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About The Nebraska advertiser. (Nemaha City, Neb.) 18??-1909 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 1908)
FROM THE HOUSEKEEPER'S NOTEBOOK Why Not Have a Com pany Closet? (Copyright, by Joseph D. Bowles.) "Yes, I would like to bring a friend home to lunch, but my wifo Is never ready, says she does not have tilings in the house for unexpected company and it is ho much bother," remarked the business man. You ought to have u company clos ot like my wife hus," answered 13. 21. number two. "I don't know how it Vi, but Mamo always manages to get admothlng up if I bring people home without warning. I asked how it was ono day, and she said she had emer gency shelves." So I asked Maine what a company closet was. " 'A company closet?' Oh, it's two or three shelves in my pantry that I devote to keeping goods that I can use in an emergency. You know I started in by doing light housekeep ing and living with a chafing dish. This taught me how io use prepared food. Then 1 kept house and had canned tomatoes to make soup if any one came unexpectedly, but now I Sleep quite an assortment of goods ready for instant use. "What aro they? Well, to begin with, there are lots of things out of which I can make sandwiches when Bob turns up with an old friend from -the place he used to live in, and my refrigerator is empty. There are all sorts of canned pates, among them chicken, wild duck, grouse, partridge and quail. Then I keep canned lob ster, sardines in oil, shrimps, little neck clams and such things that vary in price from -15 to 35 cents, and aro always ready to put in between thin slices of bread and butter to mako de licious sandwiches. Out. of the shrimps and lobster I can make salad with my bottlo of salad dressing that is on the samo shelf. "On another shelf I keep all sorts of canned nnd bottled soups and it is ntinlBhlmr hnw innnv vnvlnUoR fhorn . ( J - - ... . . . u ... I " V are". All that is needed is to heat them up, put in somo celery salt if de sired, arid thicken them with a little macaroni, or one can. use them with out any thickening at all. Among my canned soups I have mock turtle, to mato, ox tail, consomme, julienne, chicken, colory, vegetable, tomato and okra, and beef. I buy these cans by the dozen and get them in this way at a reduction. They average ten cents a can. When I am very particular I open a can of green turtle soup or clam chowder, but these cost more. So you see I am all light as regards soup in an emergency. "When I do not want to follow my soup course with sandwiches I can open somo of my potted meats. I am In Justice To Xanthippe. To speak ill of one who is dead and cannot defend him or herself is gen erally conceded to be a disgraceful deod. Yot from generation to genera tion this has been dono in the case of Mrs. Socrates (neo Xanthippe), says Kathorino Smith, who undertakes a defenso of that much-abused lady in tho Smart Set. Xanthippe's parents were poor but proud when Socrates sought her hand in marriage. She began life hampered with many drawbacks. There was her name, long, and beginning with that rarely heard consonant, X. She was tho youngest of a noblo family, and tho rest of tho alphabet had been ex hausted In provdlng for her 23 broth ers and sisters. What could be her endearing nick name? Was it Xannlo? Could it be Thlppe? Not at all. The modest, shrinking child grow up to woman hood as Xanthippe, lived as Xanthippe, died as Xanthippe. Centuries after her death the word is used to illus trate tho alphabet as one of tho few words beginning with tho mellifluous, but seldom encountered, letter X. She has, at least, that individuality, poor woman. Socrates was, an old man when ho married, and far from a beauty. Xanthippe, much younger, would prob ablv have taken prldo in tho Cornell- noss of a husband, but Socrates went for tho most part barefoot, was un gainly and dressed poorly. That his wifo was of tender heart Is evinced by her naming her llrst child Lamprooles. It "will bo seen that her object was to find a name capablo of a pretty and eudearlng diminutive. Hero was a woman who, even If Bho felt inclined to uso an endearing name toward her flat-nosed, thick-lipped husband, would be obliged to call 'him Soc or Hatty. quite proud of the variety I have of thoso for nearly every kind of meat comes prepared in this way. For in stance, corn beef comes for 15 cents a can, good roast beef is 22 cents a can, veal loaf, Is a triile cheaper. Re sides these, I have ham loaf, hamburg steak, chicken loaf, cooked turkey, Vi enna sausage, potted turkey and pe tlto frankfurters. I didn't know there were so many kinds until I began to stock