It seems that inexperienced cooks can, by paying a certain sum, be admitted into the royal kitchen to learn from the chief cook.  After they have perfected themselves in their profession, they receive wages, and upon leaving, are presented with a diploma.  Why could not a somewhat similar institution—­omitting the sovereign—­become practicable in our own country?  Both housekeepers and newspapers groan over the frightful cooking of our Bridgets; Professor Blot lectures upon the kitchen scientifically and artistically considered, and our fashionable ladies go to his classes to play at cooking; but the novelty soon wears off, and home matters continue as badly as ever.

I do not know if the President would consent to imitate the Swedish sovereign, by throwing open the kitchen of the White House in the same liberal fashion, but surely he ought to be willing to make some sacrifices for the common good—­perhaps even to submit occasionally to a dinner spoilt by the experiments of young apprentices to the culinary art.  Three months’ training ought to suffice to make a very good cook, and with a diploma from the White House, situations would be plentiful, wages higher than ever, and employers would have the satisfaction of knowing that their money was not thrown away.

June 11.

We may pass some sad hours at Chappaqua this summer, but I do not think we shall suffer from ennui—­that is, if the startling events of the past week are to be repeated often during the summer.

I have already spoken of the escaped convict whom we saw in the grass the other day.  It is unnecessary to say that we carefully barricaded our doors that night; for, in case of danger, our situation would not be a cheerful one—­a household of seven helpless women, save during papa’s weekly visit, and Bernard, our only protector, asleep in the side-hill house.  Our precautions, however, were superfluous; the convict did not favor us with a visit, but something far more thrilling than the loss of the family silver was in store for us.

Dear Ida has received since last fall scores of letters from, I think, every State in the Union, and even from Europe, from people of whom she had never heard before, and upon all sorts of subjects.  Some of her correspondents are interested in her spiritual, others in her temporal, welfare; some advise change of air as beneficial after her affliction, and alternately she is offered a home in Colorado and Maine.  But such letters form the exception; usually the writer has a favor to request.  The most modest of the petitions are for Ida’s autograph or photograph, while others request loans of different sums from units to thousands.  She is occasionally informed that the writer has a baby named Ida Greeley, and it is intimated that a present from the godmother would be acceptable.  Again she is asked to assist in building a church, or to clothe and educate some poor girl—­her own cast-off wardrobe of colored clothes will be accepted, the writer graciously says, although new dresses would be preferable.