The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-20
Blessings of Gas
ny JANE EDDINGToN.


Advantages of Cooking by Gas,
From the Housewlfc's Point of View
Is the utle of a prize essay By Mrs.
Esther Kenyon, winner OF the SIS priza
offered by the Universal Food and
COOKERY Association OF London, and
published in the June number Of it's
periodical 1t is an entertaining en-
say. When ono reads of cinders in
the gravy made in the days before gas.
one Is reminded Of the half-done NUT
ton which M!cawber rescued so sue
cessfully when he and his family at
tended mat immortal party given by
David Copperfeid
There is no loss without some gain,
and while We at present use gas with
almost wicked prodigality and have
hardly learned its fine services. We
scarcely realize that VIC have gained
IN incih'y and convenience by having
H. Our gains are different from ths
English but here is part Of what
Mrs. Kenyon says
All need TO do when we wans
hot water is 10 ask cook TO put down
leg of mutton TO roast Thus says
Mrs. Rhcad In Arnold Benefits play.
'Ntlestones. and the sarcasm OF 1880
held good as far as the general public
Was concerned. for nearly three-uuar-
tcrs of a century. Economical house,
Keepers OF the Kitchen range and boiler
age learned TO dovetail family bathx
waa given TO any uns;art members OF
the household who vcntured to plead
for bath water when no cooking was
on the horizon. to ask for chop
when the days fire had died down"
When you could boil a kettle or brou
a sausage at any moment OF the dav.
hard and fast kitchen rules were
broken down, Mrs Kenyon SAYS limo
was when the kitchen fire mastered
every household now the merest child
is lord OF tho bathroom. and cooking
has enslaved fire to the uses Of the
woman with the match.
The gas cooker crcpt into her .cul.
lcry, snatchcd the leg Of mutton from
its jack before the Kitchen FIRE. and.
taking the meat gently TO its bosom.
proceeded to cook such meal as had
never been cooked before. No cinders
In the gravy And so many other
undesirab BILE conditions
Liberty. comfort and added LUXURY
are what Mrs Kenyon dwelIs upon.
She SAYS that the housewife OF TO -day.
supplied by her own sense and a cook.
cry book, can set on her table dishes
that would have amazed her grand
mother. not only by their novelty, but
by thei! perfection.
knowing how great is the need from
riety in foods. one wonders in reading
such an essay II the possibilities pic
tured arc lived up to In many homes
She says:
How easy. A mere three minutes
task. 10 whip UP a souffe and set it
In fairly quick oven which has had
its gas jets Iii for a previous ten min
utos, To lessen the heat by a light
turn of the tap, and after half an hour
of other duties TO take from the grid
shelf tho delicatcly Drowned, bcauti.
fully risen and altogether enticing re-
suits. And omelets. How hospitable
the housewife feels who, even If SER
vantless. is able to say to the casual
visitor. I am sorry we have lunched'--
or dined--'but let me make YOU an ONE
lette" And over the red hot grillcr
the omelette is stirred into Yellow
huftiness, and below is kissed to a deli.
cate brown blush"
Casserole cooking. a perfect method
Of food preparation, the knowledge OF
which was confined for centuries To
countries using charcoal as medium,
has in recent years been brought
across the English Channel to crown
the populdrization or the gas stove
The clear steady. smokeless glow
of charcoal, which has inspired alike
the economically nutritious ragout OF
France and the delicious curries OF
India, is equally present in my gas
cooker. With the help of my earthen
pans and my stove ! may set only tho
limits Of my own intelligence and nv
purse upon my cooking. . VARIETY
has taken the place of routine, and
variety means increased interest In
household affairs"
There are other points OF interest in
this essay. but this one about using
earthen vessels Is one worth heedine.
IF women in general could realize how
work has been lightened and how
easily they could master the facilities
or to-day. there would be fewer grent
hotels and boarding houses doing the
best they can to feed people, but falling
far short Of feeding them efficiently
ana economically in about ninety-nins
cases out OF n hundred
In the hot summer how easy II is to
cook, If we have gas and that later aid
TO freedom, the freless cookeri If
more women would try to write essays
ike the above. there would be more
women counting their blessings
Tc