The cereals are in glass jars, labeled. In a
neat pile, close at hand, are large sheets of
light brown wrapping paper, one of which is
spread on the table when I am cookiag, then,
when the work is finished, the paper is gathered
up and burned, leaving the table spicky-span
beneath it. The cookbooks in their washable
slip covers of white linen are in a glass-inclosed
shelf within easy reach. Fastened securely to
that same shelf is a spectacle case containing
an extra pair of eyes which never leave the
kitchen, and on top of the shelf is a card index
box in which are kept the recipes collected
from various sources. About on the level of
the eyes on another shelf is a clip for holding
the recipe card when in use, and the cookbook
is kept open and clean, when being used, by a
small pane of glass with bound edges.
Securely attached by long fine brass chaias
THE TOOLS OF YOUR TRADE 89
to my work bench — ^that they may not be taken
away — ^are scissors, a small tack-hammer — 'tis
wonderful how many uses I find for that — ^a
can-opener, a corkscrew, and a bottle-opener.
The well-sharpened knives, the forks and
spoons which are used in cooking are separated
and kept in pasteboard box covers on a con-
venient shelf. As soon as they become in the
least soiled these covers are replaced. An
office stool stands in the pantry and another
before the kitchen sink. Over the sink hangs
a mirror and on the shelf below there is a
bottle of soothing cream for the hands, a face-
chamois and powder. Why leave the kitchen
with one's nose shining and glowing like a
beacon light, when a few simple toilet acces-
sories make for comfort and presentability?
For the sewing-room was purchased a cheap,
commodious chest of drawers in which are kept
materials that would fit out a miniature thread
and needle store. The minutes and carfares
which have been saved by having these articles
on hand have more than paid for the equip-
ment. In the lower drawer is an assortment
of wrapping paper from the thinnest of tissue
40 COMFORT OF THE FAMILY
to the stoutest brown and white, twine of the
most aristocratic down to the proletariat class,
and rolls of ribbon suitable for dainty pack-
ages.
It was on my own particular writing desk
that I lavished imagination and ingenuity.
This piece of fumitiu'e is not of the claw-
legged, ornate variety, but is a substantial oak
table desk, with four roomy drawers at either
end and a broad, inviting top covered with
blotting paper. Here one can find stationery
from the business kind to that for social re-
quirements; visiting cards with envelopes to
fit ; a supply of postal cards ; two cent, one cent
and special delivery stamps ; stamped envelopes
ranging from the manuscript to the ordinary
business size, and a pair of scales for weighing.
There is a veritable Jacob's well of black
ink and pens and holders in infinite variety.
There is also a well of red ink which I have
found invaluable for entering certain garden
dates in my diary. Social events I record in
blue, and birthdays and festal occasions in gold
ink, therefore my diary takes on the charm of
an illuminated missal of olden times.
THE TOOLS OF YOUR TRADE 41
Between book ends there is a dictionary —
spellers are made, not bom, in our family — ^a
book of synonyms, familiar quotations, a Bible
and a small atlas. On the desk top also lies a
calendar, an engagement book, tubes of paste
and glue; boxes of paper clips and fasteners,
rulers and erasers. There is a card index box
in which is kept a complete record of general
expenditures, school, church, investment and
insurance, dates and notes on garden planting
and the various items, a familiarity with which
on the part of the purchasing agent and gen-
eral manager of the house tends to an increase
in her efficiency and that of the domestic ma-
chinery.
Page 8
Presented as published in 1914. 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 cereals are in glass jars, labeled. In a neat pile, close at hand, are large sheets of light brown wrapping paper, one of which is spread on the table when I am cooking, then, when the work is finished, the paper is gathered up and burned, leaving the table spicky-span beneath it. The cookbooks in their washable slip covers of white linen are in a glass-inclosed shelf within easy reach. Fastened securely to that same shelf is a spectacle case containing an extra pair of eyes which never leave the kitchen, and on top of the shelf is a card index box in which are kept the recipes collected from various sources. About on the level of the eyes on another shelf is a clip for holding the recipe card when in use, and the cookbook is kept open and clean, when being used, by a small pane of glass with bound edges.
Securely attached by long fine brass chains
to my work bench — ^that they may not be taken away — ^are scissors, a small tack-hammer — 'tis wonderful how many uses I find for that — ^a can-opener, a corkscrew, and a bottle-opener.
The well-sharpened knives, the forks and spoons which are used in cooking are separated and kept in pasteboard box covers on a convenient shelf. As soon as they become in the least soiled these covers are replaced. An office stool stands in the pantry and another before the kitchen sink. Over the sink hangs a mirror and on the shelf below there is a bottle of soothing cream for the hands, a face-chamois and powder. Why leave the kitchen with one's nose shining and glowing like a beacon light, when a few simple toilet accessories make for comfort and presentability?
For the sewing-room was purchased a cheap, commodious chest of drawers in which are kept materials that would fit out a miniature thread and needle store. The minutes and carfares which have been saved by having these articles on hand have more than paid for the equipment. In the lower drawer is an assortment of wrapping paper from the thinnest of tissue
to the stoutest brown and white, twine of the most aristocratic down to the proletariat class, and rolls of ribbon suitable for dainty packages.
It was on my own particular writing desk that I lavished imagination and ingenuity. This piece of furniture is not of the claw-legged, ornate variety, but is a substantial oak table desk, with four roomy drawers at either end and a broad, inviting top covered with blotting paper. Here one can find stationery from the business kind to that for social requirements; visiting cards with envelopes to fit ; a supply of postal cards ; two cent, one cent and special delivery stamps ; stamped envelopes ranging from the manuscript to the ordinary business size, and a pair of scales for weighing.
There is a veritable Jacob's well of black ink and pens and holders in infinite variety. There is also a well of red ink which I have found invaluable for entering certain garden dates in my diary. Social events I record in blue, and birthdays and festal occasions in gold ink, therefore my diary takes on the charm of an illuminated missal of olden times.
Between book ends there is a dictionary — spellers are made, not bom, in our family — ^a book of synonyms, familiar quotations, a Bible and a small atlas. On the desk top also lies a calendar, an engagement book, tubes of paste and glue; boxes of paper clips and fasteners, rulers and erasers. There is a card index box in which is kept a complete record of general expenditures, school, church, investment and insurance, dates and notes on garden planting and the various items, a familiarity with which on the part of the purchasing agent and general manager of the house tends to an increase in her efficiency and that of the domestic machinery.