Part 4

Fortunately Miss Sellers found a few other homes which promised to receive a pensioner for the sake of his pension, or from real affection. After all the bitter work-a-day life in these narrow homes, attics, cellars, two or three rooms at most, would have been more wretched for the pensioners to bear than their blighted hopes. "To work a bit harder," in order to take in one's aged mother, is not possible in thousands of cases. Better to remain a workhouse pauper and be sure of warmth, cleanliness and food than to wander forth uncared for or to be an unwelcome burden on an overworked child.

Therefore is it that the English Old Age Pension Act does not solve its own problem, for the infirm or sick must still be sheltered in some refuge which should have no workhouse taint of pauperism attached to it.

However much there may be among us of similar reluctance to take home aged pauper relatives, it has not yet become a matter of public investigation, though, if it were, it is possible that there would be as much unwillingness manifested here as in England. Certainly many of our almshouses and homes for the aged poor suggest that there will be the same forlorn hopes shattered, if pensions should ever be conferred instead of legal residences in almshouses.

Fortunately for us, old age is still an individual question. All the more, then, should elderly people not let themselves get crabbed. Of course, if other people would not nag one with being old, one would not be,--quite so old!

What old age, whether poor, middling or well-to-do lacks is amusement. It is lonesome to keep jolly by remembering that one's mind ought to be one's kingdom. Meditation is all very well, but so also is the circus, the "greatest value of which lies in its non-ethical quality." Even if it has its symbolism, it does not mercilessly set one to moralizing, save as a three ring circus and a "brigade of clowns" (the result of trying to make as much money as possible) incites to weariness. The real "gospel of the circus" lies in its democracy, in its revealings of the power of training on acrobats and animals through kindly persistence, and in the mutual good will and law abiding qualities of the household of a circus. Always has it belonged to the people, and even ministers have not been discounted for their attendance.

It seems a wide jump in fancy from old age to a circus, and yet to me they are intimately connected through the dear old people, poor and well to do, whom I have known, who found in it their objective base for amusement. To them the clown and his jokes were links in the spirit of human brotherhood. Alas, as a pension of five shillings a week will not permit of the circus in its glory, old age asks for the minor blessings of five cent shows, public parks, and good tobacco. Just to be out doors is rejuvenating.

All the more is amusement desirable, because legislation has undertaken to set the goal when one shall no longer work. To retire teachers, officers, workers, merely because they are sixty-five or seventy is an insult to human nature, which rejects any arbitrary limit save that of incapacity. The average of average people, though perhaps unable to earn their living after seventy, are still capable of being occupied. Therefore let the old folks work at household and woodshed drudgery as long as they can, however irritating their slowness may be to the young and merciless. Let the old serve also in semi-public ways, because of their experience, even if they are not wanted round.

It is a common saying that it is harder to resign office at seventy than at sixty, just because old age clings to occupation as its protection. But if with most of us, if not with all, as the years increase, occupation shrivels and the fads or hobbies, the solace of earlier days, cease by their very weight to be pursued,--then may there still be amusement provided for the elderly before they become "Shut Ins," dependent on Christmas and Easter cards for enjoyment.

Love and Affection

By Helen Coale Crew

I love thee not, Love, though thou'rt called divine! Thou pagan god, whose flashing fires glow But for a season; then the winter's snow No colder lies than ashes on thy shrine. Thou selfish child! Ready to fret and whine When disappointed. Wandering to and fro In quest of joy, from flower to flower dost go Like greedy bee upon a honeyed vine.

But thou, Affection, human art, and true! Fitted for every day's most urgent needs; Warm-glowing ever, all the seasons through; Mother of tenderness and selfless deeds. Clear-seeing thou, nor like that other blind; Clear-burning on the hearths of all mankind.

Three Girls go Blackberrying

By Samuel Smyth

Grandpa told Mary that he saw a few blackberries in the pasture. Mary hastened to inform Mina that there were bushels of ripe blackberries in the pasture. Mina hurried to tell Jane, and almost breathlessly suggested that they go and get them before anybody else found them. Jane thought it would be more comfortable after sundown. Mina said that they would be gone before that time, and insisted that they go at once. Outnumbered, Jane reluctantly consented. Mary must change her dress; so must the other two. Much time was spent in that operation, for it included the special dressing of the hair, also. There was much impatience manifested by Mary, the first to declare herself ready; but after the others appeared she suddenly thought of several things that she must attend to. At last each inquired of the others, "Well, are you ready?"

"Yes, in a minute," said Mina. "I forgot to put on cold cream to prevent sunburn."

"So did I," said Jane; "and, Mary, you had better use some, also, or you will regret it."

