" I am a bachelor," says one gallant, " because I love
all womankind so well I cannot discriminate in favor
of the one."
Bachelors are the most charming of entertainers.
What woman ever refuses an opportunity to chaperon
at a bachelor dinner or studio tea? What debutante
does not feel secretly ecstatic at the very idea of look-
A BACHELOR'S CUPBOARD
On Being a Bachelor
ing behind the scenes and peeping into the corners of
some famous bachelor menage? And who, indeed, can
be a more perfect host than a bachelor? He can be
equally gracious and devoted to all women because of
the absence of that feminine proprietorship which al-
ways tends to make the married man withhold his most
graceful compliments, his most tender glances and his
most winning smile.
It is the bachelor who. makes society; without him
It would indeed be tame and find itself dwindling down
Into a hot-bed of discontent, satiety and monotony.
He adds just the right touch of piquancy to Its hot-
house existence and furnishes husbands for Its debu-
tantes and flirtations for its married women.
His versatility makes him a valuable acquisition to
any gathering. He knows the correct thing in dress,
the latest novelty of the London haberdasher and what
the King Is wearing to Ascot. He Is familiar with the
etiquette of European courts and American drawing-
rooms and can tell of the little peculiarities of social
functions in Washington, Boston, Baltimore, Charles-
ton, London or Vienna. He can valet himself if he
has to, and does not scorn to clean his own boots in an
emergency.
He can quote that prince of epicures, Brillat-Savarin,
and tell how Billy Soule broils trout over the coals.
When it comes to condiments, he can tell by the aroma
of a dish what Its seasoning Is; at mixing toothsome
devils and curries he is a past master. He Is an au-
3
A BACHELOR'S CUPBOARD
On Being a Bachelor
thorlty on wines and knows how to judge them; or,
possibly eschewing alcoholic beverages, he can offer sat-
isfactory substitutes that fill the bill, and is sufficiently
broad to take his lime and seltzer or Apollinaris with a
crowd of good fellows growing mellow over their
champagne; and ten to one he has a fund of witty rep-
artee that scintillates among that of his fellows. If
he drinks, he does it like a gentleman and knows when
to " turn down the empty glass." If he has a hobby,
he rides it decently without coming a cropper at every
high gate.
The correct bachelor knows all these things intui-
tively. He may be impecunious, but he must be artistic.
The " artistic temperament " is more easily acquired
than the stolid young lawyer poring over his Blackstone
may dream. The combination of the practical and
artistic is much to be desired, and with each succeeding
generation this is becoming more largely a matter of
intuition and environment than study.
The artistic temperament flourishes in that real
Land of Bohemia '' where many are called, but few
are chosen." There " every man is manly, every
woman is pure " and the spirit of bon camaradie is al-
ways in the air. The old Greek maxim, " Know thy-
self," and that other, *' To thine own self be true,"
build a creed of greater worth than tomes of ancient
lore. " The hand clasp firm of those who dare and
do — half way meets that of those who bravely do and
dare."
A BACHELOR'S CUPBOARD
On Being a Bachelor
Page 1
Presented as published in 1906. 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
" I am a bachelor," says one gallant, " because I love all womankind so well I cannot discriminate in favor of the one."
Bachelors are the most charming of entertainers. What woman ever refuses an opportunity to chaperon at a bachelor dinner or studio tea? What debutante does not feel secretly ecstatic at the very idea of look-
On Being a Bachelor
ing behind the scenes and peeping into the corners of some famous bachelor menage? And who, indeed, can be a more perfect host than a bachelor? He can be equally gracious and devoted to all women because of the absence of that feminine proprietorship which always tends to make the married man withhold his most graceful compliments, his most tender glances and his most winning smile.
It is the bachelor who. makes society; without him It would indeed be tame and find itself dwindling down into a hot-bed of discontent, satiety and monotony. He adds just the right touch of piquancy to Its hothouse existence and furnishes husbands for Its debutantes and flirtations for its married women.
His versatility makes him a valuable acquisition to any gathering. He knows the correct thing in dress, the latest novelty of the London haberdasher and what the King is wearing to Ascot. He is familiar with the etiquette of European courts and American drawingrooms and can tell of the little peculiarities of social functions in Washington, Boston, Baltimore, Charleston, London or Vienna. He can valet himself if he has to, and does not scorn to clean his own boots in an emergency.
He can quote that prince of epicures, Brillat-Savarin, and tell how Billy Soule broils trout over the coals. When it comes to condiments, he can tell by the aroma of a dish what its seasoning is; at mixing toothsome devils and curries he is a past master. He Is an au-
On Being a Bachelor
thority on wines and knows how to judge them; or, possibly eschewing alcoholic beverages, he can offer satisfactory substitutes that fill the bill, and is sufficiently broad to take his lime and seltzer or Apollinaris with a crowd of good fellows growing mellow over their champagne; and ten to one he has a fund of witty repartee that scintillates among that of his fellows. If he drinks, he does it like a gentleman and knows when to " turn down the empty glass." If he has a hobby, he rides it decently without coming a cropper at every high gate.
The correct bachelor knows all these things intuitively. He may be impecunious, but he must be artistic. The " artistic temperament " is more easily acquired than the stolid young lawyer poring over his Blackstone may dream. The combination of the practical and artistic is much to be desired, and with each succeeding generation this is becoming more largely a matter of intuition and environment than study.
The artistic temperament flourishes in that real Land of Bohemia '' where many are called, but few are chosen." There " every man is manly, every woman is pure " and the spirit of bon camaraderie is always in the air. The old Greek maxim, "Know thyself," and that other, "To thine own self be true," build a creed of greater worth than tomes of ancient lore. "The hand clasp firm of those who dare and do — half way meets that of those who bravely do and dare."
On Being a Bachelor