Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-02
HEARS OF SOLDIERS HOME.
Woman's Club Learns Of Culinary b
partmonta Of State Institution,

What 1t costs to serve the meals at
the soldiers home, how the meals for
mere than a thouAand people are pre-
pared. what | Hrtkd, and other facts
OF interest concerning the big state in
stitution in Marshalltown, were told
Interestingly Wednesday afternoon to
the Woman's Club by Mrs. Lucy E.
Wilson. general matron Of the home.
The afternoon was in charge Of the
home and education department, Of
which Mrs. G. w. Darling Is chair
man.
Mrs. Wilson told in a plain and
simple way OF tho culinary department
OF the home. She prefaced her talk BY
explaining the care and attention Civ
en- the people who live there, saying
that It was a great fortune to be able
to be so well cared for and have as
many comforts when one Is old and
unable to do for ones self, as those
offered by the state. That the coun-
try is trying to take care Of those who
have given part Of their lives to the
good Of the country, and that the home
is in no way to be considered a char
table institution. we're emphasized.
The population Of the home is 1.o1s.
and in the summer drops to $50. The
hospital averages 230 patients all the
time, Mrs. Wilson is responsible for
the necessities off Ill. excluding hos
pitat patients. She has supervision
over the buying Of all supplies. An
estimate Of all food. materials for
women's clothing, table and bed linen.
silver ware, kitchen ware. and every
other necessity in this department
which will last for six months. must
be sent to the board Of control twice
year. When the estimate runs short
it often takes some time to get the
needed articles replaced. ;
Mrs. Wilson then told Of how the
three large kitchens are managed. and
the food served. There are fifty -four
girls and fifteen men who are en-
ployed to help in the work. most Of the
girls being mattresses. There are
eleven dining rooms. TN each Of which
thirty people are to be served. The
tables are arranged. army style. five
men to each set. or as they term 1t.
mess" Mrs. Wilson spoke especially
OF one problem which Is hard to solve.
There are many very old people who
require their food cooked extremely
tender. The food must be prepared
for these people, and the same food
served to every one. Including the help.
Most Of the food is steamed, as rice.
musl1. potatoes, and other vegetables.
The bacon, chops. pork, sausage, Is
first fried, then baked in the oven.
Bread Is baked every day. and shows
the greatest waste the matron has to
contend with. Bread pudding is too
expensive to serve often, so the prob
lem has been best solved by making
milk toast with the dry bread. and
this is served at supper. The home
employs a very good baker, who hakes
biscuit. rolls, cakes. and cookfe9s the
latter being served but oncg e~Week.
Mrs. Wilson also spoke Of thu sanitary
way In which all foods are prepared
and cooked and the neatness OF the
Kitchens and cooking utensils when
are always ready for inspection.
Aside from the meals the matron
oversees the sewing for the women
For this work two seamstresses are
hired, and all the women's dresses are
made at the home, also the aprons,
gowns, skirts, table linen. bed linens,
curtains, towels and everything used IN
the buildings.
Mrs. Wilson gave an estimate OF
from $1,000 to $500 as the cost OF
running the institution for one month.
Fifteen hundred pounds OF beef ana
$50 pounds of fresh pork are used IN
one week. For one meal 1t REQUIRES
$50 pounds OF sausage. $50 pounds OF
fresh Ash, $50 pounds Of bacon. or sew
en- cases OF eggs, as the case may be.
For a day 200 pounds Of sugar. fifty
pounds of coffee 100 pounds OF butter
$50 ioaves Of bread and eleven bushels
OF potatoes are required. the average
cost Of serving one single meal Is
cents.
The address proved very interesting
and, Instructive, and at the close music
was enjoyed. 49, .,,,h
i During the business routine the cluo
discussed the advisability of adding q
current event department. to the CLUB.
The suggestion was received with gen
Guest. who attended the club from
out OF the city were Mrs. meCunnia:
Of Grinnell; Miss Minna Carr, OF
Princeton, ILL.,; Mrs. E. p. Carter. OF
De- adoines; Mrs.. H. q, Kelly OF wa
4terioo: and Mrs. Arthur N. Parrett' OF
Wheaton. MINI.
n che District Court.
the case OF ]. E. Hu!:!! :ss r C..Dan-
n. ..-A>n.,>e~~, apovvin1 DIlt Of the