THE TASTE OF HISTORY

The good cooking of East Hampton's turn-of-the-century homemakers went far to insure a relatively genteel and comfortable life here in the late 1890s, when the Ladies Village Improvement Society published its first cookbook, and there were some hints as well in the book's "Miscellaneous" back pages, that still today spell wisdom.

Among them:

- A wet strip of cotton cloth put around a pie before baking keeps in the juices.

- Salt fish are best freshened by soaking in sour milk.

- A small bag of sulphur kept in a drawer or cupboard will drive away red ants. Or, scatter branches of sweet fern where they congregate.

- Egg stains on silver may be removed by rubbing with salt.

- A dish of hot water set in the oven prevents cakes, etc., from scorching.

- A spoonful of vinegar put in the water where meats or fowls are boiled makes them tender.

- When the boot heel is slightly tight, rub the inside of the heel with dry soap.

- Rub ink stains with turpentine; after three hours rub well.