A practical cook and text book for general use

Teachers of the kindergarten insist on simple lunches, because the root of the kindergarten principle is the best good of the child and its three-fold development — physical, intellectual and spiritual ; and thus the principle is recognized that the physical stands first in importance. In large cities where noon-day lunches are supplied to school children, even if the most hygienic food is not always served, the method insures regularity and security from outside temptation — two good points gained. CHAPTER XVI. The question arises is it not possible to be popular in social life and not feel compelled to treat or be treated to a glass of wine, a cup of tea or chocolate, a plate of cake or dainty sweets. Can we not entertain without unwittingly injuring our friends by over solicitude with regard to feeding them at irregular hours. The time was when " to get something good to eat *' seemed to be the main object of afternoon and evening visits. But none of us would like to admit that good eating is the principal attraction and highest inducement our friends can offer us by way of entertainment. We are social beings, and seek companionship with those upon our plane of thought. Hence the five o'clock teas, suppers and lunch parties in our homes and so prevalent among college girls. When we consider for a moment the extent and magnitude of social functions, and modern customs, we almost believe that eating and preparing something to be eaten is the grand desideratum of life. But do these customs in any sense pay anybody except the caterers and the doctors. They demand an enormous amount of extra labor and entail heavy expense, often upon those who can ill afford it, by way of dress and decoration, in addition to the food prepared. Among the rich the expenses attending social requirements are of little consequence. But the financial expense is by no means the largest item to be considered. The waste of nerve energy, intellectual power and vital force, are among the chief evils attending this artificial life. An essential element either preceding or following a certain class of evening entertainments, is a bountiful supper, more or less elaborate according to circumstances. After eating the customary three meals a day, it seems very unwise to semi-occasionally, impose upon the digestive organs another meal composed largely of indigestibles, that the helpless stomach receives and patiently tries to properly apportion. Had this much abused organ the power of photographing the commotion caused by a deluge of hot tea or coifee, followed or preceded by frozen puddings, creams and ices of various kinds, the illustration might prove of greater value than all previous physiological instruction. Add to these occasional dissipations, the magnificent entertainments of the select few and the social life of the lesser lights that fl.ytter around them, imitating as far as means will permit and we have before our mental vision the grand pageantry of conventional artificial life I To move in ** society" we often fail to represent ourselves, but seem transformed into something that demands a sacrifice of our true selfhood, that we may for a brief time become a part of the attractions that now and then almost eclipse the splendor and luxury of by-gone ages. Woman is largely the creator of social custom and she it is that helps to fashion and sustain it, by introducing innovations and taxing her powers to invent something new and startling in the social world. Should she turn