davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19

generation to get a maid of all work at
any price? I have applied at four of the
best THAT is, highest priced intelligence
offices in New York for one and failed.
They have the same story in each office /:
We cannot get them, for the species ID
going out of fashion. We advertise in
vain
" Now. dear friend of the housewife,
listen to my tale of woe!
have pretty, convenient, and rather
roomy apartment in a pleasant quarter
of the city. There are in the family my
husband, three boys. and myself. John
and the boys leave the house after break
fast, and do not reappear until late in the
afternoon, upon five days in the week. On
Saturday the boys are at home to lunch
con. We all at home Sundays. My
luncheon is very simple affair always,
and lunch abroad upon an average three
days in the week-alwayS on Thursday,
which is the maids day out. She has
likewise every other Sunday afternoon
and evening and she can walk out of the
house any evening in the week, I'M
less we have company. which is seldom,
and stay out until midnight If she likes
L used to have a laundreSs in two days in
the week to do the washing, but the then
incumbent objected so strenuousIy to
clutterinG up the kitchen with wet
clothes that L succumbed. and now put
out all the washing, including her aprons
and starched skirts.
pay her just the same wages as
when the washing was done at home, and
she lent a hand with the ironing-that is
$50 per month. Her food is exactly the
same as ours, and she has unlimited tea
privileges, namely, hot cup seven and
eight times per diem. She will have none
but the choicest brand-say, orange pekoe
at 81 a pound.
am speaking of her as fixture
[Are any of them that?J When. in fact
she left me this morning. She had no fault
to find with the place. If it hadn't been
that you was all that nice that 1 hated
to disoblige you I wouldn't stayed longer
than the first week. was that lonesome!
And it goes against me now to tell you
I'm takin' another position. But there
few first class maids now what will take
a place as general homework doer'
She's liable to be looked down upon by
her acquaintances-partic by the
men-and she gifts kinder old maidishlike
living so much TO herself, with not soul
to speak to all day long. I'm sure shall
always speak we'll of the place, and if
things was different, would just as Iieve
stay not
had such hard work to get her that
have little hope of obtaining a successor
Can you suggest some radical change in
the policy of domestic service as prac-
ticed Tor malpracticedl in this free and en-
Hghtened country. that will abate this
nuisance?"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19

clothes, giving the mother money for the
purchase, and sent him toys and confec-
tionery. etc. She dressed in deep black and
went to see the child every night. Happen
ing to catch her red handed stealing, dis
missed her. Whereupon she shook her fist
in my face and threatened me with the
perlice.'
day or two after her departure had a
letter from the intelligence office from
which 1 had secured her at first begging
me to reconsider my resolution to refuse
Mary Jones a certificate of honesty. etc,
She is penitent, and since she has the
maintenance of a drunken husband upor
her hands it is but fair that she should re-
ceive charity from a humane woman
." Inquiry proved that the pseudo-widow
had no child and that all the gifts sent by
me to the boy had gone for liquor consumed
by husband and wife.
Now for the point of the story! Within
a month I met the woman coming out OF
the house of a neighbor of mine and found
that she was employed by her as cook.
g Like the fool I am, called upon my &C.
quaintance, with whom my relations had
always been most friendly, and told her the
exact truth She had engaged the creature
from the same Office in which had depos-
tied her record, and when I asked why she
had not referred the matter to me when she
knew Mary had been in my employ, replied
that she preferred to form her own opin-
ion of an employee; she never conferred with
a former employer
For aught I know the woman is still
with her. Nor is this a singular case.
have known half a dozen such. In England
a certificate of character is demanded by
the prospective mistress, and If it be not all
right the servant cannot get a footing in a
respectable family. Were to engage a
discharged servant who had left the service
of an acquaintance for any gross fault ]
should lose caste socially were the fact
known. may not approve of trades unions
as a rule. but hasn't the time come when
we American housekeepers must fight fire
with fre?'
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19

