The trend in this direction can be seen in many ways. The growing
prevalence of camping has increased the demand for articles of food
ready for use, and even tea, coffee, and soups are delivered hot for the
benefit of pleasure seekers.[304] The development of Western resources
by Eastern capitalists has also increased the demand for such articles,
and at least one housekeeper among the Black Hills of South Dakota, one
hundred miles from a railroad station, speaks casually of doing her
marketing in Chicago, and a housekeeper in North Carolina gives frequent
and elaborate lunches through caterers in Philadelphia. The tendency even
among persons of moderate means is more and more towards the employment
of caterers for special afternoon and evening entertainments, although
in villages and small towns this course as yet involves the employment
of persons from large cities. The practice is not uncommon for the women
connected with church organizations to hold every Saturday afternoon
sales for the benefit of the society, of all articles of food that can be
prepared the previous day for Sunday dinners and teas.[305]
The most important medium for the sale of such commodities is the
Woman’s Exchange.[306] It has already become an economic factor of some
little importance, and it will become of still greater importance when
it is taken out of the domain of charity and sentiment and becomes
self-supporting on a business basis. One of its most valuable results
is that it has set a high standard for work and has insisted that this
standard be reached by every consignor, not only once or generally,
but invariably. It has maintained this standard in the face of hostile
criticism and the feeling that a charitable organization ought to accept
poor work if those presenting it are in need of money. It has shown that
success in work cannot be attained by a simple desire for it or need
of it pecuniarily. It has taught that accuracy, scientific knowledge,
artistic training, habits of observation, good judgment, courage,
and perseverance are better staffs in reaching success than reliance
upon haphazard methods and the compliments of flattering friends. It
has raised the standard of decorative and artistic needle work by
incorporating into its rules a refusal to accept calico patchwork, wax,
leather, hair, feather, rice, splatter, splinter, and cardboard work. It
has taught many women that a model recipe for cake is not “A few eggs,
a little milk, a lump of butter, a pinch of salt, sweetening to taste,
flour enough to thicken; give a good beating and bake according to
judgment.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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