"I think I will," said Mary; and a good half hour has passed before they are all downstairs again, when the old question was asked again, "Are you ready?"

"Had we better wear rubbers?" asked Jane.

"No," answered Mary, "but I am going upstairs to put on an old pair of shoes."

"That is sensible," said Mina. "I think we all had better follow Mary's example, as it won't take a minute."

Upstairs they all went again; much talk and another half hour passed when each made the declaration, "Well, I am ready, are you?" with much emphasis on the personal pronoun I.

"Are you coming with me?" said Mary, and she started in the direction of the pasture with great animation, when Jane inquired, in a loud voice, if she were not going to take something along to put the berries in.

"To be sure I am. In my hurry I entirely forgot it. What shall I take?" asked Mary.

"We ourselves have not yet decided. Which do you think would be better, Mary, a basket or a pail?"

"I don't know and I don't care what you take, I am going to take a paper bag," replied Mary. "It is light and convenient, and we can easily destroy all evidence of failure in case we fail to get any berries."

"Thank you, Mary, for the happy suggestion. We will take paper bags. What size will be suitable?"

"I think," said Jane, "that if we each fill a flour sack, that will be sufficient for once. It is such a job to carry so many or to make them into jam."

"To obviate any chance for envy as to which shall gather the greatest amount of berries, let us take along a common, large receptacle, into which each of us shall deposit as often as our smaller vessels shall be filled."

"That is a thoughtful and wise plan for an unambitious person. I assent to the proposition," smilingly answered Mina.

A bushel basket was found and all agreed to take turns in carrying it to the pasture. At last, the procession was formed, after several more short halts for consultation and criticism, and was finally under way for the pasture. But when in the highway, which they had to cross to reach the same, they were accosted by two ragged boys with, "Say, girls, do you want to buy any berries; only five cents a quart; twelve quarts--all there were in the pasture, every one, and it's the last picking of the season."

"Oh dear, I told you so; I knew it would be this way," said Mary petulantly; "some people are so slow."

"It is too provoking for anything," said Mina, "and it will be so humiliating to return to the house without any berries after making such a hullabaloo," sighed Jane.

"Oh, girls!" exclaimed Mary, "let's buy the berries of the boys and divide them between us. Let's see, twelve divided by three equals four; four quarts is a very reasonable and respectable amount for an ordinary person. You hold them while I run home and get the money."

After the transfer of the berries was completed, the three girls returned to the house, triumphantly smiling, and happy, with the twelve quarts of berries. Mingling with the rest of the family, I could not refrain from speaking about what fun it was to go berrying, when suddenly grandpa remarked, "that four quarts was a very reasonable and respectable amount for an ordinary person." Grandpa had been sitting on a fence, concealed by bushes, and had seen the whole performance.

A quick, suspicious, comprehensive glance passed between the conspirators, when the suspense was broken by the voice of the shock-headed boy who yelled out, "Say, girls, do you want to buy any more berries for tomorrow?"

"How provoking!" said Mary.

"How humiliating!" assented Mina.

"I feel so ashamed I shall never feel right again. Why did we dissemble? Prevarication is a kind of a lie; I never want to hear the word 'blackberries' again," moaned Jane.

A Romany Tent

By Lalia Mitchell

When you bring your pledge of a lasting love, A love that is fond and free, Oh, whisper not of a castle high, Or a yacht that sails the sea. I want no tale of a palace fair That towers over loch and lea; But a table set in the open air And a Romany tent for me.

When you whisper words that should please me well, When you woo me, Sweetheart mine, Oh, paint no picture of wealth and power, Of silks and of jewels fine. And breathe no word of the jostling throng, For my heart would fain be free; I go where the woodland paths are long, And a Romany tent for me.

Will you meet my wish, will you walk my way? Will you chart the flower-strewn lea? Will you curb your pride, will you keep the faith, The faith of my company? I will bear no yoke, I will wear no brand, But my heart shall be true to thee, So give me the world for a home, and love In a Romany tent for me.

EDITORIALS

THE BOSTON COOKING-SCHOOL MAGAZINE OF Culinary Science and Domestic Economics

JANET MCKENZIE HILL, Editor

PUBLISHED TEN TIMES A YEAR

Publication Office: 372 BOYLSTON STREET, BOSTON, MASS.

SUBSCRIPTION, $1.00 PER YEAR. SINGLE COPIES, 10C FOREIGN POSTAGE: TO CANADA, 20C PER YEAR TO OTHER FOREIGN COUNTRIES, 40C PER YEAR

TO SUBSCRIBERS

The date stamped on the wrapper is the date on which your subscription expires; it is, also, an acknowledgment that a subscription, or a renewal of the same, has been received.