up my closet. But these aver age 15 to 20 conts a can, tho most expensive is 50 cents and they are good cold or can be heated quickly. "Of course I have shelves with jol lies and preserved fruits and when I wnnt inoro than I put up myself I find I can get at least a dozen varieties of jelly that aro always in tho mar ket, orange marmalade, bar-leduc jelly, guava jelly and canned pineap ple, cherries, plums and peaches. So I am never at a loss in tho matter of sauces. To supplement these I keep on hand different varieties of wafers such as vanilla, fruit, cocoanut, etc., for often 1 have no cake in the house. Thus you see I am provided with a soup courso, a meat or sandwich course, and a dessert. At times I want side dishes and for these I keep pea nut butler which I often make in sand wiches, jars of cheese, pots of mado mustard, olives, cheese sandwiches, and lots of other fancy goods that aro on tho market. When J.t comes to tho matter of something to drink, of courso I always have coffee and tea in tho house, but I also keep on my emergency shelf a can of cocoa which can bo prepared easily and rapidly and various fruit juices, like grape and raspberry. These last aro deli cious in summer, served with ice. If I happen to have a lemon In the house I put in tho Juice also. I always keep in my company closet a box of nice layer raisins and two or three kinds of nuts. These I use for dessert when I do not have fruit and wafers. Some times I vary these with a jar of honey, figs and dates. "Don't think wo live on such canned goods all tho time, but like all fami lies we often have enough for two and not for three, and aro without cake and delicacies ono wishes to. set before a guest. My company closet solves the problem at once. Bob thinks it is a miracle, but I know it is simply that I look ahead for an emergency; Then, too, with these varieties of goods 1 am always ready to servo a cup of cholocate with wafers to tho afternoon guest who calls in winter, or if in summer, I have my fruit Juices to serve with a thin, sweet wn for. It is really as simple as can be. The wonder is more women do not do the same and everybody docs not have a company closet. The English call these 'pantry groceries,' and have stores that carry nothing else. Lots of times I am complimented on my soups and sandwiches by the men that Bob brings home to lunch, and I smile and say I am glad they like them. They llttlo realize that I have prepared the whole meal out of my emergency clos et, and as to tolling them not I. What's the good of telling all of one's domestic secrets? I tell you that you may be prepared the next tlmo that husband of yours comes home sudden ly with My old friend Dick, who Is spending the day In the city,' and you havo nothing In the house to eat." Is It any wonder then that she longed for some euphonious nickname for hoi first-born? Lammie it was, but tra dition hath it that this netted and spoiled son repaid Mrs. Xanthippe's Kindness by saying that though she had been a good mother to him "dl not kick him, did not bite him yot her tongue was worse than her toeth. High Praise for Maeterlinck. Maurice Maeterlinck, who, it Is an nounced, Is to receive the Nobel prize for literature this year, has been called "the Belgian Shakespeare" a title he is by no means averse from holding. As ho is now only 40, it is probable that ho has not yet given of ids best. Last year lie purchased tho ancient abbey of Saint Wandrllle, in Normandy. This historic retreat was in ruins, but the poet set about hav lug the place repaired, so that ho can entertain Ids friends amid picturesque surroundings. Students Wear Mustaches. At the University of Pennsylvania mustaches have again come Into stylo, according to tho Philadelphia Record "Yea, a fellow Isn't In It this fall with out a mustache," said a varsity senior "You see, a great many of tho boys havo been over in Europe this sum nier, and tho hirsute adornment, is nl the rage among the swells on the other side just now. Of course, wo college boys have to keep in (he swim, so tha is why you seo all this sprouting dow; on the campus." Was Prepared. "Was Will frightened at tho stago hold-up in the west?" "Oh, dear, no! Ho, had attended too many charllty bazars." Baltimore American. 