New-York tribune., 1922-08-06
[s=:=:::== COOKBOOKS AS VACATION LITERATURE
n T is strange thai
in selecting
books fer e sum-

persons consider the

persons consider Sne
qualifications of the cookbook as hammock
literature. Every one likes to read cook
books. There is something so appetizing
about them Next to the well known book
of verses underneath the bough comes the book
of recipes. aThou" would most certainly
join III praising the cookbook il it were
made clear that you had no Interior motive
IA suggesting it as means Of willing away
the hours.
Perhaps the cookbook even ought 60 be
named before the book of verses popular
piece of summer solace, for while the verses
may breathe of love, popular topic, as every
one viii admit, the cookbook discusses food, a
topic not only popular and enlivening, but
eternally welcome it seems. There are times
when We prefer not to speak of love, but no
shyness, diplomacy or discretion prevents our
discussing recipes. Consider the times and
piaces in which you have discoursed OF food
and listened to such discourse. Even at the
symphony concert invariably the kitchen muir
nur pursues us. Mrs. Snliggins is telling Mrs.
Higgins how to make mushroom cake out Of
lima beans.
= John ate three helpings, my dear assure
you it was just as good as If 1t had been
made out of potato juice
We listened for measurements "a tea
spoonful to a cup and plenty Of cream'-
the voice babbies on through the intermission.
The brasses and strings of the orchestra once
more vibrate with the heavenly strains of
Tschaikowsky's "Pathetique," but the sym
phony is spoiled for US. We are wondering
shout that cake. Did she say use baking
powder or more eggs? IT'S thus the spoken
cookbooks get US.
The written ones are more alluring. Every
variety Of taste may be gratifed in this de-
partment Of literature. A glance at the cards
in the public library shows the institutions
catholic quality. There is, for instance, the
cookbook which goes under the sounding
title Studies in Right Application of Heat
to the Conversion of Food Materials"-clearly
weighty document destined to be the COM
panion Of domestic scientists, not mere cooks.
And there is the less pretentious but crafty
Victorian cookbook labeled How to Keep a
Husband; or, Culinary Tactics" Kitchen gen
aralship was apparently the only way to &C
eomplish this desirable end in 1872.
~-Close to this is another written by one of
the early suffragists who signs herself "A
Hereto" She dared to publish book Of
"Quick Cooking for Busy Women" taking the
then unprecedented stand that there is other
work for women than domestic toll.
Then there is the encouraging one called
%It Is Never Too Late to Learn. Facts for the
People or Things Worth Knowing. A Book of
Recipes in Which Everything Is of Practical
Use to Everybody What as the poet says,
could be fairer than that?'
There are the so-called economy cookbooks
by which one may learn how to live on 80 cents
day (and feel like it). There are volumes
issued by religious ladies' royalties dedicated
to the sacred cause of new church carpet
Society women have graciously consented to
allow their names to be used-"yes, you may
quote me"-in other books whose proceeds 20