davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29

posted where the wind will watt II into
our pores and lungs. He is foul, within and
without In our kitchens he is unspeak-
ably vile. For where is the hired cook who
does not let the carcass of scalded or
scorched fly escape her eye to scandalize
mistress and sicken guest as the cake is
broken open or the bottom Of the cup Gus
tard is scraped? If she be exceptionally
watchful, she fishes out the remains OF the
" harmless little fly " and sends the dish
in nonohalantly9 as II he had not met his
fate in broth, or gravy or coffee
II 4
Education Long Neglected.
1t is clear that our education has been
neglected with regard to this menace u
decency and health. A fly should be hunted
down and killed as zealously as one would
chase a rat or a snake. Children should
be instructed from the cradle to look upon
them with abhorrence, and to pursue them
as their natural enemies. Instead of
which they are fed with stories of sweet
little Minnie and Jennie, whose mothers.
inquiring why they sit with suspended
spoons and bated breath. gazing snilingly
into the depths of their bowls of bread
and milk, are met by the answer:
Il was waiting for the dear little fly to
finish his breakfast"
Cowper would not enter on his list OF
friends:
" The man who, needlessly. would set his
foot upon a worm"
There is no such word as " needless " in
fly killing Every room should have, as
part of summer furniture, one OF the wire
" swats " invented by an anonymous bene-
factor to the race. And to grasp 1t and
rush for a fly that violates the decencies
of the household by entering by door or
window, should be no more an infringement
OF etiquette than to answer the telephone
with the briefest OF apologies to guest or
fellow member of the family. It is an act
of necessity and mercy, justified by the
straitest sect of manner makers
y r.
One Swdt" Eliminates Millions.
am poor in the matter OF statistics
culations. running away into the Millions
of prospective flies eliminated from the
" curst " catalogue by one sweep OF the
=" swat" know that each fly that sings
in the pane or soaks and then sucks my
sugar, represents in the black list probable
thousands of larvae. maggots, pupa-dis-
ease disseminating full grown flies.
Strict cleanliness: the 1udicious arrange
ment of netted screens in doors and win
dows. and. as the day wakes warm. CRATE
full shadow in the living rooms, are the
best protection against the invasion of the
grievous swarms." Add to these, relent-
less enmity, manifested in swift destrucr
ton OF the unclean pests. and the dimfn1
ton of the hordes is a mathematical cei
tainty.
Appreciation of the danger is the first
step toward the desired end Cast senti-
mental fancies to the wind. The safety
of one child is of more account to human
ity than all the flies that ever AFFLICTED
Egypt and America.
The Musca domestica must go II we
would have clean homes and healthy neigh
borhoods.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29
BEWARE OF THE H RM Full FLY.

the Egyptian side OF the family. The
housemother of average intelligence recog-
nizes In the loud hum of the fellow who
bumps against the windows and ceiling
the threat of danger. If he alights upon
meat he pollutes it. He is known as an
habitue of questionable resorts. He is
noisy and intrusive. She is sc nervous =" as
long as he is within hearing.
If she ever heard of " Mariana OF the
Moated Grange" she would have despised
that lovelorn damsel for sitting still to
nurse her grief while the " blue fly sang
on the pane" The up to date Mariana
would have had an object in life until the
unclean "beastie - was run down and
killed,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29
Widow NTH Six Bous.

II have been a widow for three years. I
comforts in life-only what the boys and I
work to get. Ours is small farm, and we
work IL ourselves.
"I do try hard not to complain, although
it saddens me that the little ones have not
the advantages of education I would give
them if I could. They attend school only
three months in the year, walking two and
a half miles to the schoolhouse night and
morning.
I am lonely when they are away. as you
may suppose, and keep busyto drive away
sad thoughts and lonely musings. I am
making up patchwork quilts. but have few
pieces, as there are no little girls to dress.
If there were. there would be scraps from
their calicoes. etc.
" If the Corner can get me some wooden
or silk pieces of any kind that may be
wrought into bed covers, it would be deed
of mercy.
And. do you suppose anybody has a
good watchdog to spare? He would have
the best of care and a comfortable home
as long as he lives, If my boys had him
will pay express upon the dog.
q EVA B. c.
AS the writer is Georgian member OF
our family, the request for the dog is espe-
cially commended to other constituents in
that region. The parcels of scraps of silk
and wooden may be mailed from any quarter
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29
recipe for beefsteak and mushroC
a plain dish elegant.
i. x
Hon TO Renopdte Plush.