4 The neglected calf becomes tho stunted cow. Prosperous farmers make a prosper ous community. Feed costs money. Don't let tho animals waste it by careless methods of feeding. Study your flock from now on with view of sorting over for mating in the early spring. The satisfied farmer Is the 'farmer who finds satisfaction and stimulus n doing everything well. If you want to improve your farm and put it down to clover, Held by Held, and pasture hogs on it. Hons do not reli&h scratching In damp, heavy litter. See that plenty of straw or leaves that are perfectly dry is 'supplied. Now is the time to make up your mind what kind and how many trees' you will set out In the spring. Of course you are going to set out .some. Keep the henhouses clean. Great piles of frozen manure underneath the perches is not a very good testimonial for tho owner and not much encour agement for the hens to do their best Leaks in old shingle roof3 can bo more surely fixed by tho use of strips of tin than by using shingles, as tho latter aro apt to raise the edges of thoso about it and make tho leak worse. Cows that aro to calve in winter or early spring should have about six quarts qf some vegetable every day for two weeks before calving. If this courso is pursued there will bo no milk fover nor any other of the many troubles incident to calving time. One must understand their Incu bator, nnd nius.t keep close watch of it, if good results aro to bo secured. It is so easy to bo careless and lay failure of eggs to hatch upon the incu bator. Tho best of machines requlro intelligent handling. Don't let your farmers' meetings drift Into a mutual admiration society in which nothing better is talked about than neighborhood gossip, which pats those present on the back and criticises tho absent, neighbors. Mnke such meetings prolltable by taking up real farm problems and discussing them. Havo you taken an inventory of th farm yet? No business house of any sizo in tho world but that lakes an accounting of its slock at the end of the year preparatory to tho new year'! businoss. Does not the farmer need to know what he has on hand ant what amount of business ho has done during the year before ho Is In shape to Intelligently begin another year' work? It's not brawn alone which makes for successful fanning. Brains ai needed on tho farm as novor befon The man who is going to roan the re wards which the farm can be made to yiold must be equipped for the task Ho must not only have a nrcttv com prehensivo knowledge of the principles governing agriculture, but ho must pos bobs practical business qualities whlcl will enablo him to market his crops after he has raised thorn. A Canadian inventor is said to have devised a plow which cuts two slices of soil as it passes through the earth one from the surface soli and one from the subsoil. The first layer is turned over into a ditch cut by tho pravious run, while the second layer of subsoil Is turned over on the llrs layer. In this way seeds and weeds are completely burled, while tho rich subsoil Is brought to the surface. Tho plow Is formed with two shares, ono placed In front of the other and tho rear one makes u deep cut. Tho for ward Bharo is of such form as to forco tho layer of soil it cuts to one side and at tho samo time turns it over Just how effective such a plow woult prove could only bo demonstrated b actual use. It sounds good, bvv oul Its work? Tho good farmer takes care' of his tools. All your machinery housed? Cowpens mnko good feed for hogs nnd other stack and do the land good, too. Money In ponchos if the right trees are planted and planted In the right place. Provide lots of llttor for tho hens. Keep them busy and they will bo more apt to lay. Founders In horses can be cured, It s said, by administering a largo table- poonful of powdered alum. Try It. In tho rich prairie soil apple trees are apt to grow too much to tree, at the exponsu of Its fruiting qualities. lie sure your pigs are housod warm ly. They aro sensitive to tho cold nnd will not do well If lcopt In a cold drnfty pen. juvery year in wnicn me garden is fertilized and the ground" worked It be comes richer and more capable of To free cattle from llco, sprlnklo with wood ashes, rub with sulphur ointment or whnle-oll, or with potro- cum emulsion. Some farmers who havo tried it think that tho best way to got land n condition for alfalfa is to grow a crop or two of cowpeas. If tho wound loft by the removal of tho Inrgo limb is not covered with paint ovax It will decay In a few years and cause a bad placo in tho ree. Not so much danger of overfeeding tho poultry at this season of tho year is there was during tho summer. Feed liberally if you want to get tho eggs. lleavv draft loams are not for fast road travel. Seo that your hired help does not run them on returning home from, town after the delivery of the load. Too much earth in sacked potatoes Is judged as adulteration by Kansas olllcials. We've heard of sand in sugar but sand with potatoes is a now adulteration.. Be suro of tho clovor seed you buy. Somo farmers in Ohio have suffered tho past season through sowing Eng