A few materials have been mentioned as derived from the cook's valise, they are not included in the bills. These are extract of meat, catsups and two or three dollars'worth of canned truffles. Opinions will differ on such matters, but as every cook carries his own knives and larding needles I think it wise and politic under such circumstances as are detailed in the preceding pages for the cook to carry a small stock of such extra helps besides. If the proprietors of the small houses knew everything they would see the advisability of providing all sorts of seasonings at their own expense, as they do not understand the use of them, the cook does well to supply himself and get his pay back in the reputation which he gains for the superior flavor of his dishes and for the unexpected production of a truffled fowl when it may chance there are visitors present who will appreciate the effort. For a good reputation means good pay and choice of good positions, and is wortn a little outlay of money as well as a good deal of hard work to secure.

To Make Glaze

Extract of meat and the meat glaze made by the cooks are vary nearly the same thing. It is an expensive substance when made of the best quality, retailing at about thirty cents an ounce. The cheapest is the Australian extract of beef solid and dry in bladders, which sells at $1.25 per pound. Meat extract added to consommes and gravies gives them a rich flavor which is one of the evidences to the guests at table that there is a professional cook in the kitchen.

There are times when a cook can make his own glaze, which is nearly the same as extract, the difference being that it contains more gelatine from the bones than the extract of lean meat. When there happens to be a great plenty of soup bones and the stock boiler is full of rich stock or bouillon, and when instead of using it oyster soup must be made, then the stock should be strained off into a large copper saucepan and be boiled down rapidly until it is nearly dried down to gravy. Then skim off the fat, add some salt, and simmer down carefully until it looks thick and dark and is in danger of burning. Pour it into a jar or can; it will set solid when cold and a slice taken out and added to the soup on a day when the stock is poor will be found the one thing that was needed to bring it up to the first quality. Such glaze or extract will keep for months. The French name is glace (Pron.glarce)

The Ballade of "Settle Down."

A printer threw away his stick And washed his inky hands.

"I'll go and tempt the Fates," he cried, "Far off in Western lands."

And so he landed in Begosh, A brand new Kansas town,

And there he built a small hotel And named it "Settle Down."

He was the landlord, clerk and cook

The table waiter, too. He made the beds and tended bar -

And had enough to do.

The town grew fast, the hotel throve, He hired some extra hands.

His profits quite as fast as got He put in Begosh lands.

And as he throve he felt a want:

Mysterious, dim, obscure, He could not tell exactly what,

But there it was, for shure.

"Ha! Ha!" he cried, as sudden light Broke on him while at dinner,

"I want a printed bill-of-fare - "I do - as I'm a sinner."

There was no printing press in town;

He sent and bought him one. It came, with type, he worked - and lol

The bill-of-fare was done.

*) Menu should be pronounced mayno.

He loaded it with lots of French

To sort of give it style, And proudfully he set it forth

His boarders to beguile.

There came six cowboys to his board, All armed and fierce and grim.

Each man picked up a bill-of-fare - Then hastened out to him.

Then on that pale and trembling man Their words fell fierce and hot:

"Why don't yer talk United States? "What is this Dago rot?

"Wha's lA lay-matree D-hotel'?

"What's mey-D-ter-ree'? "What's Macker-hony-aw-gra-teen'

"What's 'Me-new'? What's 'saw-tee'?

"Who's "Fuli ana'? Who's 'Tommy T'? "Who's 'Li'and 'May O'Nass'?

"Say! is 'Con-Sommy-Printer-near'f "Where is 'Pat.-D.-Foy-grass' ?"

"Yer'r growin' rich! Yer'r gettin' proud!

"Yer want ter be er dude. "Ther daisies claim yer tender toes.

"Yer'll du ther grass roots good."

There fell a grave like silence then - Each man his cannon drew.

* * * *

The doctor's perforation count

Came up to forty-two.