davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21

with submitted. for the reason that during
the spring and summer / utilize my Sat-
urday afternoons and evenings and leisure
hours in putting UP fruit. and have hun
dreds Of quarts OF all kinds Of jams. Jellies.
sweet pickles. preserves, and canned fruits,
ana from one 10 three OF these appear on
the table at every meal. our desserts being
made almost wholly from them. Then,
too. am an expert confectionery maker,
and candies salted nuts. and raisins. stuffed
dates. etc. are nearly always on our table
Southern Johnycdke.
But watched her deft, swift manipu-
lations until mastered the Johnny cake.
Here II is:
AUNT JENNYS JOHNNY CAKE Gage
unknown).-A cupful OF sweet milk. q cup
full and half Of buttermilk; a teaspoonful
each Of salt and of soda-the latter siftsd
three times in a cupful Of meal; one table
spoonful Of melted butter. Enough meal to
enable you to roll the dough into a sheet
half an inch thick. Begin with two cupfuls
and add at discretion.
Knead the dough briskiy before rolling It
out. Have ready q clean, sweet board of
oak, hickory. or hemlock (never Of resinous
wood, buttered and heated Set before the
red Goals under the CRATE at an angle that
viii not let the cake slip down, and prop II
In place. Spread the dough upon II. pat
ting II gently to make the surface even, and
bake. As soon as It Is hard enough to keep
its place. set the board upright Begin
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21

upon order and cleanliness. But IN nine
cases out Of ten the maid resents It and
feels reason Is on her side wnen she keeps
her room a. best pleases her.
To this day I have sick recollection OF
the big front room gave my maid Of all
work in country town house years ago.
The back room was q sort Of overflow bed
room. used when the chambers on the sec
ond noor were oyerfull. Going up to put
this back room in order In preparation for
q guest was met by sitting odor from
the closet which opened into the closet In
the maids room. Investigation disclosed
unemptied and fostering Stops. unwashed
clothing. apd a veritable pesthole which
might have been found In a low tenement
among ignorant foreigners. This In New
England town and with a weil recon-
mended and apparently neat maid! 1ttook
fumigation. scrubbing. and airing for days
TO sweeten that room
Another point to be made. Ny experience
leads me to think that many maids prefer TO
sit in the kitchen When they go into
houses OF their Own II Ii quite likely thai
the kitchen VIII be the usual family sitting
room as II has been In the homes from
which they came. The mistress whom cir
eumstances forhids givirS her maid a pleas
ant bedroom should make up for It by
rendering the kitchen as attractive a. pos
sible.
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21

- WELL written. wen expressed letter
n has just reached me. 1t is headed.
~ Mistress and Maid " and runs as
} follows:
ssrm afraid when start TO write
On this subject wont know when to stop.
for there Is so much to be written about IT,
want to write this. hoping that some one
may benefit by kindly suggestion. ss It is
vel meant II ladies would listen to the
Intelligent, competent working class Of girls
there would be more harmony between the
two factors.
We have all been maids In our family
and have dealt with all sorts Of people.
One OF US remained at one place on and on
for ten years, another i've years and We
could stin go back TO either place. Now, we
didn't hold those positions for that length
OF time because the people were especially
kind or because we had q private sitting
room, bath, etc, but merely because we
always tried TO do our duty.
" The places were just Of the ordinary
kind. We had the same bare, cheerlsss,
sometimes cold room that one sees allotted
to the maid the world over, the same dirty
bath tub in the basement
THAT, I think. is the bone OF contention
between mistress and mald-this room busi-
ness. II a girl likes to stay at home even
ines where will che sit for the hour or two
that are hers?
Operpork a Frequent Complaint.
First OF all, girl should not be so tired
by night that she just wants to Mop into
bed She can't well maintain any degree Of
intsIIigence by always being too sleepy to
read, or she can't do much toward her
hopeful box II her poor hands are too
'twitehy' to hold a needle. Wen, then.
we'H say this is a good place and the girl
Is fun Of ambition. so about ssSop. m. she is
ready TO sit down 10 sew.
She goes up to her room and fnds It an
even temperature Of about so degrees. In
the front part of the house no doubt the
windows are open Mr.. Puppy il standing
at the open window, glad Of the breath Of
air, that in the room is too sitting for even
him.
The only thing TO do Is to 90 down TO
the kitchen aEain-it Is al least warm there.
The gas is away up near the ceiling in the
center Of the room. She ought TO stand
under The one jet in order to see what she Is
doing. She has been alone all day. save for =
few minutes chat with the milkman and
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21
Kilehen PIea.anl siLline Room.

