The " men who do things," the most talked-of
bachelors, form brilliant coteries in different parts of
the world. The Lambs' Club in New York, the Bo-
hemian Club in San Francisco, bravely pulling itself
together after its great disaster, the Savage Club in
London, the St. Botolph Club in Boston — all show in
a glance over their membership rolls the names of men
who not only do things, but do them well. Renowned
artists, famous composers, maestros, millionaires, au-
thors and all-round good fellows gather to applaud the
work of their fellow members and are eager to en-
joy the spirit of Bohemian brotherhood.
Many bachelors, after an early life of uncertainty,
find themselves past the threshold of success, but
through money and character they may attain a place
in society.
Many have slaved over ledgers and bent over the
ticker, who have had no time in the bustle and worry
of their business life and struggle for success to
gather the odd bits of miscellaneous knowledge of
etiquette, arts and letters, epicurism, habiliment, and
so on, that are required of a successful bachelor. *' Be-
ing a bachelor " becomes a business, even as keeping a
set of books or making investments. Any bit of knowl-
edge that will add to his accomplishments is as good a
business investment as a bond or mining certificate.
The latter may be taken away, but his knowledge, once
gained, is always his " to have and to hold."
Even as *' a little knowledge is a dangerous thing,"
5
A BACHELOR'S CUPBOARD
On Being a Bachelor
how much more dangerous is it to be without it. No
one is so wise that his wisdom may not be increased.
One bachelor may be able to win at poker or break a
broncho into quivering submission to his will, but will
be quite out of place, like the proverbial bull in a china
shop, in a fashionable drawing-room, and all for want
of a little knowledge of the etiquette of afternoon teas
or evening receptions. Another may be able to cook
and serve a French dinner of eight courses, but be piti-
fully wanting in the lore of camp cookery and " rough-
ing it." Another may be an authority on colonial fur-
niture and a connoisseur of wines, yet wonder why peo-
ple try to hide an involuntary expression of surprise
when he appears at dinner in a Tuxedo and a white
waistcoat.
For some years the world at large has been possessed
of a passion for knowing " how to do things." '' How
to do this " and " how to make that " have been " top-
liners " in Sunday newspapers, and from '' Jiu Jitsu in
twenty lessions " to " what to name the baby " and
'* how to make your canary bird sing," these expert
writers have condensed their stores of knowledge into
printed page or paragraph and have set forth in con-
cise or exhaustive information, as the case may be,
" how to do " almost everything under the sun. Even
David Belksco has been tempted into telling how to
write plays, and Bernard Shaw instructs one upon
" going to church." '' Bossie " Mulhall shows how to
6
A BACHELOR'S CUPBOARD
On Being a Bachelor
Page 2
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
The " men who do things," the most talked-of bachelors, form brilliant coteries in different parts of the world. The Lambs' Club in New York, the Bohemian Club in San Francisco, bravely pulling itself together after its great disaster, the Savage Club in London, the St. Botolph Club in Boston — all show in a glance over their membership rolls the names of men who not only do things, but do them well. Renowned artists, famous composers, maestros, millionaires, authors and all-round good fellows gather to applaud the work of their fellow members and are eager to enjoy the spirit of Bohemian brotherhood.
Many bachelors, after an early life of uncertainty, find themselves past the threshold of success, but through money and character they may attain a place in society.
Many have slaved over ledgers and bent over the ticker, who have had no time in the bustle and worry of their business life and struggle for success to gather the odd bits of miscellaneous knowledge of etiquette, arts and letters, epicurism, habiliment, and so on, that are required of a successful bachelor. *' Being a bachelor " becomes a business, even as keeping a set of books or making investments. Any bit of knowledge that will add to his accomplishments is as good a business investment as a bond or mining certificate. The latter may be taken away, but his knowledge, once gained, is always his " to have and to hold."
Even as *' a little knowledge is a dangerous thing,"
On Being a Bachelor
how much more dangerous is it to be without it. No one is so wise that his wisdom may not be increased. One bachelor may be able to win at poker or break a broncho into quivering submission to his will, but will be quite out of place, like the proverbial bull in a china shop, in a fashionable drawing-room, and all for want of a little knowledge of the etiquette of afternoon teas or evening receptions. Another may be able to cook and serve a French dinner of eight courses, but be pitifully wanting in the lore of camp cookery and " roughing it." Another may be an authority on colonial furniture and a connoisseur of wines, yet wonder why people try to hide an involuntary expression of surprise when he appears at dinner in a Tuxedo and a white waistcoat.
For some years the world at large has been possessed of a passion for knowing " how to do things." '' How to do this " and " how to make that " have been " topliners " in Sunday newspapers, and from '' Jiu Jitsu in twenty lessions " to " what to name the baby " and '* how to make your canary bird sing," these expert writers have condensed their stores of knowledge into printed page or paragraph and have set forth in concise or exhaustive information, as the case may be, " how to do " almost everything under the sun. Even David Belasco has been tempted into telling how to write plays, and Bernard Shaw instructs one upon " going to church." '' Bossie " Mulhall shows how to
On Being a Bachelor