Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1914-07-31
ssessssassssessssseessss Gees,
!: TtLLTALE CREAM PUFFS
By AGNES CRAMER.
esseeeeeoeossoee

Ever since she was a child and had
known the pleasure Of standing In
front of bakers window and allowing
her fancy to play about the cream
puffs and the pies, the wonderful jelly
rolls and the mysteriously named
"eclairs" she had regarded the bakery
business as one OF the most fascinating
of all. They called the shops bakeries
In those days and her Joy received
check when she was obliged to cope
with the strange name "dellcatessen,
that was later applied to them. 1t was
much finer sounding word, and there
could be nothing too fine to apply to an
occupation that concerned itself win
the sweets Of existence.
She and her brother kept house to
gether in tiny apartment In a part oil
Chicago where bakeries were as thick
as blackberries. And when blackber
ries are very thick you become fas
tidious about them and learn to know
the ripe and juicy ones at sight. sc
she came to be quite connoisseur III
things culinary and knew a creamy
eclair at first glance much as natur
alist knows all about plant or shrut
before he stops to analyze 1t.
It was not that she had castro
nomical imagination or was anything
of gourmand. In reality it was more
the esthetic phase, the artistic side Of
these creations that pleased her ant
she was content with very limited por
tons for herself. But she and hel
brother really lived on bagged things
and what Stevenson once said regard
ing timed food might be applied tt
food in bags-"man cannot live By
bags alone"
But her brother made no complaint
and IL home cooking" was rare will
them at least she saw to it that theil
bagged bread and buns were not toe
bakery" She searched diligently fol
the shops that offered puffs of
honey" flavor much as a botanist
looks for his favorite specimens. TIC
come upon delicatessen shop thai
was just opening gave her as much
| Joy as the flower lover experiences al
the sight of the opening violet. She
and her brother talked over the differ
ent varieties Of cream puffs that she
secured and discussed seriously the
question as to which shop was most
worthy of their patronage.
But one evening for his dessert he
was presented with a cream puff that
as he remarked, did not look goot
to him." for it had an appearance fal
below their standard in such delicacies
| So he demanded Of his sister, who was
responsible for this culinary crime:
"Why, don't you think they have &
kind Of honey taste?" she asked, with
some embarrassment.
Eyes," he replied, IF by honey yor
mean something fat and pasty."
"You see," she explained, the mai
who keeps the shop where l bough
these lost his wife about a year ago
and he says that she always made the
filling for his cream puffs and that the
secret of the filing died with her.
felt so sorry for him that l could no
help buying them even though they dit
not look quite as nice as some we have
had"
WELL" answered her brother, |"
feel sorry for the gentleman myself
but my sympathy does not go so far a:
to compel me to eat puffs filled will
flour paste favored with vanilla"
I The next evening the sister gave
him with his dessert of sliced banana:
! some lady fingers purchased from the
bereaved baker, but the brother de
clared that they were unworthy O
their name. She showed 30 much re
sentiment Of his criticism that he saw
she had allowed sentiment to mingl'
with her culinary judgment and HI
trembled for his future desserts.
For long time, however, he heart
no more of the unhappy baker. His sis
ter continued to offer him impeccablt
puffs from a well-known and high
priced delicatessen shop.
But one evening after delicious
home-cooked supper she brought ou
some chocolate cellars, which, like
Pope's monster, vice, were of suc-
hideous mien that to be hated they
needed but to be seen.
After one mouthful he remarked
sourly: II think recognize this par
ticular paste. You have gone back tt
that detestable delicatessen fellow, thu
culinary criminal"
But he's improved" she declared
| with warmth. Your taste is not dell
cate enough to distinguish the change.
mo, it Is not" he answered, and
| wish the gentleman would get anothe
wife, one who has some knowledge @
| puffs-"
II think he has one in view" sh'
answered shyly. Then she blushed II
| quite an extraordinary way.