Please renew on receipt of the colored blank enclosed for this purpose.

In sending notice to renew a subscription or change an address, please give the _old_ address as well as the _new_.

In referring to an original entry, we must know the name as it was formerly given, together with the Post-office, County, State, Post-office Box, or Street Number.

Entered at Boston Post-office as second-class matter

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Summer

The Springtime has gone with its verdure and song, The fragrance of bud and the fullness of flower, And now o'er the grainfields the harvesters throng To gather in triumph the glad Summer's dower.

The orchards are bending with fruitage today And vineyards are purple with grapes juicy sweet; Our hearts are exultant, our voices are gay, As Summer flings down all her wealth at our feet.

O Summer, bright Summer, the queen of the year, We praise thee, and love thee, and share of thy bliss; Thy mornings are happy, thy evenings are dear, Thy hours are all golden, not one would we miss.

--_Ruth Raymond._

"WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH."

Often life becomes dull and irksome because our living and working seem to be in vain. We are constantly asking ourselves, how we can make our lives worth living. Now, in accordance with the consensus of modern thought, it would seem that the better way to live is, while ever taking active interest in the current affairs of the day, to cherish some lofty aim or purpose, in other words, "to formulate and cultivate a vision."

A vision is the aim, purpose, object or ideal we set before us in our several occupations in life. As we find it stated elsewhere, "A vision, a creative vision, is a pictured goal. There is purpose and vigor in it. It is productive of results, and the loftier the vision, the higher the attainment."

In life and history it is easy to distinguish the man of vision from him who is without high aim. "Eat, drink and be merry" is the maxim of the one, while faithful service in trying to make the conditions of life better, far and wide, is characteristic of the other. Likewise, the nature or quality of every man's vision is capable of discernment. Certainly no aim or low aim is almost crime.

Each of us must find his vision in his own occupation or calling in life. There each must strive not only to grow and enrich his own life, but also that of the few or the many about him, as chance or environment permits.

"Not for success, nor health, nor wealth, nor fame, I daily beg on bended knee from Thee; But for Thy guidance. Make my life so fit That ne'er in condemnation must I sit, Judged by the clear-eyed children Thou gav'st me."

To the home-maker, for instance, with an ideal like this, life cannot seem listless and futile, nor of such an one can it be said that her life has been lived in vain.

Does it not follow that the only life worth living is that which is actuated by a real purpose, a lofty ideal, a clear vision? How much in the way of successful and happy living depends upon our ideals! Let us look well to _our aims_; waste no time in idle dreaming, but keep ever before us some far-away and hopeful vision.

PROGRESS AND REFORM

We believe that progress is made by means of genuine reform. In every instance we find ourselves on the side of wholesome reform, for in this way only true progress seems to lie. The changes that have taken place within the past fifty years in our educational system are great, indeed. No doubt these changes have been beneficial in the main, and yet further changes are still needful. Certainly, according to recent developments, some change seems to be called for in our reformatory institutions.

In general, it seems to us the transition from our schools and colleges to the imperative duties and occupations of life is too abrupt, too difficult and sadly unsatisfactory; at least this is true in case of the majority of young people. Education should prepare one to pass easily and readily into some chosen occupation, and the first need of every human being is the chance to earn a living; since every one should earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. Do our schools fit or unfit our youth for life's real work? Can they engage at once and successfully in some congenial occupation? Until these questions can be favorably answered, we advocate reform in our forms of education. Labor we must; a taste, even a fondness for wholesome, necessary labor should be cultivated in our schools.

It has been stated and confirmed by those in authority that $300,000,000 might be saved per year in the conduct of our government on a strictly business basis. If this be true, here reform, good and true, is an imperative need. Such a condition of affairs is in no sense humorous. For what do we choose our legislators? Is it to squander or conserve the revenues and resources of the State?

Likewise, in ways of living or the conduct of life, reform is ever in order, provided thereby gain can be made. It has been said that "The whole moral law is based on health. The ideal body is the proper shrine for the ideal soul,--a truth that has yet to be educated into the modern consciousness. Righteousness and health should go together. This is an eternal law,--a law that covers society, education and morality. The real meaning of the word 'temperance' is a careful use of the body. It has nothing primarily to do with mere abstinence from certain forms of pleasure. A man says to himself, I am in possession of a mechanism which will endure a certain amount of wear and usage, but it is the most delicate of all machinery, and for that reason it must be used with more consideration than even the fine works of a watch. Intemperance, of any sort, means unnecessary wear and tear. It increases the waste of the system, the rapidity of the living process, so that repair cannot keep up with use, and it burns where there should be the clear light of life."