To make another personal reference, I
may say that the tiny kitchen which Is all
apartment life permits me to have Is as
pleasant 3 sitting room when the days
work is done as any housekeeper would
wish to have. The floor Is covered with
linoleum with a couple OF small rugs, the
tubs. table. and shelves are protected with
white oileloth. Curtains hang over the
shelves holding the pots and pans. rows Of
dishes are ranged on the open shelves. and
there IN comfortable chairs. under low
swung electric reading light. my maids SIT
with their sewing or reading or letter writ
ing in the evening. None Of these adtunets
is expensive and there Is no reason why any
maid should not have them The mistress
Is TO blame is she does not supply them
As to the matter Of the guests coming
through the back alley and up the dark
steps. agree with my correspondent in
thinking that there should be side en-
trance, when this - possibls-but II cannot
always be attained. DO not see what
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21
TRIALS OF MISTRESS AND MAID.

grocery boy-now she is alone again-ai-
ways she must be thinking and naturally
the one thought uppermost In her mind u
how TO get out OF this dreary life.
"Qr we win say she Is blessed with
friends Pretty soon she hears some one
stumbling up the back stairs This person
has been proving around the back door
and through dark alleys like robber.
am not saying that a maid should use the
front door. but why not eoualize the situ-
alton by providing some sort OF a side en-
trance or letting the person enter the back
door through the front yard7 These are
little things. but they are the ones that
count.
To answer your question I would say
wages are not the first thing TO be con-
sidered. The Others think I have an
swered. A READER"
Letter Prinied IN Full. ~
say. It Is weIl written and wen expressed.
say. It is well written and well expressed.
and the writer evidently possesses an un-
usual degree OF intelligence. not only for .
working girl but for any young woman.
Let me take up the points on which she
lays stress. In the first place. what she
calls this room business
agree with her in her indignation against
the way IN which some maids are housed
by the combined efforts Of the architect,
builder, and housekeeper. I nave q clear
memory Of a superb house put up In q
country town where few feet OF land more
or less was little object. and where the
maids rooms were in the attic under the
roof. lighted and ventilated by tiny. high
windows, freezing cold In winter, stifingly
hot In summer.
never could comprehend, cannot under
stand now how any woman with the feel
ings Of common humanity could consent to
housing her maids in such fashion. have
known Of maids whose rooms were in the
basement on the kitchen, In cubbies where
no ray OF sunlight ever penetrated, and
have marveled that they were willing to
remain in any establishment which pro-
vided no better accommodations.
On the other hand, let me remind "a
Reader" that the " room business " IL not
always within the housekeeper's control
II she is the owner OF the house she may
be able TO arrange q maids room in a
satisfactory way, and 1t il her blame II she
fails to do so. II she rents her house she
has to take what sne can get. especially
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21

then to basts 1t with butter. lightly going
all over the sheet. Do this three times.
The cake should be nicely Drowned and
crisped.
Cut with sharp knife. held perpendicu-
larry. into squares
Virginia water ground meal should be
used for this delicious cake. The northern
cornmeal will not do. Nor does the south
ern cook put sugar into corn bread She
holds that the meal should be sweet enough
without II.
Joints and rib roasts are expensive as
every economical housemother can testify
who tries TO make both ends OF the income
meet in this day. Cold meats are not popu-
lar with working men and growing boys.
We fall back upon soups and stews, and
md them palatable and cheap.
81 think one reason Of the prejudice
against stsws In the minds Of some is that
they are seldom cooked properly. The
gravy is too fat or too thin, and the meat
tough. i am inclosing q recipe that gives
general satisfaction in my family. II you
have room. please print IL
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21
IMPORTANT NOTICE

