Cake must not be hurried. Keep the oven steady though slow, and after putting a large cake into it do not open the door for at least twenty minutes. During baking, do not open the door unnecessarily, or in fact do anything to jar the cake lest the little bubbles formed by the action of the baking powder burst, causing the gas to escape and the cake to sink. This produces what is known as a "sad" cake, but refers probably to the state of mind of the cook. A very light cake put into a quick oven' rises rapidly round the sides, but leaves a hollow in the middle. If a cake is made too light with eggs or powder and an insufficient quantity of flour is added it will drop in the center. Another frequent cause is the moving of cakes while in the oven before the mixture has set properly. The same defect is produced if the cakes are removed from the oven before being baked sufficiently. When a cake batter curdles, the texture will not be so even as if the curdling had not taken place. Sometimes the mixture will curdle through the eggs being added too quickly, or if the shortening contains too much water. This forms a syrup with the sugar, and after a certain quantity of eggs have been added the batter will slip and slide about, and will not unite with the other ingredients. Weak, watery eggs are another cause of this happening; and although this may be checked by adding a little flour at the right time, yet the cake would be better if it were unnecessary to add any flour until all the eggs had been beaten in, that is, if the batter had not curdled. Before turning out a cake allow it to remain in the tin for a few minutes. It is best to lay it on a wire cake stand, or lay it on a sieve; but if you do not possess these, a loosely made basket turned upside down will do. If the cake will not turn out of the tin easily, rest it on its side, turning it round in a couple of minutes and it may loosen, if not, pass a knife round the edge, turn the cake over on a clean cloth, and let it stand a few minutes. Do not place cakes in a cold place or at an open window, or the steam will condense and make them heavy. A rich cake improves in flavor and becomes softer with keeping (from 2 to 6 weeks, according to quality) before cutting. Wrap, when cold, first in a clean towel, then in paper. After a week remove the paper and put the cake into a tin wrapped in the towel. Small cakes may be baked in tiny molds or tins, or baked in a flat sheet, and then cut out into squares, diamonds or rounds. Then they can be frosted or coated with cream and decorated with cherries or other crystallized fruits. If a real distinction is desired, they may be placed in tiny crinkled paper cases, bought by the hundred at a trifling cost.