davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26

- 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, it is your duty to set her right
upon certain points. If she be unframed,
you ought, in justice to her, to your fellow
housemothers, and to yourself begin now
the business Of teaching her how to CO. =
port herself while she is taking your money
for doing your work in your way-not in
hersi 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-
Quoted 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 Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26
[ARION HARLAND'S HELPING HAND.

who have Travelled and whJ have lived in
Japan report to the like effect They say
that rice prepared by the ma tive cooks and
eaten without any seasoning except a little
salt, if the foreigner chooses TO add it, is
very different vegetable from the pale pa ste
which usually figures upon our tables IN
der the same name. Years ago I learned
from the South Carolinians how to cook
the cereal so that each tender grain sta nds
apart from the rest. 1t is much liked by
all who eat 1t when it is prepared in this
way, except perhaps by a Few who like
starchy mush. I have never seen the rice
as our member here describes it. Nor have
been able to procure it from leading gro
GERS in our largest cities.
I uldlike further information upon the
subject. Who has eaten he unpublished
. brunette " rice in this country? And is
the small market - accessible 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 expensive as to be
beyond the means of thousands who once
made it the chief OF their Diet
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26

born cook in your remarks about made
dishes" To plod obedientiy along the
macadamized road Travelled by the adher-
ents to plain boiled. roasted, and fried In
dicates docility without enthusiasm. pains
taking without enterprise.
An honored proverb tells us that the
" man who makes two blades OF grass grow
where but one grew before is q benefactor.
So the woman who teaches Us to make a
and appetizing dish Of " leftovers d"
confers benefit upon her kind. especially
upon the householder who is glad to fol-
lew but has no initiative talent
observe that you write from Utica. n. Y.
We have a fiourishing cnapter in that lively
city. 1t may well be proud Of you as a
member.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26

the right kind. Cannot you contrive 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
PEELED TO polish it. This IS done with a
mixture of tale and glucose. 1t is then
white and shiny. but it LOSES in favor 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 It in making the rice cakes. which are
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26

highly priced. But It'll pity that the most
intelligent nation in the world should be so
ignorant of the food value o. the cereal on
which people live than upon any
other, as to insist upon having their rice
made as glossy glass beads No rice
eating nations treat their rice we do. 1t
is to be hoped that the small markets that
have been esta blished for The sale of I'M
polished rice Will lead to the prop ganda
in its favor. ANNIE w. j.
This communication from a highly es-
teemed CORE spondent whose intelligence
cannot be doubted reminds ne that friends
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26
"MeniaI Position " Shocks.


g know what 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 lee
ture with stereopticon views and music.
The madam put up my name for member
ship and went once. TIL president spoke
to me, asked where was born, and all that,
and was sociabIe until she happened to ask
where lived and what 1 did
My, but you should have seen her look
when I told her.
80 Oh-h-h!' she said, as if 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. Tina
meant getting a place in a factory or office.
She told me that it was a pity a girl who
seemed so intelligent as I did should occupy
{ q mental position. When 1 said that 1
was not fit for anything else and that I
must make an honest living by what could
do well without beginning at Sc to 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 acquaint-
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 o
in this big city has a member who is a
servant girl. If there is one, 1 should like
to hear of it. The madam is charitable I'd
I told her what a lonesome time had of it
at the club, and how I wouldn't ever go
again. came away without waiting for
the amusements and refreshments. That
was one of the nights when l cried myself
to sleep Bridget was out late and told me
next morning that she had the jolliest
frolic she had ever attended.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26