plain dish elegant.
- X
Hon to Renopdte Plush.
Please tell me of the easiest way 70
make plush look like new. I have a plush
coat which is spotted In several places.
The spots are like those caused by rain.
drops. The skirt is crushed and f1attened
at the back where 1t has been sat upon. I
have brushed 1t thoroughly, but the spots
remain. z. NJ. L."
The best way Of renovating plush and
velvet has been described so often in the
Corner that 1 hesitate to repeat the for
mula. Still, as you evidently have not seen
1t, others may have overlooked 1t.
Brush all the dust from the garment and
suspend it at full length and with the
sleeves and skirt spread out widely Chat
every part may be exposed) from a line
stretched across the bathroom. Then run
the hot water over the tub, shutting door
and windows When the room is so full OF
steam that you can hardly see across II,
turn off the water and leave the garment
hanging until the vapor has disappeared
and the room is quite cold without touch
ing the plush. open the window and do not
handle the garment for several hours. The
steam will raise the crushed nap. Let the
plush get perfectly dry before you brush It
smooth. nave renovated VelVet WHICH
had been washed by this homely device.
i: y
Luncheon Dish for Friday.
"A FRIDAY LUNCHEON DIEH.-Bone-
less Fish.-This is a capital Friday dish
when fresh fish is not obtainable.
Boil a quart of flake hominy in water
slightly sailed. Empty and drain a can
of salmon and pick the fish fine with a
silver fork. When the honiny is thor
oughly cooked mix well with the salmon,
season to taste, and press hard into a wet
mold to become cold and firm.
When you would use 1t, cut into slices
about an inch thick and three inches long,
roll in meal, and fry to a delicate brown in
deep fat.
This is a delicious substitute for fresh
fish. Indeed, 1t can hardly be distin-
guished from the fresh. and has no taste
Of horniny. Mrs. W. E. K"
Evidently we have struck a vein of novel
combinations. treatment and results, to-
day. The Friday dish should be tried by
the summer housekseper remote from mar
ret and lake or stream that might supply
her with fresh fish. am curious to hear
how she succeeds. If what the author OF
he formula claims for It be true (and we
have every reason to believe herr. then
we have notable addition to our repertoIra
If cheap and easily made family dishes.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29
IMPORTANT. NOTICE

BECAUSE Of the enormous number Of
IL letters semitic the department I must ask
contributors to limit their communications TO
100 sOOrds, except IN eases Of formulas or
recipes which require greater space. I rpant
eli my correspondents TO haze shouting in
fhe Corner. and if my request in this respect
Is complied vith ii SoiH be possible to print
mary more letters.
Attention Is called to The fact that Marion
Ha1Land cannot Teesfoe money for patterns.
as she has no connection with any department
that sells them. Marion HaTLand.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29
MARION HARLAND'S HELPING HAND

pignons) as accessories to divers dainty
dishes. The inclosed recipes show two
ways Of using them that may offer variety
to my fellow house mothers:
BEEFSTEAK AND MUSHROOMS
Cut a tenderioin steak an inch thick, di-
viding it into as many parts as you like-a
portion for each person. Lay them in a
hot, well buttered dripping pan, the steaks
not touching each other; add a cupful of
boiling water and cook in the oven thirty
minutes basting often.
ten minutes before you serve itremove
the pan from the oven, season with salt
and pepper, and lay a thin slice of onion
and thick slice of tomato upon each
steak Pour a little melted butter over all
and return to the oven. Heat a can Of
French mushrooms in their own liquor;
drain this off and when the tomatoes are
well done transfer. the steaks, ETC.. care
fully to a heated platter, stick three Of the
hot mushrooms in each slice of tomato,
pour over all the drippings left in the pan,
garnish with parsley, and take at once to
table.
This IS an attractive dish and savory.
Now a word of fresh mushrooms, nov
comparatively cheap in the markets and
in some parts of the country to be had 70
the picking in pastures and sunny, unculti-
waited fields
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29
Houseflu Never Welcome Guest.