DECA USE of the enormous
ID number of Letters sent to the
department I must ask con-
tributors to limit their co1inlunica-
tions to 100 words. except N cdsesof
formulas or recipes which require
greater space. want al my cor
respondents to have a showing IN the
Corner, and if my request N this
respect Is complied with If viii be
possible to print many more letters.
Attention is called to the fact that
Marion HarIdHd cannot receive money
for patterns, as she has no connection
with any department that sells them
Marion HdrLdnd
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21

II her income Is limited. I know families
IN which the sons and the daughters OF the
house sleer In fireless rooms-not from
choice. but because the exigeneies Of space
oblige the young people to take third story
rooms which are not heated
Conditions Worse n "FldIs.
Conditions are even worse IN the case Of
apartment dwellers In large city. Tho
mistress is blamed for giving the maid a
tiny room OF the kitchen with hardly room
for turning about. with a shelf ftted with
hooks underneath for the only closet OF
wardrobe. with q window opening on =
half-Hghted court
But how much better accommodations are
enjoyed by members OF the family7 The
maid in this case takes the best the house.
keeper has to give her. II the mistress had
her way she would have spacious. bright.
well ventilated chambers for every one in
the household. including the maid within
her gates. But means are limited. good
apartments are high priced, and with the
best intentions in the world the house
keeper must take what she can afford and
give the maid what she must.
grant all that is said about the dlscom-
forts Of small and chilly rooms Let me say
q word on the other side. The maid who
works In our homes does not always offer
encouragement TO us to do better for her.
While am fortunate enough to have IN my
employ two maids who make the best Of the
limited quarters they share in common. who
keep these in spandy order so that / can
be sure Of finding them spotless and well
aired at any time. I also have recollections
oe other maids whose large. cheerful rooms
were kept In a state Of dirt and disorder
that left me no choice between a constant
struggle with them IN order to secure bare
deeency or a forced indifference which
stroye to forget the untidiness which made
n srof under NV roof
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21
Real Housewife at Advantage.

"on the other hand. the real housewife
has an advantage over me In that as do
all my own work and keep regular once
hours as well. have no time to bake, and
must therefore depend upon the home
made products Of the specially shops for
breads. cakes. ETC., which makes II q BIZ
more expensive. OF course, to live on S
a week one must be willing TO have the same
thing more than once a week as 1 hnd that
a can OF soup or OF vegetables makes six
dishes, which means three meals for two
people, and one has to plan to make them
different and not to tire OF them Ihave
been surprised at what delicious oombina-
tions could be made from little ODDS and
ends, thus using up every scrap.
ct nnd that such desptsed articles a.
prunes, apple sauce. carrots, etc, can be
made delicious by proper cooking. a. well
a. many kinds Of cheaper meats. II they
would Be welcome VIII be glad to give
some Of the simpler recipes that others havs
said were exceedingly good that make.
The greatest feature. though, u in utiliz-
ing everything; nothing goes to waste In
our house, even the bones are Seraped. the
bits from the plates cut up, and the crusts
broken and all put out for the birds tina.
eongregate By the dozen for their break
fast every morning on my back porch In
winter.
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21