them and they didn't know what to make OF
it." 1t was evident to me that they thought
my mind had given way, and my wits had
gone wool-gathering, or I would not have
been so eccentric. 1t is needless to say
that was the first and the last time that
was guilty of such an innovation.
What is true of their fare is true of
everything else Their bed linen is of the
coarsest and cheapest quality, and the
same may be said of the blankets that are
invariably of cotton, never of wool No
servant. however lively her imagination,
ever dreams of having a fire in her room
in the coolest weather. AS for having a
day off, is the invariable custom here,
three Gays in the year are all that they
expect, and that during Kermiss which
occurs annually and lasts three days. 1t
is a sort of fair with merry-g Grounds and
all sorts of shows. rafting, and plenty of
circus lemonade, with dancing, If one can
call it by the name, to the most execrable
noise. 1t cannot be called music!'
That is the extent of their pleasure
making. On Sundays they are expected to
go to church. Otherwise their work goes
on as upon other days
" 1t is only in a few families that the
servants are remembered at Christmas. 1
am positive there is not one among our do
mestics here who would not turn up her
nose in utter disgust at the simple gifts
her sister abroad receives with thousand
thanks and blessings invoked upon the
master and mistress who are the donors
&" could write on and on without exhaust
ing the subject, but am making this too
long If it have the effect of making one
disconnected maid comprehend to some ex-
tent how well off she is in a we'll ordered
American home where she is well lodged
we'll fed, and treated as a fellow-being in
Of -
from her master and mistress, whom our
maid here never addresses as such, shall
be content
9 MARGUERITE DE M, Glendive, Mont"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19
Chldren's Luncheon Criticised.


" AS friend and admirer of your Sun
day page. was astonished to note your
approval of the children's luncheon of
graham crackers and milk advised by one
of your readers.
Far from being a glutton with regard
to flesh foods. was brought up by an old
fashioned sensible mother. who believed
in a portion of meat for children as well a
grownups at least once a day, with plenty
of vegetables. eggs, milk, and all other
nutritious food
Il gasped in reading of any mother with
the welfare of growing children at heart.
suggesting anything like that cracker
luncheon as sufficient for growing children.
Those little ones surely belong to the class
who MUNICH anything all day long because
they cannot be nourished by such pro-
visions as are set Gown here.
Upon one point do not agree with you.
You seem to have an impression that there
is too much meat consumed in most Amer
lean families. Granting this to be the case
with some, my experience has been, both
in New York City and in my summer neigh
borhood upon Long Island, that economy
is practiced in every direction where real
nourishment is concerned, only that there
may be more money wasted upon bakers
pies candy. and anything else to I'LL up a
defrauded stomach.
Your page is the first part of the paper
I read, and it has helped, me much. have
just read the menu of that luncheon and I
had to enter my protest,
% am blessed with a year old daughter
of whom every acquaintance will say, She
is the picture of health I attribute much
of that condition to the care gave her diet
both before and after her BIRTH
Three nourishing meals a day and rare
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19
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 which require greater space. I t00nt
al ing correspondents 10 hare shouting in
the Corner. and if my request in Ibis respect
is complied NTH il wiN be possible to print
many more letters.
Attention is called to the fact that Marion
RaTla7d Cannot Tecefoe money for patterns,
as she has no connection loih any department
that sells them. Marion HarLand.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19

of the radiant health of your child. The
most beautiful compilations ever saw We're
those of a family of six-father, mother,
ard four children, all of whom were strict
vegetarians. None of the children had ever
eaten meat. I was present when one of
them, a rosy girl of 16, was persuaded to
taste a bit of beefsteak. 1t was really
loathsome to her. and she never tried it
again 1 am no vegetarian, although I cite
this instance of the successful workings
of the system in one household 1 10 affirm
that meat does not improve the complexion
or clear the skin. while it is patent fact
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19