Our harmless - house fly (Musca do
mestica) was never welcome, even in the
middle ages of housewifery and science.
That he was tolerated within bounds and
even excused for depredationS which would
have condemned his relatives to death is
certainly true. well recall that lecturers
and essayists upon entomology justified
his existence upon the ground that he was
a scavenger and subsisted upon visible and
invisible noxiouS elemental matter which
might breed epidemics if left in the air.
The worst that could be urged against the
" harmless creature " was expressed by
boy who. having sat half asleep under the
exposition of the " divinely appointed uses
of the dear little fly " of a visiting superin-
tendent Chat sporadic scourge of the Sun
day schoolD was brought up all standing
by the question hurled across the room:
Now, will that bright little boy sitting
on my left tell us why pretty little flies were
made?"
ITO poster peopleI" stammered the
startled truth teller.
His elders would not have gainsaid the
statement. The Musca domestica pes
tered " neat housekeepers out Of temper
and senses. They darkened rooms and
tacke6 netting over windows and hung
their beds with lace curtains, and in the
sunny south stationed a pickaninny at each
corner of the table during meals to beat off
the hungry hordes, which, if left to their
own devices. would have settled in coffee
cups and thickened soups and blackened
sweets out of sight.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29

support of the life that now Is, Six strong
healthy boys who are willing to labor with
their hands three-fourths of he year and
attend school for the other auarter are a
goodly promise for the rising generation
Georgia may well point to her sons as her
chiefest jewels If these are specimen
articles I shall be glad to put other cor
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29

It was a long time before the rank and
file of our people would credit the fact
that mosquitoes and malaria occupy re-
spectively the place of cause and effect
That a tiny pimple that itches for an hour,
and then is forgotten, may be the seat of
disease defying the skill Of the medical
for years. was not more incred-
ible than that fly may bring enough
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29

at trifling expense. VIII the women who
would lend a helping hand to the brave
mother of six sons send to me for her ad-
dress and see to it that she is bountifully
supplied with materials for her work?
DO NOT SEND PARCELS TO ME!
She is a rich poor woman. despite her
hard struggle with Mother Earth for a
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29

lieve him capable of dark and bloody deeds
because he stings while he sings. 1t could
not be cruel to whack him out of being
at sight, and whenever seen. Without re-
morse we pour kerosene upon stagnant
pools, and flood marshes with the same
Entomologists may prate to their hearts
content of the exquisite skill with which
the female mosquito (who, by the way, is
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29

into communication with the
mother should they desire to write few
words of congratulation and encoura ge-
ment to accompany the parcels aforesaid.
i: i:
Mushrooms as Accessories.
You have referred frequently in the
Corner to French mushrooms Cham
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29

in a skillet and stir into 1t a tablespoonful
of -four until you have a smooth roux'
Stir into the soup, with salt and pepper to
taste. chopped parsley and celery enough
to flavor it nicely. Beat an egg light add
a cupful of milk, and pour gradually into
the soup, stirring all the time over the fire
until the mixture is very hot. It must not
boil.
Pour into the tureen and serve.
MRS. j.
Our new correspondent is resident of
Utica, n. Y, and our constituency there
may be congratulated upon the acquisition
to the family. It will be seen that two of the
trio of vegetable soups she gives US are
what the French have taught US to call
" soupes maigres that is. there is no
meat stock in them. An excellent variety
of "potage they are for hot weather.
As in other cases where milk is used in
soupnaking. I advise that tiny bit of soda
not bigger than pea, be stirred into the
milk before heating it. It does not affect
the favor of the soup, and prevents cur
ding, which would ruin everything.
This precaution is another Illustration of
" applied domestic science"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29