lish clover seed which was sold them for red clover. Tho cheap cotton gloves are a boon for the farm work folks. Buy thorn by tho dozen pairs. They're choapor, and In this way you always havo a supply on hand. Tile the laud and drain off the sur plus water which, if allowed to ro main, will sour the land, and when evaporated leavo tho land hard and unfit to grow a crop. Every thing pertaining to tho dairy business will find a placo at the dairy show at Chicago In December. Soma of the finest stock ovor before shown will be on exhibition. Doctoring stock Is seldom satisfac tory or profitable. Bettor see that by proper caro and feed they aro kept healthy. An ounco of prevention Is worth a pound of cure. Llvo steam is the best thitrfe with which to scald milk utensils, but where such Is not to be had scalding water will do, but bo sure that It Is hot to the scalding point. An expert butter maker declares that cream should not bo kept over four days before churning cither sum mer or winter. Cream a week old makes butter a week old. The farmer who is content to work his horses with ill-fitting collars, is the farmer who is always doctoring sore shoulders, and finding that his horses can only pull half a loaV. In your feeding arrangements have it so that each animal has an equal chance nt the feed. Prevent crowding by feeding tho sheop in racka with partitions fnr each animal. As soon as an animal shows signs of sickness soparato from tho rest and put on short rations and wntcli close. Sometimes a day or two on shor rations will straighten them up. A dog with only a bark and a big appetite ftus no proper placo on any farm, but a good dog trained to bo of sorvlco will prove hlmsolf a valuable adjunct to tho farm equlpniont. Cleanliness Is absolutely ossontla In tho raising of calves by hand. The pall is not clenn when tho calf has licked it dry. It should bo washer dally In soapy water, especial attention being given to tho soams, scaldod with boiling water and turned right side up In the sun to dry and ulr, BECOMES NAVAL ASSISTANT. New Yorker Succeeds to Post of See retary of Navy Newberry. Washington. Herbert L. Sattorles of Now York, a son-in-law of .1. Pier- pont Morgan, is the new assistant sec- etary or tho navy, succeeding Truman 1. Newberry, who has entered tho cab- net as secretary of tho navy as suc cessor to Victor II. Mctcalf, Mr. Satterlee was a volunteer non tenant In the navy from July G until November 7, 181)8, as chief of staff to Capt. John It. Itartlott. U. S. N., ro- tired, who was then In charge of tho coast signal service Ho wb born in Now York October 111, 18G3. Aftor graduating from Columblu university law school ho was admitted to tho ba.r In 1885. In J881J ho was private secre tary to United States Senator William M. Evarts. Mr. Satterlee has been Interested in the New York naval militia for a long time and from 180 1 until 1895 he was navigator of the first, naval battalion. In 18!)G lie was colonel and aid do camp , and aid to Gov. Black. He is president of tho Naval 'Ho- serve association and general counsel of tho. Navy lenguo of (ho United Slates. From 185)5 to 1000 ho was fleet captain of tho Seawanaka Yacht club. He Is also a member, of the' board of visitors to the United States Military academy. "RAPID TRANSIT" IN MEXICO, Primitive Street Railway System In Town of Navasbta. City of Mexico. The town of Nava sola has one of the moat, primitive street, railway systems In Mexico. This Is saying, a good doal, for In somo towns of the country tho transporta tion systems are about as crudo as could well be imagined. The Navasota line is equipped with home built cars. These cars are about tho height of an Crude Street Cars in Mexican Town. average man and each will seat about 20 persons. They are divided into two sections, The forward end Is for first class passengers and tho rear section Is for second class. There is no dif ference in tho finishing and comforts of tho two sections but a hlghor rate of fare is charged those who ride In the forward section. Eacli car will accommodate as many as eight first class passeilgers by crowding. The rudely constructed Boats run length wlso of the ear. It Is a tropical cli mate and closed ears aro not neces sary. The wheels and trucks, ure flim sy looking, but they seem to have much more strength than their appear ance, would Indicate. The track Is narrow gauge. Small Mexican bur ros are used In haul the cars. The line docs a good business and Is said to bo making monoy for Its owners. Invaluable. Bluffton I said something to my wifo last week that offended her and sho hasn't spoken to mo siuco. Henpcck Great Scott, maul You can't remember what it was, can you?