Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/27

 A RETARDED FRONTIER II

Thus there is a constant, slowly changing sum of coffee grounds which lives on year after year. Milk is rarely used by moun- taineers for their coffee. In the remote districts only " long sweetenin' " is to be had, i. e., molasses made from sugar cane

THREE PATTERNS OF " LINSEY "

raised on the farm. "Short sweetenin'," a cheap grade of brown sugar, is found on the tables of the well-to-do who live nearer to the county seats. Eggs, usually fried in the ham fat, are looked upon as something of a luxury. Sweets and preserves have a place upon most of the tables. Apple-butter and various preparations of dried fruits are common ; and sometimes a pud- ding of dumplings and fruit is attempted. It would be hard to imagine anything more unattractive than either the food itself or the way of serving it. The table is sometimes covered with brown oil-cloth, and frequently with a piece of cotton spotted with coffee and grease stains. Two-tined steel forks, steel knives, and pewter spoons are, of course, the rule. One of the most pressing needs of this region seems to be education in the simplest domestic economy — and yet the people are healthy in spite of "hog and hominy."