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Counsels on Diet and Foods
can’t do this or that. You perplex and trouble me more than you help
me.”
Thus the first efforts of the learners are repulsed, and the first failure
so cools their interest and ardor to learn that they dread another trial,
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and will propose to sew, knit, clean house, anything but cook. Here
the mother was greatly at fault. She should have patiently instructed
them, that they might, by practice, obtain an experience which would
remove the awkwardness and remedy the unskillful movements of the
inexperienced worker.
Cooking Lessons More Essential Than Music
393. Some are called to what are looked upon as humble duties—it
may be, to cook. But the science of cooking is not a small matter. The
skillful preparation of food is one of the most essential arts, standing
above music teaching or dressmaking. By this I do not mean to dis-
count music teaching or dressmaking, for they are essential. But more
important still is the art of preparing food so that it is both healthful
and appetizing. This art should be regarded as the most valuable of all
the arts, because it is so closely connected with life. It should receive
more attention; for in order to make good blood, the system requires
good food. The foundation of that which keeps people in health is the
medical missionary work of good cooking.
Often health reform is made health deform by the unpalatable
preparation of food. The lack of knowledge regarding healthful cook-
ery must be remedied before health reform is a success.
Good cooks are few. Many, many mothers need to take lessons
in cooking, that they may set before the family well-prepared, neatly
served food.
Before children take lessons on the organ or the piano they should
be given lessons in cooking. The work of learning to cook need not
exclude music, but to learn music is of less importance than to learn
how to prepare food that is wholesome and appetizing.—
Manuscript
95, 1901
394. Your daughters may love music, and this may be all right; it
may add to the happiness of the family; but the knowledge of music
without the knowledge of cookery, is not worth much. When your
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daughters have families of their own, an understanding of music and