New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-02
Hoover and the Housewives
Some Comments on a Recent Ad-
dress to the American People

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: OF course you know the story OF the
two knights who fought over the two sides
of the shield There are two sides to every
picture as TO every theory.
Is il not about time -he American people
turned to the other side Of all this continual
controversy over the so-callcd food eonserva-
ton and looked at it with tie common sense
eyes of true patriotism?
The more it is discussed the less we have
to eat, and the little we have costs Us more
as days, weeks and months go by in semi
starvation to the multitude Of people-the
truest, best Americans who ever lived-de-
scendants of patriots whose dust reposes in
the cemeteries and on the battlefelds Of the
American Revolution, the Mexican and the
Civil wars.
Now, in the message of the Food Admins
traitor to the American people (Which we read
in The Tribune of yesterday-Sunday, July
29) we are told to :" eat cottonseed
bread" (cow food, so as to save all the wheat
for the Allies. It Is all well enough to help
feed the Allies and to support our own army,
but how are we to "do our bit" when starved
out ourselves?
How can we eat cereals with neither cream.
milk or sugar, oatmeal-about as heavy and
indigestible in hot weather as putty-buck-
wheat cakes without butter, and vegetables
unseasoned with either butter, cream or fats
of any kind Gas the beasts of the field eat
them) We can eat raw salads (some Of
them), but it takes eggs, cream, acids and
olive oil to make them palatable. We are told
Ia. 20 nd hlaa ara nlantifn1--
abundant" True, but with the high priced
vegetables and fruits-peaches and pears two
for 5 cents, or three for 10 cents; plums and
apricots l cent apiece; bananas, 2 cents each,
and all other fruits equally expensiye-how
are We to get them?
Mr.. Hoover says: Eat less meat, once
day." How many thousands Of people have
any sort Of meat more than once a week Cor
have had for long time), and never dream
of having such luxuries-it amounts to that
as FISH, cheese, milk, eggs, poultry and
game" as the Administrator permits US to
have. Let him go from house to house and
see.
He advises the use of vegetable fats and
vegetable oils in cooking" Oils from nuts
and olives are more expensive even than but
ter, cream and other animal fats.
We can "eat OK tails" Yes; they are really
a delicacy and very nutritious when young
and tender, but if otherwise one might just as
we'll try to eat a rawhide riding crop! They,
too, are expensive, and, like the proverbial
hare, first catch your oxl
Again, we are advised to save sugar by
using "honey, molasses and syrups." Honey
is always an expensive delicacy, and where, in
the name Of every stalk of sugar cane, is the
molasses and syrup to come from if the thou
sands of tons and tons of sugar required to
preserve millions Of cans Of fruit expected is
made?
Don't waste drop Of mikl" he adds. Too
many of US (Oh, GodD haven't a drop to
drink, and can't get it, at from IL cents to
Is cents quart, according to grade.
What? We must also make our own
soap!" It takes much fat, alkali and fuel to
boil them to the consistency of soap. Ask the
Food Administrator to make pot or cal
dron of it. He'll find it more difficult job
than lesurely discussing the food question
and hanging house cards in windows where
there is little or nothing in the kitchen to eat
and never a crumb or drop to waste!
Mr.. Hoover estimates that the American
women will preserve 200, 900, 900 jars and cans
of fruit and vegetables this year, to supple
ment the 100, 100000 cans to be the output
of our American Gamers. They have been
doing that sort of thing to great extent
since their eat-great-grandmothe
died, and preserved everything In vegetables
and fruits they could lay their hands on
many scores Of years before modern can
neries were ever dreamed of. But they can't
do the work and live on cottonseed bread,
with neither butter, milk nor meat.
Ask him and the patriots who have to wear
tags to try 1t, and see if they don't get too
weak and sick to fight or to help those who
are fighting now and those going out to fight ?
One is constrained to think there is great
deal of mock patriotism going round in the
guise of oldtime hand-to- hand and heart-to-
heart Americanism. 1t will be travesty for
future generations to read in history, beside
the really heroic records of our heroes and
their loyal women.
We have endured and suffered and striven
on-waitng and hoping for some relief but
as none comes in this recent message" it
be-hooUers us still to suffer and strive on,
hoping and praying to survive and win the
victory" JENNIE PORTER PARDEE.
New York, July 80, 1917.