United States receives So per week and Sc
or 81 If she be first class-or, as the French
have it, a Gordon bleu.' A second maid
gets So or 81 a week at the least. I have
been living in Belgium for three years with
my father-in-law, who is a French noble
man. He has large house with numerous
servants. The best paid cooks in Belgium
receive 40 francs (SS) per month. The sec
ond maid gets % francs $50 month.
had occasion several times to employ
washerwoman. To her (who was consid-
cred tres chere) I paid the vast sum of
~ francs go cents for days work. Here
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19

grade of butter, coffee, and sugar, SKINNED
milk, boiled soup meat, etc, and this while
the best of everything and the finest deli
cacies pass constantly through their hands
to go to the table of master or mistress.
well recollect evening, after the
cook had been making jelly all day, I want
ed to give the servants treat and put
glass of jelly upon their supper table. saying
that it was expressly for them. Every one
OF them stared at me in utter amazement
and their Merci. madame! was anything
but enthusiastic A few minutes later.
when 1 entered the dining room, there stood
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19

may I observe that if the scraps of toilet
soap be collected and tied up in small bags
of fine white flannel they will do excellent
service in the bathroom? Many prefer to
use these small sacks in the bath rather
than sponge and soap. Every morsel of
soap is utilized to the least fragment, and
when the last has dwindIed into iather the
soft flannel remains a cleanser grateful
to the skin and effective in clearing out the
pores When it ceases to lather, rip it
open, rinse in clear water, and dry before
refilling with accumulated bits collected
from various bedrooms. There is no need
of losing one atom of soap.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19
4 Tasty Sandwich.

Nut Sandwiches.-Englis walputs or al
monds. lettuce leaves, bread and butter.
mayonnaise dressing.
Chop the nuts finely and mix them with
mayonnaise. Spread between slices Of
bread and place a lettuce leaf between the
parts of each sandwich. Sprinkle over
with bit of cayenne pepper. Variations
may be obtained by first mixing the nuts
with very finely chopped celery, with
chicken, with olives, or with figs. First
mince the ingredients finely and add tbe
nuts; then soften with sweet cream or with
mayonnaise to a paste that viii spread
easily before putting 1t on the bread. Sea-
son with salt and pepper or paprika-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19

Americans. In town, where fresh meats
are to be had hot joints and steaks are
daily provision, and the allowance for
each adult and growing boy averages often
two pounds day. The fiber and fat that
compose meats of this sort Cypress the
digestive organs and engender bile. When
these have done their evil work the doctor
is sent for, and his first injunction is, cut
out meat from his diet for a few days"
In the country, where active outdoor
life strengthens the stomach to endure
oppression, salt pork is consumed year in
and year out in like proportion You speak
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19

plain that I must have conveyed my senti-
ments regarding it very clumsily if
recommended graham crackers and milk
as steady diet - for growing children.
What I meant to say, and what I do say
now, is that in my opinion a hearty meal
of good graham crackers and rich milk on
a hot day would agree with children better
than a heavy " feed - of hot meat-or cold
either-if they had already had breakfast
that included meat and were looking for
ward to dinner of like ingredients. Nor
do I retreat from my position with refer
ence to the gross diet of a majority of
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19

Il Az 1 thank the Exchange for
~ NH the many helpful talks and for
the valuable recipes given each
week. and as a slight token of
my gratitude add a small con-
trtbution?
Sometimes. in cooking, something boils
over and the odor of the scorched food. be-
sides being disagreeable, gives many ner-
Gus persons severe headaches.
" Salt, sprinlkled freely over the burning
spots, will In a few seconds subdue the
odor, and when the stove is cold assists
in cleaning off the ealciRed matter. have
tried this for years and can attest to its
merits.
Small pieces of soap which accumulate
in the bathroom and upon waShstands and
are thrown away as too tiny for use may
be utilized by putting them in empty little
salt sacks. tied securely at the mouth, and
kept in the soap box near the sink for
washing dishes, thus supplying soap and
dishrag in one. I find this convenient and
a saving of time. as one does not then
need to be constantly rubbing the soap
upon the dishrag. The little sacks may be
renewed often as one pleases.
a supply of wooden toothpicks kept
near the kitchen table or sink will insure
assistance in Cleaning out cracks and cor
ners in cooking utensils often hard to man
age sanitarily. The toothpicks are better
for this purpose than broomstIaws.
* L.
At the risk OF seeming officious in reply
ing to a communication with which the
most captious can ind no reasonable fault,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19

