Progressive physicians would gladly lend a hand in
public work in parlors or halls, and clergymen would find
a field more productive of permanent good, than that
afforded by special work one day in seven. To teach
people how to live would discourage sickness and the
exacting social requirements attending it.
When we, like a scientific surgeon, probe to the bottom
and remove the offending cause, then we may expect
rapid and healthful growth in every way.
When we cast aside one by one the fetters that enchain
us body and soul to social custom and stand upon our
true merits, representing ourselves as we are, life and its
real duties and requirements will appeal to us and arouse
an enthusiasm, that cannot be mistaken for a love of
display. But if we must eat to express our sociability,
let us set before our guests luscious fruits, unsullied with
caterers additions and decorated with nature's appropriate
leaves and flowers, rather than the milliners art. These
served with wine freshly pressed from the grape, or even
pure sparkling water, are sufficient for the daintiest repast.
Should stronger food be desired the nut family will
supply it, and from the snow-white mound of grated cocoa-
nut to the plebian hickories, may be obtained sufficient
variety to satisfy the most critical. If something more
elaborate be essential invite the golden wheat to contribute
a tempting array of various kinds of bread and when
still more is demanded, then engage the vegetable host
2o8 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
to assist in furnishing color and variety to your table and
with the addition of nut meats in lieu of flesh, a dinner fit
for an empress may be served.
When we use more brain and less money in meeting
every form of social requirement, we shall have a firmer
friendlier grasp upon the world of thoughtful activities,
than is at present possible, and may we not indulge the
hope that women will ere long consider it not only
unphysiological to provide culinary entertainment on every
possible occasion, but decidedly vulgar to cater to appe-
tite, thus making it obvious that the gratification of the
palate is one of the " chief ends '* of life.
BAKERIES. 209
CHAPTER XVII.
BAKERIES.
It is no longer a matter of conjecture that public
bakeries are not .the wholesome places they should be»
neither are the men who manipulate food for the millions
healthy and cleanly in their habits. Why such conditions
ever existed, men only know, and women, who are the
heaviest purchasers, never ** inquire within " as to methods
used, or conditions surrounding the preparation of the
food supply either in bakeries or elsewhere. Sanitary
inspection is now demanded that will, we hope, be per-
sued until unhygienic and filthy conditions are entirely
banished from the bake shops. It is better perhaps that
consumers of bakery-prepared food never get a glimpse
" behind the scenes " or witness the preparation of dainties
displayed in the shops.
Clean as the food appears, toothsome as it is, it seems
almost incredible that the environments attending its
manufacture are so extremely unwholesome, to say nothing
of inferior and half spoiled ingredients disguised in various
ways to conceal imperfections in material.
From the reports of inspectors we learn that the condi-
tions are truly deplorable, and it is quite time to turn
attention to more cleanly and wholesome preparation of
food for human beings.
210 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
Page 83
Presented as published in 1896. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Progressive physicians would gladly lend a hand in public work in parlors or halls, and clergymen would find a field more productive of permanent good, than that afforded by special work one day in seven. To teach people how to live would discourage sickness and the exacting social requirements attending it.
When we, like a scientific surgeon, probe to the bottom and remove the offending cause, then we may expect rapid and healthful growth in every way.
When we cast aside one by one the fetters that enchain us body and soul to social custom and stand upon our true merits, representing ourselves as we are, life and its real duties and requirements will appeal to us and arouse an enthusiasm, that cannot be mistaken for a love of display. But if we must eat to express our sociability, let us set before our guests luscious fruits, unsullied with caterers additions and decorated with nature's appropriate leaves and flowers, rather than the milliners art. These served with wine freshly pressed from the grape, or even pure sparkling water, are sufficient for the daintiest repast. Should stronger food be desired the nut family will supply it, and from the snow-white mound of grated cocoanut to the plebian hickories, may be obtained sufficient variety to satisfy the most critical. If something more elaborate be essential invite the golden wheat to contribute a tempting array of various kinds of bread and when still more is demanded, then engage the vegetable host
to assist in furnishing color and variety to your table and with the addition of nut meats in lieu of flesh, a dinner fit for an empress may be served.
When we use more brain and less money in meeting every form of social requirement, we shall have a firmer friendlier grasp upon the world of thoughtful activities, than is at present possible, and may we not indulge the hope that women will ere long consider it not only unphysiological to provide culinary entertainment on every possible occasion, but decidedly vulgar to cater to appetite, thus making it obvious that the gratification of the palate is one of the " chief ends '* of life.
CHAPTER XVII.
It is no longer a matter of conjecture that public bakeries are not .the wholesome places they should be» neither are the men who manipulate food for the millions healthy and cleanly in their habits. Why such conditions ever existed, men only know, and women, who are the heaviest purchasers, never ** inquire within " as to methods used, or conditions surrounding the preparation of the food supply either in bakeries or elsewhere. Sanitary inspection is now demanded that will, we hope, be persued until unhygienic and filthy conditions are entirely banished from the bake shops. It is better perhaps that consumers of bakery-prepared food never get a glimpse " behind the scenes " or witness the preparation of dainties displayed in the shops.
Clean as the food appears, toothsome as it is, it seems almost incredible that the environments attending its manufacture are so extremely unwholesome, to say nothing of inferior and half spoiled ingredients disguised in various ways to conceal imperfections in material.
From the reports of inspectors we learn that the conditions are truly deplorable, and it is quite time to turn attention to more cleanly and wholesome preparation of food for human beings.