0I on may like to have our recipe for
~ sss s2,sa ',,,, ,s1
broad tailed velvet?
GERMAN CRACKLINGS-Two cupfuIs
Of fresh sweet cracklings; one medium
sized onion sliced thin; two small apples,
pared. cored, and sliced thin Add pepper
and salt TO taste.
Mix the cracklings and onions and
fry slowly; add the apples and seasoning and
simmer slowly.
Serve with dry toast francis n"
90 not know II broad tailed velvet may
be freshened as other velvet may be reno
waited. have described the process so
often hesitate to repeat It here. There
fore refer your query.
The recipe is new 10 me and attractive
But do you mean by " German c-acklings''
the bits called by that name by those who
try out lsrd7 To wit, the crisp remains
Of skin and meat that float to the surface
Of the lard kettle7 I recollsct that we
children begged the cook to mix them In
cornmeal "pones." which then became
cracking bread" What are German
crackiings?
e -
Hon to Make JoEnnpcdke.
The member who gave US valuable In
formation respecting Johnny cake last
week has more to say upon the same head
today
"RXE JOHNNY cAKE.-Use equal
parts Of rye and Indian meal scald the
Indian meal wen with water that Is actu-
ally boiling. Stir in about tablespoonful
Of moiasses to four Of the mixed meal.
Then wet TO right consistency with cold
water. Turn into hot creased pans upon
the top of the stove. The pans may be
large or small, as you wish, but the cook
ing must be done upon the heated top Of
the stove.
sRAKED JOHNNY CAKE.-sHr six
tablespoonfuIs theapingl Of Indian meal
into q quart Of milk Salt TO taste. FIJI
small pans with this batter, having FIRST
heated and creased the pans. Bake in q
hot oven. Beat the batter hard. and upon
putting Il into the pans stir each up from
the bottom. Do not touch them afterward
until they are done Turn out carefully
ana eat at once. splitting wfth the fingers
and buttering Instantly. Do not eutit
"A J. c."
While We are discussing Johnny cake.
better known to our forbears than to us.
and well beloved by old and young. slip
IN the venerable recipe. wrung from an old
colored cook, who " ran IN daily to crlti-
else her daughter. who presided oyer my
kitchen during the frst crucial year Of
my practical housswifery I do not Ike
to say how much more trying my novitiate
,..,,fd 49,. her had 7 mt hrnrkeued. sifIf-
gently unto ana pronted by Aunt Jsnny's-
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21

Decided Advantages N lis FdpoF.
On the other hand. II possesses decided
advantages. which should be as strongly
emphasized as the pleas against It The
lack Of freedom Is in q certain degree a
protection. The long hours may be Offset
by the fact that the maid at work lives In
a home where she would be cared for II she
were III. considered II she were in trouble.
where q days indisposition does not mean
docking Of wages.
She is paid better than any other eiass Of
unframed laborers. The fluctuations Of
food prices. the cost or coal. the rise Of
rents do no affect her. Her wages are clear
pront in, this way. since the only absolutely
inevitable expense to her Is her clothing
and In many households part Of this is
provided by the housekeeper. Her aprons
and her working frocks are almost always
paid for by the mistress.
More than that, since the natural goal Of
nearly every girls ambition is q home Of
fitting herself for this. realization OF her
hopes a. she could In no other employment.
When she goes to housekeeping from the
factory or the department shop or the ONCE.
she goes. into conditions for which she Il
totally unframed.
Not 50 the living out girl" II she has
made the most Of her opportunities she Is
able not only to keep house but to make
home such a. has been her dream. The
thought OF this should sustain her In the
midst Of a good many ifconveniences and
drawbacks and always she should bear in
mind that the way TO better the conditions
under which she and her class live
Is 10 raise the standards Of the class itself.
A few more girls like our correspondent and
the mistresses would feel themselves en-
eouraged to do anything In their power to
promote the comfort and well-being OF
MAZDA
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21
Good Fortune Hard TO Believe. .

sion OF maids Of the latter sort II 10 not
always easy for her to adapt herself to the
change when one Ike my correspondent
comes into her home. Missionary work Il
doubtless commendable and II maid Is
careless about her chamber, leaving her
garments strewn about II. never taking the
pains to keep 1t clean even when time Is
allowed her for the purpose, the mistress
should perhaps follow her up and insist
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21
Prehels.
rr,,An... - n III

Tk1ndno19 q h. HI .
FIVE cups OF dark brown sugar dissolved
IN q cup and half Of cold water, one CUP
OF lard and ons-half cup Of butter melted
together, two eggs beaten light one-naif
cup OF auiseed. one teaspoonful cf 0oda.
one tablespoonful Of melted ehocofafA
enough boited re -four to make q doush as
for eooaies Roll into the form q . snake.
cut. and haks
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21
Tspoeaphical E,ror.