a woman hired by the day will not do a
stroke of work after the clock strikes 5.
There she stays until the job is done, be it
10 o'clock or later.
What servant here does not get the
same fare as her employer, often sitting at
the -amily table when there is no company
present? A servant in Europe never would
dream of eating at her employers table.
And not that alone. They do not expect the
same farei They have their own cheap
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19

Fish cakes
Sally Lunn.
Toast.
Tea and coffee.
LUNCHEON.
Hash of hamburger steak and mashed potato.
Ia left overI
Sliced and buttered and toasted Sally Lunn
Ia left overl
Beet and lettuce salad Ia left overl.
Apple sauce and cookies.
Tea.
DINNER
Oyster bisque.
Goldfish steaks.
Potatoes la Parisenne.
Hominy croquettes.
Crumb and fruit pudding.
Black coffee.
SATURDAY.
BREAKFAST.
Oranges.
Cereal and cream.
Bacon
Wafies and maple strip.
Toast.
Tea and coffee.
LUNCHEON
Flahed and creamed Goldfish steaks Ia LEFT overI.
Boiled potatoes with butter and parsley sauce.
French rolls
Warm gingerbread and Swiss cheese.
Tea
DINNER
Vegetable soup.
Boiled eornec beef with egg
Mashed turnips.
Ladies' cabbage
Pineapple pudding.
Black coffee.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19

KlO practical American householder
nj needs explanation of the title of to-
days talk. There are . questions "
many and problems not few which
engage our serious attention, hold
ing our eyes waking in the silent midnight
watches and harassing during the day,
like swarms of black gnats singing and
singing when we would be at ease.
.. The Vexed Question - par eminence
conveys but one idea to the lousewifely
mind From one years end to the other 1
am pelted with letters begging me to throw
some light upon the dark subject of Ameri-
can domestic service-as two correspond
ents whose letters are open before me
pronounce it" Confessedly the worst in
the world" It is impracticable to answer
all Of these petitioners. even If had a
remedy for the most objectionable features
of that " service " at hand. Yet it is I'M
kind and inexpedient to ignore them alto
gether. One woman tells me seriously, g in
fact, it is the only thing in our home life
that deserves the name OF trouble With
me it is running sore that / have no hope
of healing
Another asks: why is it that the
United States. which leads the world in all
other inventions for the good of the human
race. produces no system that amends our
national disgrace? 1 mean the wretched
management of that branch of home life
which has TO do with helpers in kitchen and
homework? I have introduced the best
labor saving machines 1 can find into my
house
Il have a freless cooker that bakes,
bois, and steams. All my cook has to do
is to prepare the food and put it into the
various compartments and let the heaters
do the rest. Ny laundress has an electric
iron and the chambermaid vacuum clean
i-a a1o rfp1 fcrf1f rs and ct ear
I give good wages and am as punctilious
with regard to the maids days out as of
my own and my daughters dates I
never scoId or speak unkindly. Each mem
Der of the family is considerate of the
maids comfort, and invariably pleasant of
speech to them. Yet they behave as If
they We're doing me favor by doing my
work, eating the food paid for with my
money and enjoying the advantages of a
luxurious home at no expense to them
selves beyond performing tasks which are
their profession and by which they live
From first to last, 1 am the obliged
party; they are the benefaetors. Worse
than all, it is they who decide in what man
ner the tasks shall be performed. My hus-
band asked me last night, How long do
you suppose I would keep a clerk who dared
TO dictate to me in what style my business
should be conducted? He would walk the
plank plaguey quick"
1 answered that were I to talk to one Of
my three maids as I have heard him speak
to his employees I should be servantless in
ten minutes, and be unable to fill their
places when they had time to spread the
story that mine is a hard place Some
body inquired of him once how many serv-
ants we kept His reply was, Three. and
one slave. My wife is the slavel' 1t was
the honest truth. and the same might be
said of thousands of American women re-
puted to be well to do You are instruct
ing upon all manner of other matters,
but I notice that you give this a wide
berth"
y i.
CL III LII
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19
= 3;
z aking the Shine of Serge.


