Bronxville War Cook Book. [Edited by Mrs. Hobart Nichols.] Published by the Thrift Committee of the National League for Woman's Service (Bronxville Branch)

New York: The Communal Press, 1917. Small octavo (17.5 x 13.5 cm.), 47 pages. Editor from page [3]. Publisher from colophon. "Index" (page [5]) is actually a table of contents. ~ Evident FIRST EDITION. Approximately one hundred thirty recipes [attributed?] recommended for their low cost and nutritional efficacy, including substitutions of corn for wheat (as in Corn Meal Apple Muffins), increased uses for milk (as in Curried Bananas with Rice), and meat substitutes (notably, Brazil Nut Cutlets and Green Pea Loaf). ~ The women volunteers of Bronxville – a village within the town of Eastchester, in Westchester County – were quick off the mark: the National (truncated) League for Woman's Service had only been organized in January of 1917, and war was not formally declared until April. Every effort would be made to promote efficiency in the shouldering of everyday responsibilities, and to educate local communities in preparations for the sorts of deprivations likely to occur in wartime. ~ “It is the patriotic duty of every housekeeper," as the preface has it, "no matter how large her bank account, to give her personal attention to the food question. Our Allies need wheat, beef, mutton, pork, dairy products and sugar. In order to send them these necessities we should have one wheatless meal a day. We should eat more fish and use meat substitutes. We should use honey, maple syrup and very much less sugar. We should eat less butter and use substitutes in cooking. Above all we must avoid waste. By using good judgment we can still have plenty of palatable and nourishing food.” Mrs. Hobart (Wilhelmine von Stosch) Nichols (1871-1954) and her husband were both painters, originally from Washington, D.C., who had moved to the artists' community of Bronxville in 1910. ~ In tan wrappers sewn with a cord; black titled, and with an image of corn roasting on a spit with a child blasting the coals with a bellows, all framed in a red border. Corners slightly bumped; two small closed tears to front fore-edge. Owner's name on upper wrapper panel in pencil: "M. H. Williams". With the bookplate of culinary collector Lucille Fillin and an exhibition note from Hofstra University on the inside cover. One recipe with annotations in pencil; pages otherwise clean. Near fine. Unrecorded. [OCLC locates no copies; in neither Brown nor Cagle]. (Inventory #: 6404)