As one of hundreds of interested read
ers of the corner, I would ask one or two
questions.
How can I clean blue Powered silk
corset?
How am I to take kerosene stain out
of a tan shoe? ERNEsTINE l.
Prepare a mixture of powdered starch,
two parts; borax (good quality, one part.
Provide yourself with a new clean " COM
plexion brush and rub the powder into
the corset, not missing a tire d- Shake it
on when you have gone all over the gar
ment and rub in a fresh supply. Leave this
on for three days before brushing out the
powder keeping the corset t. covered box
to exclude the dust. Do not rub the silk so
hard as to fray the figures This is " dry
cleaning" II you do not Wish to take so
much trouble you may wash the corset in
gasoline. using plenty of it and drying in
the shade. Do the work out of doors and
have no artificial light near while you do it.
CD Cover the grease spot with a paste of
French chalk and household ammonia
Leave II on for day; rub of and renew If
necessary. Had you left the kerosene in
the open air without touching it the spot
would have vanished of Itself. To keep
dust from settling upon IT you might have
covered the oil with oatmeal dry and let
Il alone Kerosene is the least obstinate
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26
Loneliness Brings Tears.

Sometimes a 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. 1t is often past midnight
when get through. The young gentlemen
are in college and school and must have
their early breakfast. no 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 Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26
Has 10 Room NTH Cool.

OF course, I 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 acqualnt-
ances to know that l was living out as a
servant. I am now 40. and doing chamber
work and waiting in family where there
are father. mother, two grown young wom-
en-. and two sons. Is and 20 years old.
get S25 a month. I room with the cook, a
fat Lrishwoman. who takes a 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, a
washstand. a table, and two chairs. 1t is
clean and decent. but has only one window,
which Bridget will not let me have open at
night.
L spoke once to the woman of the house
about it. and she told the cook it wasn't
healthy to sleep in a close room That was
the end of it, for Bridget had her way, and
didn't want to make a row My employ
ers are kind. never speaking sharply to me,
and they are not unreasonable, either. 1
have my days out regularly. The madam
likes to know that go to church She is
an Episcopalian and so am I, so we attend
the same church. She has a pew in the
middle aisle and sit in the gallery. When
we go to evening meetings 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
Pensioners. 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 I fell sick the madam and
her daughters were very kind and looked
after me for the three days I was upstairs
having their own doctor to attend me- The
washing is put out, except that the cook
and I do our own at 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 a fortnight and company drop
ping in three or four times week.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26

of stains II ii be properly managed. L had
the misfortune once to have a lamp over
turned upon a matted floor. Without touch
ing the hideous spot, went out of the room,
leaving the windows open tc facilitate the
evaporation and let no one enter the door
FOR twenty-four hours. Going in then, I
found no trace of the oil beyond a SMELL
which soon passed away. If the oil be of
fair quality the disappearance is more COM
oIete than if cheap dark kerosene be used
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26
Stuffed Green Peppers.

In your family meals for a week you
make frequent mention of stuffed green
peppers. Perhaps you will not object to a
new recipe for them. We have tried it sew
eral times and like it.
STUFFED GREEN PEPPERS.-Fry
slice of corned ham and run it 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 rooster, laying a slice of fat bacon
upon the top of each pepper to season and
to moisten it. MRS. j. b.
Unless the peppers are very young and
fresh it is well to parboil them before bak-
ing. Cook them in boiling water for five
minutes and lay them at o2ce in ice cold
water. When they are chilled through
wipe and proceed as our Kentucky member
directs. The addition of the slice of bacon
to the pepper makes the dish yet more
savory 1 suppose canned toma toes will do
as well as the stewed fresh when the latter
are no longer to be had in the markets.
* X
Cleaning Feather Pillops.
VIII you tell me now 1 may clean
feather pillows at home? SUBSCRIBER.
A correspondent sends in this formula. I
do not vouch for II, 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. I wish other housemothers would
pronounce upon the method.
TO 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 s Inshine. AS the ticks
dry. beat and shake the feathers violently
up and down snd ever and over. grabbing
the DICK with both hands and separating The
punches of feathers you feel inside. Do
this again and again. hanging on the line
in a different position after each shaking
and separating. BY the time the feathers
are dry they will be light and fluffy, and II
they were little musty at first they Will be
sweet and nice when you have done with
them
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26
IMPORTANT NOTICE

