is foreigner.
 You may say that ought to have high CT ideas than to care about that. believe you are sincere when you write that