The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-16

When the pure food show was held in
this city several years ago, we were sn-
duced to try our hand in the art Of dem
onstrating.
For years we had stood by and seen ex-
perts extol the virtues of their materials
and heard those who were looking for that
Something for nothing exclaim their
delicious findings.
It seemed so easy to please the public.
Everybody tasted so readily, we felt only
the incompetent tutor failed to take an
order from the samples. We admit we
were very new and green in this class OF
work, but we soon obtained very clear
idea of the trials of the saleslady.
The morning hours between 10 and 2
were observed for admittance to the
hail. and the evening hours from to 10.
The purpose Of such an occasion was to
educate the housekeepers to the use or
commodities demonstrated, At the same
time lessons were given for the proper
preparation of the same.
The booths Indicated a variety of food
stuffs and a variety OF brands OF many
of a kind. The competition made the
feature, creating a real rivalry IN the
operation of the entertainment. BESIDES
giving a taste of each kind, ard there
were cakes, breads, sweets. sandwiches
crackers and candy along with the rest;
even syrup and hot flannel cakes. Every
thing to tempt the buyer. Our flrst ehoft
in this line gave us a varied experience
a keen insight into what many call house
keeping. we were astonished and amused
Mt what knowledge, or lack of 1t. was
had of the kind of food stuff, of what real
brand was used by the average mousse
keeper. We were most Interested III
flour on this occasion, and as we served
a dainty biscuit or well Drowned slice
of angel food we incidentally asked the
housekeeper the brand she used ana
often we were astonished to hear they
,'really did not know" After thinking z
while one lady said: II just know the
sack has q little girls name on it, we
soon found it was not only necessary 10
teach them how to prepare what they
were accustomed to buying, but we must
find out why hey bought certain brands.
Did they simply take what came to them
regardless OF quality. We wondered IL
they were more familiar with prices! so
we at once began to gather 1h1ornatiol
that would be useful as follow up sys-
TEN for future eoffrts. We began TO nave
heart to heart talks of home, It's detaiis,
and were again surprised to ina out
many women could not tell you the mar
ket value of daily used materials, or tho
amounts consumed in their homes each
month. .
And were even more astonished TO ma
the greater majority could not calculate
the amount necessary for their monthly
expenses in the operation of their own
home. We found this experience gave a
very clear idea of the dependence OF the
housekeeper on what her cook preferred,
several indicating they would consult the
cook before making a change In the
materials needed in her pantry. We had
often heard, too, that many orders taken
on such occasions were turned down when
delivered by the grocer to the nome, tnat
the sale was made as a matter OF being
pleasant only, it took us several days 10
discover a few facts as regards this. one
LADY strolled by and We asked her Tor an
order
She frankly said she had Just placed
an order for a barrel with the booth just
ahead of u.s. and after chatting pleas
antly awhile and eating quite bit OF
our good cake" she passed on. We
slipped to the neighbor booth and found
no record of such an order, so we decided
| to see what was going on down the iine'
and reached the next flour booth just IN
| time to hear the same lady decline TO
| buy their brand because she had Just
placed an order for barrel with her
| friend here This gave the opportun-
ity. and with pencil and pad In hand we
told her I'VE begged pardon for misuh-