BECAUSE Of The enormous number Of
II letters semitic the department. must ask
contributors to limit their communications to
100 words. except In cases Of formulas or
recipes whieh require greater space. I todnt
all mig correspondents to haze showing in
Lhe Corner. and If ing request in this respect
IL complied tofth it GoiR BE possible to print
many more letters.
lsttention Is called to he fact hGt Morton
Harland cannot Seeeipe money for patterns,
as she has no connection lOiLh any department
tRcf sells them. Marion Harian6.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26
Has No Place Anuwherc.

No; I tell you the living out girl born
on this side of the ocean has no place any
where! Yet you wonder more of US don
take service? 1 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 Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26

she does, for I don't enjoy the people she
has about her. and she doesn' t care to have
me spying round, as she says SO upstairs
I go to the little room under the roof and
read until I fall asleep. Sometimes just
cry with the lonesomeness of it all.
The plain truth is there is place any
where for an American born servant girl.
And that's what am! My mother used
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26

him believe 1t. When told him right out
that I was chambermaiG and waitress he
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 a foreigner.
You may say that ought to have high
er ideas than to care about that. I believe
you are sincere when you write that a
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26

to say she hoped would marry. One sum-
mer when I had a months vacation when
the family were travelling she introduced
me to a WHOEVER who was on the lookout
for wife. At the end of the month 1 told
him I must be going home, and he asked
me to marry him. Up to that minute he
had thought that I was living with a rich
woman as a companion My mother let
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26

over night. and I take it up to them. also
do their mending and help them dress for
parties.
Things might be worse In some ways
but it is the loneliest 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 as
soon as her work is done. I am glad when
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26
Maid Should Work Your Wau.

- Yet my husband says: For all that,
she is so good to the children, hadn't you
better put up with few Inconvenience?
Please tell me what I ought to do?
NELLIE s.
Without singing out any Of your counts
against the domestic who is imposing
shamelessly upon your indulgence. will
say without hesitation. that she is dis
honest and impertinent and that her pre-
vious training argues Ill for her former en-
ployers. She has no more right to take
de1icacies and letter paper without your
permission than she would have to pick
your pocket or to hell. herself to a 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 populations
would tell against her were she to try to
get another place. Moreover, that it would
be your duty to tell of these when you are
questioned as to her character by her pos
sfbIe future employer.
It is just possible that she has never
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26

Hving-out girl is as respectable as
queen as long as she respects herself and
does her duty in the station to which God
has called her. That is. keeps her hands
from picking and stealing, and does the
days work conscientiously. I was about
to say like any other machinery" But
we are flesh and blood, with hearts and
nerves, and what pass for minds. and tell
you there is no place in church or society
for US.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26
Are Girls Thus Barred Out9

have every reason to believe that this
story is true in the main facts. The letter
is clearly written, and it has needed little
editing to prepare 1t for the Corner. have
had letters from the wives of multimillion-
aires that were not so well spelled and eX-
pressed. confess myself somewhat at
loss how to meet the outpourings OF a proud.
morbid soul, stung to bitterness, maybe to
injustice by the conditions she depicts. I
appeal to readers conversant with the
workings of what are known in England
girls friendly societies to confirm or
deny what this woman asserts Of the mem
bership of such societies in the United
States Is 1t trut a well behaved woman.
reputable in character and with more than
ordinary intelligence land this the person
before us evidently possesses), is barred
out from church clubs and secular organi-
cations Of like character if it be known that
she is in domestic service? The Corner
stands open for confirmation or for refuta-
tion of the charge.
May I suggest to our complainant that
there must be other domestics Of American
birth with whom she might associate2 Also
the possibility of getting these together for
the purpose of mutual enjoyment and I'm
provenent? She cannot be the only one o.
her class in the great city from which she
writes Personally I do not know church
members. kind Of nature and diligent tn
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 " the
madam " and her daughters appear TO be-
The occasional gifts of refuse tickets. the
chance pleasant word, and the perfUnctory
visits to the sickroom are so many formal
tiles of decent daily living that have in them
neither heart nor grace.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26

