| Cooking has always been an extremely important part | | | | One would expect then that there should be less |
| of the Chinese culture. One of the duties of a good | | | | friction in modern households. Unfortunately this is not |
| housewife is to appreciate the importance of cooking | | | | so. Perhaps it is that Confucius, being wise, was |
| and its close relation to domestic happiness. This | | | | exacting only in the matter of food, while modern |
| opinion prevailed even in the days of Confucius. We | | | | husbands are fastidious and troublesome in other |
| learn from the Classics that Confucius was particularly | | | | directions as well. However, experience tells us that, by |
| fastidious as regards food for we are told that: | | | | eliminating one cause of domestic disturbance - the |
| 1. He refused to partake of wine and dried meat | | | | food question - the modern housewife has gone far |
| bought in the market. | | | | towards securing domestic peace. |
| 2. He refused to eat meat, which was not cut properly, | | | | "Good appetite brings happiness" is an old saying |
| nor what was served without the correct sauce. | | | | worthy of the housewife's attention. To stimulate the |
| 3. He refused to eat anything badly cooked or not in | | | | appetite is the one object of our culinary art, the |
| season. | | | | knowledge of which enables the housewife to |
| 4. He liked his rice polished white and his meat minced | | | | produce dishes so deliciously flavored and so |
| finely. | | | | attractively served, that they would tempt even the |
| Had there been such conveniences as are now | | | | most fastidious husband. The same knowledge will |
| available - the equipment of a modern kitchen - and | | | | also help her to bring the changes in the diet, which, like |
| had there been properly conducted schools of | | | | a change of air, can only be beneficial to the appetite |
| cookery where the necessary knowledge might be | | | | and health. |
| acquired, Chinese housewives in ancient times would | | | | To the conscientious housewife then, who is solicitous |
| have been able to maintain satisfactorily a high | | | | of domestic peace and happiness, the science and art |
| standard of culinary art in their households. | | | | of cooking should have a definite appeal. The servant |
| The modern housewife is more fortunately situated. | | | | problem fortunately is not so acute in this country; so |
| She can employ a good cook and supervise his work, | | | | the housewife, once she has acquired proficiency in |
| thus doing away with the necessity of purchasing food | | | | the art of cooking, needs to have less uneasiness of |
| from outside herself. She can procure a mincing | | | | mind in regard to the menial work of the kitchen. Her |
| machine to mince meat to any desired fineness; she | | | | part will merely consist of direction and supervision, if |
| can buy perfectly white machine-milled rice and she | | | | necessary. The Chinese say, with truth, that just as |
| can easily procure any sauce to suit any taste thanks | | | | those who live near water know the nature of fishes, |
| to the skill and experience of modern organizations. In | | | | and those near mountains learn the melody of birds, so |
| fact she has everything in her flavor these days; all | | | | those who remain close to the kitchen acquire the |
| she has to do is to learn how to cook. | | | | knowledge of good food. |