PREFACE

Cookery means the knowledge of Medea and of Circe and of Helen and of the

Queen of Sheba. It means the knowledge of all herbs and fruits and balms

and spices, and all that is healing and sweet in the fields and groves and

savory in meats. It means carefulness and inventiveness and willingness

and readiness of appliances. It means the economy of your grandmothers and

the science of the modern chemist; it means much testing and no wasting;

it means English thoroughness and French art and Arabian hospitality; and,

in fine, it means that you are to be perfectly and always ladies—loaf

givers.—RUSKIN.

"BUT for life the universe were nothing; and all that has life requires

nourishment."

  With the progress of knowledge the needs of the human body have not been

forgotten. During the last decade much time has been given by scientists

to the study of foods and their dietetic value, and it is a subject which

rightfully should demand much consideration from all. I certainly feel

that the time is not far distant when a knowledge of the principles of

diet will be an essential part of one's education. Then mankind will eat

to live, will be able to do better mental and physical work, and disease

will be less frequent.

  At the earnest solicitation of educators, pupils, and friends, I have

been urged to prepare this book, and I trust it may be a help to many who

need its aid. It is my wish that it may not only be looked upon as a

compilation of tried and tested recipes, but that it may awaken an

interest through its condensed scientific knowledge which will lead to

deeper thought and broader study of what to eat.

F.M.F.