"In q late number Of The Helping Hand
IF. d NJ speals Of cold water sauce in
q recipe for meat pie How is cold water
sauce madef
How do We obtain pineapple juice
mentioned in another recipe In the same
issue?
"I hope soon to be abls to lend q hand
In your wonderful work.
"MRs. =. B. Z"
"cold water sauce " Is . palpsbie typo
graphical error. II should be simply
quart Of cold water" HoW the " sauce :"
slipped In Is one Of the mysteries Of the
composing room. thank you for giving
me the chance to correct this one Of many.
Pineapple Juice " IL obtained BY mine
tng fresh pineapple and squse<ing out the
juice through chessscloth bag.
Your contributions VIII Be gladly re-
eeivsd-
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21
Hou,ekeepina Made a Scisnee.

lIOuSCfCCpuLB w uudC y SStcftSSs
"I was deeply interested in the articles
published in the Helping Hand upon Low
Cost OF Living
"I am q young. unmarried woman, but
I have kept house long enough 10 have
brought expenses down (or up) to ecisnce-
For most OF the year my father and myself
compose the family I have to cater for.
Our income never exceeds $40 week.
We own our house and do my own hak-
ing. Otherwise we could not possibly
bring expenses down to this sum. We live
IN a small town where prices are not 50
high as in the city.
"Out Of this IS week we must pay for
Telephone, laundry q DO no washing or
ironing), gasoline and Kerosene, besides
what Is provided for the table. We have
plenty q. eat and q fair variety. We even
entertain company occasionally.
we seldom allow our weekly meat bill
to exceed 10 cents. and frequently 1t is
less than that. We use from one to two
dozen e1zs a week-strictIy fresh country
egEs-and at least two pounds Of butter.
We have fruit once day,-and twice II We
have no other dessert We have both fresh
and canned fruits, and quite often fresh
radishes. lsttuce, and onions. I do not un-
dertake 70 enunerats everything. It would
take up too much Of your valuable space.
I do not enjoy living upon IS q weekI
There is little or nothing LEFT for outside
things which I should love 10 have. We
have proven. time and time again. that Il
may be done for = short time at least OF
course fuel and clothes could not be
bought cut OF this amount. but We md that
upon $40 week We not only live. but We
save httIs-
e forEot % szy nat We haSs big, a.
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21

cat who comes IN for his share Of good
things to eat. DOROTHY ELEANOR"
Condensing this CHEEKY, unaffected state
ment. We deduce the fact that two adults
supply their table with nourishing food
and enough Of II to satisfy healthy appe-
tites for q fraction more than 70 cents a
day. For less than that. when We consider
that laundry work. gasoline. kerosene.
and telephone must also be provided
for. At a rough estimate we may con-
clude that father and daughter sustain
healthy existence upon 80 cents q day the
year round.
Tne start Of horror with which the an
nouncement win be receivedby those who
sit at well supplied table may be lessened
by the reflection that after all It takes little
to meet the wants of one elderly man and
q young woman. Furthermore, that what
viii feed one leaves something over for
two.
Experience of Business Woman.
The second correspondent goes into par
ticulars that are worth the study. She Is
q level headed. long headed business wom-
an, who is cheating some worthy man out
Of canny wife.
May submit the menu for this week In
reply to your request for suggestions on
what s. q week can be made to do for two
ordinary eaters7 made those out some
time ago In response to Nora but hesi-
tated to send It IN for fear that I might
be disbarred for cause from the contest
The Washington herald., 1912-04-21
Hon TO Make Almond Ring.

Kindly publish . recipe for almond
rfngs. AIso let Us know II In making
these. bettsr results ars Ealnsd By the use
q yeast csWithout # + EW."