Last week we made note of the 1943-1944 telephone directory of the area and this week we are able, thanks to Barbara Pope, to share two books which we have never before encountered. Barbara loaned us two cookbooks which were done by the Otsego Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Cooperstown, New York. Both books were published by Crist, Scott and Parshall, Cooperstown, N.Y. and, as luck would have it, neither one of them has a date.

We believe they are the first and second - actually one of them notes that it is the second - editions, both entitled She Cooketh Well to the Ways of her Household. The title page of each book assures us that these are "Tried Receipts."

The second edition appears to be somewhat more comprehensive than what we assume is the first edition. In addition to what we would consider to be rather normal entrees in a cookbook, it also has a section on "Invalid Dishes," which include Gum-Arabic water, Barley water, Egg lemonade, Flaxseed tea, Beef tea, and Sago-milk, all of which were submitted by Dr. M. I. Bassett as well as Leban, submitted by Mrs. John B. Conkling, Lamb broth, submitted by E. Cory, and Kumyss, for which no one takes credit. Other than the "Leban," which is said to be "An excellent diet for dyspeptics, consumptives, in Bright's disease, for convalescents, and for those who cannot drink fresh milk.," we are completely clueless as to exactly what ailments might be helped with these dishes. Our only hope would be that the cure was not worse than the disease.

Under "Miscellaneous" can be found the following hints:

"TO CURE DRIED BEEF - For forty pounds of beef take 1 quart of salt, 1 pint molasses, 2 ounces saltpeter. Put all in a large jar or tub and turn every other day for three weeks."

"COLD AND ASTHMA - Fifteen grains sal ammoniac, 10 drops oil of peppermint, 2 ounces pulv. Ex. Licorice, 1 quart water. Dose - 1 dessertspoonful once an hour. Avoid the use of pork and potatoes."

And, "BURN SALVE - Two ounces of Burgundy pitch, 1/2 ounce of good clean beeswax, 1 tablespoonful melted lard. Put on the stove in a tin dish, let it simmer slowly."

We also found most interesting, no doubt because it has absolutely nothing to do with cooking, a piece entitled "Valuable to Housekeepers" which was submitted by Mrs. Wm. Russell. She writes:

"LAUNDERING FINE SHIRTS.-The laundering of fine shirts has become much simplifies, and is no longer the dread that once it was, since the following method has become known to me:

Washed, scalded and carefully rinsed and dried, and b repeated wettings in clear warm water, bleached by freezing or hot sunshine, according to season, they are put aside in a close drawer (not a clothes basket) until the hour for giving them the finishing touches has arrived.

If the bosom is to be spotlessly white, it must be folded down into the folds of muslin, and every particle of dust kept from it. The irons must be clean to perfection, heated to the right degree (neither too hot nor too cool, and every good housewife becomes here her own judge), and the ironing-board scrupulously clean.

To starch, dip the bosom and cuffs into a starch preparation made as follows; To three quarts of fresh soft water add one-fourth pound of best starch, two teaspoonfuls of powdered borax and two tablespoonsful of turpentine. Put all into a stone jar with close-fitting cover. When needed for use, stir the starch from the bottom of the jar until all is dissolved again. It settles and becomes quite stiff at the bottom of the jar. Pour off what will be needed to wet the articles to be ironed, using a bowl or other earthen dish for the purpose. Do not wring very dry, roll tightly, and leave but a few moments, when they will be ready for the irons.

Bosoms and cuffs will be stiffer if the starch be whipped into them by taking between the two hands and with a quick, snapping movement beating the folds of linen together. This method tends to dry away a portion of the moisture, and a second dipping into the starch-water, attended by a second beating, proves advantageous.

With a soft, white cloth, wrung from very warm water, rub briskly and thoroughly the entire surface to be ironed and polished. This removes all starch that may be upon the outside of the linen, and though this starch seldom or never sticks to the irons, the polishing will be the smoother and glossier for this additional care.

When perfectly dried, if dampened over with a cloth wrung from warm water, and again polished over with a not too hot iron, one will be repaid for the extra exertion and time."

In closing, all we can say is that we are ever grateful for permanent press poly-cottons. We now know what we wouldn't do without them.

We remain,

In these Otsego hills,

Where nature smiles,

The Ellsworths

NOTE: The Ellsworths may be reached by mail at 105 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326, by telephone at 607-547-8124 or by e-mail at cellsworth1@stny.rr.com. They look forward to hearing from you.