- Don't be afraid to Try this Way. 1t
sounds odd, know, but it can be done. It
will take pretty nearly all day, though.
MARGARET E.
Frankly, I am afraid to try 1t. Or L
should be if I had pillows to clean Won't
somebody experiment upon cradle pillow?
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26

body knows we are better fed and lodged
than we would be in sixth rate ooardins
houses. But when we think OF all these
things we come back to the plain truth
that we are nowhere and nobody when II
comes to having congenial companions
and being noticed as II We were human
beings and no better than. we VIII say
vacuum cleaner.
II don't expect you to print this letter
or any part of It. have worked on Il al
the evening, writing upon the Kitchen
table. with not a creature to speak 70 since
the dinner things were cleared out OF the
dining room. 1t is Bridgets evening out
The madam never asks me where I 90 on
my OF evenings. Nor she doesn't know
whether I 60 out or not. Where should
go? There is not a downtown settle
ment where I wouldn't be looked down
upon. I was brought up carefully and
don't fancy moving picture shows when I
have to go alone.
% But you seem TO have kind heart and
you speak kindly of working women In
one piece you said that I'd has a place
for every body who would Just look for g..
Where do 1 belong? EMILY +.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26
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 Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26

SUNDAY.
BREAKFAST.
Grapefruit.
Cereal and cream.
Deviled kidneys
Southern batter bread.
Toast.
Tea and coffee
LUNCHEON.
Stuffed green peppers. CSee recipe.)
Baked sweet potatoes.
French rolls.
Egg salad with French dressing.
Crackers and cheese
Cream cakes and tea (See recipe)
DINNER.
Tomato and tapioca soup. (See recipe)
Cannelon Of corned beef "a leftover from Sat
urday).
Horseradish sauce.
Vegetable marrow.
Spanish chestnuts stewed in gravy.
French pancakes with hard sauce.
Black coffee
y :.
MONDAY.
BREAKFAST
Oranges.
Cereal and cream
Bacon and eggs.
Fried hominy.
Toast.
Tea and coffee
LUNCHEON.
Corned beef hash cakes "a leftover.
Potatoes boiled in their jackets.
Whole wheat bread.
Romaine salad
Heated crackers and cheese.
Bread pudding with liquid sauce.
Tea.
DINNER
Bean soup based upon liquor in which the beef
boiled Saturday.
Beef heart stuffed and praised.
Scalloped sweet potatoes.
CauIidower.
Apple pie with American cheese.
* 4
TUESDAY,.
BREAKFAST
Bananas
Cereal and cream.
Bacon.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26

married again, when my father had been
dead two years.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26

NE and the same mail brings me
wo letters upon which 1 base the
L Familiar TAX - of today.
~ ~ In my girlhood home we
ere fortunate enough to get along
aay helpers, but now that am mar
.:lal and have little ones am faced by the
problem of keeping maid
Il am good to my maids, for know how
to work and what work is, and l always
put myself in their place My friends say
that spoil them. 1 am simply doing what
I think is my duty to my fellow creatures
Wha. troubles me is that they seem to take
advantage of my kindness. There are
some things that bother me. Win you
kindly set my mind at rest concerning
some of these?
Has my maid a right to eat the jams
and jeIlies put up for my husband and the
babies taking these when she likes and
without asking leave?
When purchase delcacies for the table
which l wish to save for special occasions
has she a right to help herself to them
when she chooses to Go 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 1 take an egg shampoo is she privi-
legged to do the same?
What am to say in all or any of these
cases that will not hurt her feelings? 1t
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 it. She uses
my telephone while I am out and has it
charged to me- and takes a holiday without
permission when it pleases her.
- am just at the end of my wits and my
p doc