DON'T KILL THE BIRDS

For a number of years the scientific investigators have been arguing that a bird--almost any bird--was worth a good deal more to the country alive than dead; worth more in the glorious freedom of its habitat than on my lady's hat or on the plate of the epicure. It has been shown by the dissection of birds and the examination of their stomachs just what seeds and insects they eat. These examinations have made it clear that most birds live principally on the seeds of pernicious weeds, and on the insect and small mammal pests against which the farmer has to wage an increasing fight every year. It is true that some birds damage crops and it is true that any birds will do damage if there are too many of them--just as the extreme congestion of people results in disease and immorality. But under normal conditions of distribution almost any bird is an able assistant to the agriculturist and horticulturist in the protection of his crops against their most dangerous enemies.

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The steady increase in the cost of living during the period of a year and a half ending on the last day of March, 1910, is strikingly demonstrated by a bulletin issued by the Bureau of Labor of the Department of Commerce and Labor. It is shown by the careful investigation into the course of prices of 257 commodities, which enter into the everyday life of the average man, that prices last March were higher than at any time since twenty years ago; that in that month it cost the consumer 7.5 per cent more to buy the necessities of life than it had cost him in March, 1909; 10.2 per cent more than in August, 1908; 21.1 per cent more than the average range of prices for 1900; 49.2 per cent more than in 1897,--a rate of progression which is causing a country-wide agitation for means and measures of relief. Yet it is shown that prices in 1909, high as they were, still ranged 2.3 per cent below those for 1907, the costliest year in the period beginning with 1890.

ECONOMY, WISE AND UNWISE

We are trying to publish a magazine in every sense worth renewing. That we are succeeding to a certain degree is shown by the increasing number of our readers who are renewing their annual subscriptions, and calling for back numbers, in order to bind their volumes and keep them in permanent form for future reference and use.

Not long since we shipped to Calcutta, India, back numbers, to complete a full set of fourteen volumes, up to date. A woman who seems to have no special need of the magazine wrote recently, "I am sending my renewal because it seems to me the magazine is entirely too good a publication not to be found in every good home."

Though the cost of living at present is high, we hope no good, earnest housekeeper will begin to practice economy by cutting off her list the only publication, to which she has subscribed, that is devoted exclusively to the teaching of practical, wholesome economy in the management of the household. The subscription price of this magazine will not be increased. For _three_ dollars we offer to renew the subscription of any reader for _four_ years.

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A Lift for Every Day

Lincoln's rules for living: "Don't worry, eat three good meals a day, say your prayers, be courteous to your creditors, keep your digestion good, steer clear of biliousness, exercise, go slow and go easy. Maybe there are other things that your special case requires to make you happy, but, my friend, these, I reckon, will give you a good lift."

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"This cook-book will do very nicely," said Mrs. Nuwedd to the book department clerk; "and now I want a good, standard work on taxidermy." "We don't keep any in stock," said the clerk. "How annoying!" sighed the young housewife, "and I not knowing a blessed thing about stuffing a fowl!"

Seasonable Recipes

By Janet M. Hill

In all recipes where flour is used, unless otherwise stated, the flour is measured after sifting once. When flour is measured by cups, the cup is filled with a spoon, and a level cupful is meant. A tablespoonful or a teaspoonful of any designated material is a _level_ spoonful of such material.

Clam Broth, Chantilly Style

This most refreshing broth may be served hot or cold. Canned broth may be used, or, when fresh clams are obtainable, the broth may be fresh made from either clams in bulk or in the shells. For clams in bulk, to serve eight, take one pint of fresh opened clams, two stalks of celery, broken in pieces, and one quart of cold water. Bring the whole slowly to the boiling point and let boil five minutes. Skim carefully as soon as the boiling point is reached. Strain through a napkin wrung out of boiling water. Season with salt, if needed; add also a little paprika or other pepper. Beat one cup of double cream until firm throughout. Set a tablespoonful of the cream on the top of the broth in each cup.

Bisque of Clams and Green Peas

Cut a slice of fat salt pork (about two ounces) in bits; cook in a saucepan until the fat is well tried out but not in the least browned; add a small onion, cut in thin slices, two new carrots, cut in slices, one or two branches of celery, broken in pieces, and stir and cook until softened and yellowed a little; add one pint of green peas, a branch of parsley and a pint of water and let cook till the peas are tender, then press through a sieve. Cook one pint of fresh clams in a pint of boiling water five minutes; drain the broth into the pea purée; chop the clams and add to the purée. Melt one-fourth a cup of butter; in it cook one-fourth a cup of flour; stir until frothy, then add one quart of milk and stir until boiling. Add to the other ingredients and let boil once. Add salt and pepper, as needed, and from one-half to a whole cup of cream.

Purée of Tomato, Julienne