Evening star., 1945-01-04
This and That
By Charles E. Trace,oell.

Dear sir:
II recently read your column on pop
corn and the seasoning thereof.
II. Mem. wants to know what to do
with popcorn without any butter to put
on it.
"Pish and tosh, Mr.. McM.-your name
hints of Scotch ancestry-there never
was Midwest housewife that let the
lack OF butter delay popcorn, and in
deed many deliberately chose even with
plenty OF butter, to season with bacon
drippings.
Popcorn with bacon drippings takes
on full. fine, lusty SAVIOR, the absolute
complement Of Stayman apples, coal
crate f1re and book
Popcorn popped in wire pepper,
that window screen contraption, has no
flavor, and no true popcorn consumer
should have any truck with it.
y + xk
"The modus operandi is to put a
generous quantity of bacon drippings in
. heavy skillet; when good and hot
shake the popcorn in, enough to cover
the bottom of the skillet evenly, no
double decker stuff here
Then SALT remembering that the
bacon drippings are already salty. Shake
back and forth over the flame, holding
the lid on with-preferably-a red
crocheted popholder, and listen to the
joyful music of the corn popping their
little selves into their destiny.
Pour out into giant yellow crock
and no further seasoning needed.
How well remember winter nights
at home, when papa brought up apples
from the cold cave and popcorn filled
not one, but two or even three of the
big yellow crooks.
Everything was dealt out with a
generous hand at home, and remember
as small child my outraged surprise
when visited large city relations, and
popcorn turned out to be one anemic
pepper of corn, sprinkled tidily with
butter and family busted with salt and
served to each Of us on small saucer.
Il felt the corn, the occasion and the
spirit were desecrated, and to this day I
will have none of any popcorn save that
popped in the tradition.
VERY truly yours, R. H."
Pish and tosh, Mrs. H-didn't you
know there Is no popcorn, no bacon nor
yet bacon drippings?
We didn't, either, when we advised
the good people of Washington and
vicinity to string up huge loopers of
popcorn as substitutes for Christmas
decorations.
It seemed to us that the stores were
hulging with cans Of popcorn, but that
evidently was memory's pleasant picture.
as Is that OF yours, Mrs. II.
Don't you know there is no pop
cornf" asked a superior-why does one
always have to have superior7-in his
best pontincal tone.
why, er," We hedged. II am sure I
saw some some place"
We began to look wildly in the stores
for popcorn and more popcorn.
We would show that Grass, practical
soul that there is popcorn. For few
stores we remained hopeful, but later
investigations revealed the truth Of his
statement
There was no popcorn anywhere.
Not doing the shopping we didn't
know that, and hot buttered popcorn
was with us, too;e memory of yester-
year, q generous, full-f filled real old-time
America, where 1t was shameful to 20
~ Way bAoSSAy OtOAC AK dAytl1lIlS less
than Is pounds Of sugar.
Then came light In a Midwestern
small paper, which comes once a week,
We saw the following ID:
Popcorn, 1880 bushel, unshelled."
America was saved. And pontiNcal
persons who think they know so much
sometimes are mistaken. And souae-
tdnes thsy arsnk