1 have marked for reply two inquiries
in the Corner to which think 1 can return
satisfactory answers
" One is signed NJ. r. the other /. J .
1 should consider myself selfish and I'M
grateful We're to sit in my little corner of
the world, enjoying the Helping Hand held
out by others, and never extending mine.
Please tell NJ. r. that II she viii
make about a pint of very strong coffee
and rub her black serge skirt backward
and forward with an old black stocking
leg dipped in the hot coffee, always rubbing
with the nap. and then press between two
the serge while the latter Is still wet, the
shine will disappear and the serge look
like new.
" The following recipe 1 have used in
making dustless busters for home use as
we'll as for the general store conducted by
my husband:
third of an ounce of oil of parafin
mixed with one pint of kerosene Wash a
piece of black cheesecloth in this and you
win have the common dustless duster-
The above is sufficient to make up three
yards of cheesecloth into these.
MRS. E. o. X"
Two capital helps are the result OF
your commemorate resolve to come out OF
Your " small corner " into the open and
lend a hand. I congratulate you noder-
ateiy and the Corner heartily.
When you have more Of like quality to
spare do not forget your duty to fellow
housemothers.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19
Are Not the HOUSEWIVES to Blame ?

A Chicago correspondent puts direct
question: " Are not we, the housewives of
the United States, to blame that we are
overridden by the Arabs who invade, ravage
and then desert our kitchens, leaving desc
lation behind them? 1 discharged a cook
for thievery and imper1nence. Moreover,
she had come: to me as a widow with one
child who was living with an aunt and
whom the widow was supportin.' She
lived with me six months, during which
period of servitude 1 fitted up the child
whom I never saw-with suit of new
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19
Too Much Meat Eaten.

Thank you for the pleasant things you
say of the H. H. c. page, and also for your
candid expression of dissent in my ideas
touching the consumption of flesh foods
I refer to the obnoxious luncheon to ex-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19

ly anything between meals has been my
rule. My heart bleeds for children whose
parents have far greater means than I
have, but who do not recognize the abso-
lutte necessity of proper feeding.
q FRANCES M. k
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19

that glass of jelly untouched, and my
father-in-law requested me to refrain, in
future. from making gifts to the servants.
They were not used to it and consequently
did not desire it, "
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19

Crackers toasted with American cheese upon
Swiss fritters with lemon juice and sugar.
Tea.
DINNER
Bean soup.
Lambs livers and bacon
Stuffed eggplant
Mashed and Drowned sweet potatoes.
Banana souf1e.
Black coffee.
THURSDAY.
BREAKFAST
Oranges.
Cereal and cream
Bacon.
Boiled eggs.
Corn bread
Toast
Coffee and tea.
LUNCHEON.
scalIop of liver and bacon Ia left overI
Sweet potato puff la left overl.
Apple and celery salad
Crackers ard cheese.
Ginger snaps and cocoa
Yesterdays soup with peeled slices of lemon
Hamburger steak baked in mold and garnished
with fried bananas
Mashed potato.
Beets with sauce tartare-
Orange fritters.
Black coffee.
FRIDAY.
BREAKFAST
Oranges.
Cereal and cream
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19
Didn't Know What 10 Maize of 1t.

LAS I heard afterward. one of them
brought the jelly to my father-in-law with
the report that " Madame had given it to
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19
MARION HARLAND'S HELPING HAND.

that fruits and vegetables do in many
cases.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-19
Cannot Find Maid Of Al Work.

A third inquiries: Can you tell we why
it is next to impossible in this day and