The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-31
4 1
 A--.
OU asked awhile ago for opinions on the stepmother question. Am too late to give mine? I had
 a stepmother. was an only

A too iutC to BiNt ndd
 a stepmother. I was an only.
 and my father married again when I was nearly grown. We had a number of years together which were try ing for all of us. Tastes, ideals manners of living and training were so different The worst feature of the case was the de- sire of my stepmother and myself each to be the one with my father. think that Is often where the trouble lies. Women now are beginning to learn that to be first With the man of the house is not the only thing worth while in life. It Is so unutter- ably selfish to wish to be an only with any one. relative or friend.
 To change the subject, a number of weeks ago some one who wished to write asked what to read in order to improve her style: also whether s-< should peg away at it. By all means peg away The effort of creating anything worth while keeps one young and prevents melancholia and various other ailments. mental and phys ical. I am sure that reading good English is the surest way to improve ones construc- ton, but style is a gift. Some say that terseness is demanded in writing, but one finds all styles in the ma gazines of today.
 
 A Countrywoman I shall paste in my scrap book for encouragement in my hour of need. The writer has superlative quali- accomplished so much.
 To make still another change. you ask about cornstarch being used in custard. much prefer the vanilla custard with egg only for thickening. l know it to be more wholesome. When lemon is used, flour, cornstarch. or powdered cracker crumbs seem to prevent curdliry of the milk. have never fail pie crust recipe which can be rolled up and used as desired if kept in a cool place. Here 1t is: Three cups flour, sifted with three teaspoons sugar, one-half teaspoon baking powder, one and half teaspoons salt. Cut in with knife one cup shortening Gone part butter to two parts lardl; cut until well mixed; add sufficient cold water, iced preferred, to make the dough stick together and roll out on floured board l am glad domestic science is hay. ing an inning. Being quite hopelessly domestic myself. I wish to see women en- toying homemaking. making of it both a science and art. The reaction from all thiI publicity will surely come to many.
 "E. R. P" I do not apologize for having printed SC much of this letter. feel good deal more like apologizing to the Corner because th' exigencies of space obliged me to cut ou' even part of it. What is left Is sane. com monsensible. and helpful all the way through. agree with the suggestion that selfishness is at the bottom of much of the unhappiness in stepmothered homes. As one of our correspondents said when writ. ng of the same subject not long ago. " one word sums it all up. jealousy" And what after all is jealousy but form of selfish ness? know that our beginners in writing will welcome the good advice about peg ging away and we are all interested to hear E. R. P.'s opinion on the custard-corn. starch matter and on domestic science as well as to get her meyer fail pastry .ecipe. With all my heart hope she will