Nm the goody-goody books he is called
harmless and sundry more active
virtues are attributed to him.
Sternes Uncle Toby was in nowist
scandalized that " our army swore ter
ribiy in Flanders But what youngster
has not been reproved for killing house
dy and had the admonition driven up to
the hilt into his conscience by the story of
the old soldier who took the buZZing blue
bottle gently in his hand and raised the
window to let 1t go into the free open air
with
There is room in the world for thee and
me!'
A modern essayist may have had the in
cident in his mind rather than Uncle Toby's
love passages with the widow, when he de-
scribed the veteran as " the incarnation
of the sentimentalism of the eighteenth
century"
A fellow sentimentalist says that Uncle
Toby "epitomizes the wisdom of love"
There was neither love nor wisdom in turn
ing a carrion breeder loose upon confiding
world. He acted according to his lights. no
doubt but the light that was in him was
darkness so far as the natural history of the
fly went
Certain Species AiDdvs Abhored.
From time immemorial certain species OF
Of the genus Musca have been abhorred
of The " ErleNOuS swarm lhdl
corrupted the land of Egypt drove
Pharaoh to negotiations with the head Of
the Hebrew rebellion A score or so CO
years ago sitting near an open window In
q Port Said hotel. 1 was teased out OF all
appetite for breakfast by the entrance of
a swarm of the winged plagues-perhaps
left over when the " grievous swarms
were exercised. They had green backs and
iridescent wings, long legs, and the most
vicious buzz conceivable.
What Is known with US as " the stable
fly Is more like them than any other va
riety familiar to in America. This fly,
as hostlers can testify. stings when mo-
Tested. They will tell you, too, that the bite
is more venomous than the sting of bee or
wasp or even than that of the yellow
jacket"
Neither the hostler nor his master be-
thinks himself that the germs injected with
the acid of the sting" are especially
deadly because bred in stable filth. Iknew
of a groom who lost his hand from the in
fiammation and gangrene succeeding the
bite of stable fly. I also knew of a fine
young fellow who lost his life because a
rope he had cast about the neck of FESTIVE
colt was wrapped about his wrist and
scratched the skin. In this enlightened day
we are on the watch for what are loosely
termed " stable bacillI''
4: -
Neatness the First Thought.
The greenish fly that frequents barnyard
and horse stalls is summarily chased out
Of the dwelling of human beings should he
stray so far from home. He bites and he
IS dirty. That is enough for our neat house
wife to know. Why his bite is virulent and
how he carries dirt into clean places is
none of her affair.
The blue bottle is a more frequent in
vader. His livery is a degree less objec-
tionabie than the dull greenish coat and
black breeches Of his distant relative on
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29

cusS seriously the pracucability OF Guilt
waiting the species.
4 -
Aversion absurd to Unthinking.
That we should have the like aversion
to the quiet house fly. that makes little
fuss in the world, is st1ngless, and minds
its own business, except when it inadver-
tently posters" candy eating child. or
tickles the nose of drowsy pater familias on
Sunday afternoon, or leaves a trail of
specks upon mirror or window pane, is
absurd.
Yet listen to a scientific description of the
Musca domestica:
1t lays its eggs IN clusters in almost
any kind Of decaying matter or flth-sucI
as manure and carrion-and multipIies with
amazing rapidity. The maggots hatch In
a day, or less, according to the heat of
decomposition to which they are subjected
The Larvae attain their full size in about
two weeks. and then crawl into some dry
place to develop. In a wee1or ten days the
perfect fly is ready to emerge from the
'pupa.'
" The Musca domestica has an intricate
and wonderful organism, admirably adapt
ed for it's life work The suctorial pro-
boscis exudes a viscid matter when the
fly feeds upon dry substances. This, by
moistening the food, prepares it to be
sucked. The feet are supplied with hairs
that terminate in fiat disks. Each disk acts
as an air tight sucker enabling the fly
to walk with its head down upon the cell
ing and upon smooth surfaces. These disks
are supposed to exude liquid which makes
adhesion more complete than the suckers
could do unaided.'
= 4
Flies ''as Big as Sheep"
We are reminded, in reading the extract
of Gulliver's Travels IN Brobdingnag,"
of his disgust in tracing the progress of
the flies (as big as English Sheep along
the ceiling by the trails of viscid matter
exuded from their feet Our disgust is as
real in thinking that when the 4" harmless
thief allghts upon lump of sugar in our
saucer or sugar bowl he moistens it with
the same emulation, so that he can suck 1t.
Yet we brush him away carelessly and drop
that lump into the second cup Of tea or
coffee!
His feet have trodden the manure heap,
and numberless germs of filth and corrup-
ton adhere to his body. We smile in
diligently at the graceful little thing as
he basks In the sunshine streaming across
the window sill and preens the fine feathers
the microscope has revealed as exquisitely
delicate and tinted with varied hues and
then rubs his sides and back with the
brushes attached to his feet. He Is the
impersonation of cleanliness-a dandy of
nicely.
The telltale microscope, If brought to bear
upon the operation that amuses and in
terests US, would reveal tiny heaps of rot
ting matter scraped from his body when
the weight becomes uncomfortable and de-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29
Prenarine Fresh Mushrooms

