The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-07-30
TELLTALE CREAM PUFFS
BY AGNES cRAMER.

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 "delicatessen,
that was later applied to them. 1t was
a much finer sounding word, and there
could be nothing too fine to apply to an
occupation that concerned itself with
the sweets Of existence.
She and her brother kept house to-
gether in tiny apartment in part OF
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. So
she came to be quite connoisseur in
things culinary and knew a creamy
eclair at first glance much as natur-
alist knows all about a plant or shrub
before he stops to analyze It.
It was not that she had a CASTRO
nomical Imagination or was anything
of a gourmand In reality it was more
the esthetic phase, the artistic side OF
these creations that pleased her and
she was content with very limited por.
lions for herself. But she and her
brother really lived on bagged things
and what Stevenson once said regard.
ing timed food might be applied to
food in bags-"man cannot live by
bags alone"
But her brother made no complaint
and if home cooking" was rare with
them at least she saw to it that their
bagged bread and buns were not too
bakery" She searched diligently for
the shops that offered puffs Of q
honey" favor much as botanist
looks for his favorite specimens. To
come upon delicatessen shop that
was just opening gave her as much
Joy as the flower lover experiences at
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 cream puff that,
as he remarked, did not look good
to him." for it had an appearance far
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 a
kind Of honey taste?" she asked, with
some embarrassment.
Yes he replied, If by honey you
mean something fiat and pasty."
You see" she explained, the man
who keeps the shop where I bought
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 filling died with her.
felt SO sorry for him that l could not
help buying them even though they did
not look quite as nice as some we have
had"
WELL answered her brother, II
feel sorry for the gentleman myself,
but my sympathy does not 60 so far as
to compel me to eat puffs filled with
flour paste favored with vanilla"
The next evening the sister gave
him with his dessert of sliced bananas
some lady fingers purchased from the
bereaved baker, but the brother de.
clared that they were unworthy OF
their name. She showed so much re.
sentiment Of his criticism that he saw
she had allowed sentiment to mlngle
with her culinary Judgment and he
trembled for his future desserts.
For a long time, however, he heard
no more of the unhappy baker. His sis
ter continued to offer him impeccable
puffs from a well.known and high
priced delicatessen shop.
But one evening after a delicious
home-cooked supper she brought out
some chocolate cellars, which, like
Pope's monster, vice, were of such
hideous mien that to be hated they
needed but to be seen.
After one mouthful he remarked
sourly: Il think l recognize this par
ticular paste. You have gone back tc
that detestable delicatessen fellow, the
culinary criminal"
But he's improved" she declared
with warmth. Your taste is not deli
cate enough to distinguish the change.
mo, 1t is not" he answered, and ]
wish the gentleman would get another
wife, one who has some knowledge Of
puffs-"
Il think he has one In view" she
| answered shyly. Then she blushed IN