ITcRQTnR TICSH w uSU OOHLS.
FRESH MUSHROOMS. - Instead Of
broiling them upon gas range or over the
Goals, fry them in a skillet with plenty OF
butter, keeping the tops of the mushrooms
downward. Cover closely while they are
in cooking. When done they should be
seasoned with salt and pepper.
When cooked in this manner they do
not shrink so much as when they are
broiled, and think they taste better.
~. E. So
It is true mushrooms are abundant in up
land, sunny fields for most Of the summer
months, and may be had for the gathering.
It is as true that, as Hamilton Gibson ad-
rnirable work upon Edible Toadstoois
tells us, we America ns let perish under our
eyes thousands of pounds Of delicious and
nourishing food through ignorance ana
tirnidity. Nevertheless It is wise to know
what you are looking for before beginning
a mushroom hunt. To the educated eye the
edible mushroom is as easily distinguishes
from the poisonous as turnip from po-
tato. The unsklllful and ignorant would
better let all alone.
Mushrooms offered in the markets are
cultivated from spawn judiciously Sc
lected and absolutely harmless. French
mushrooms that come to us In cans may
also be eaten with impunity. and, as our in
telIigent correspondent illustrates IN her
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29

SUNDAY.
---

SUNDAY.
BREAKFAST
Fruit.
Cereal and Cream
Bacon and Fried Green Tomatoes (see recipe).
Southern Batter Bread.
Toast
Tea and Coffee
LUNCHEON.
Cold Meat.
French Rolls
Whole Wheat Bread. cut thin and buttered
Egg Salad upon Lettuce with Mayonnaise
Toasted Crackers and Cheese
Berries.
Cream and Cake
Iced Tea.
DINNER
Mulligatawney Soup tget a 10 cent can and add
tomatoes and okra to 1t to your taste).
Egg Plant
PTune Pudding with Whipped Cream.
Black Coffee.
x ::
MONDAY.
BREAKFAST
Berries
Cereal and Cream.
Kippered Herring
Graham Bread.
Toast.
Tea and Coffee.
LUNCHEON
Minced Cold Meat of Yesterday, heated, moist.
ened with gravy, and served upon Toast.
Baked Potatoes.
Salad Of Egg Plant upon Romaine "a left over
Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Graham Crackers and Cream Cheese.
Cookies and Jam.
Tea.
DINNER
Yesterdays Soup.
Chicken Pie with Rice Pastry Crust Ia left over)
Green Peas.
Asparagus
Rhubarb Pudding
Black Coffee.
I: Ss
TUESDAY.
BREAKFAST.
Oranges
Cereal and Cream.
Bacon.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29

bh ideas and valuable bits OF informa-
ton along culinary lines. am new
housekeeper and much interested in
applied domestic science.
Should the accompanying recipes prove,
In your judgment, worth passing on, shall
be pleased to have contributed my quota to
the general good.
CORN CHOWnER-Chop one medium
sized onion coarsely into pint of cold
water Set over the fire and boil fifteen
minutes. Then add medium sized potato
cut into cubes and cupful of sweet corn
Salt and pepper to taste. Pour in one cup
full of good meat stock-mutton or lamb
preferred-and cook until the vegetables
are tender. Just before removing from the
fire add a pint of milk. Heat almost to the
boiling point, but not quite. and serve.
If meat stock be not convenient. table,
spoonful of butter may be substituted.
This must go in when the milk is added.
CELERY SOUP-Clean and cut into
small pieces head Of celery. (Save the
hearts and few OF the most tender leaves
for salad)
Boil the celery reserved for soup in a
quart of water until it is tender. Replenish
with hot water should it boil away too
mRch. Salt and pepper to taste. Just be-
fore taking it from the fire add one and
half cupfuls of milk. Heat to scalding, but
do not let it reach the boiling point. Add a
tablespoonful of butter, stir well, and
when 1t has melted entirely, serve.