MRS BEETON

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 82, 18 March 1933, Page 10

MRS BEETON

JOINS THE ELECT. Mrs. Beeton, of English cookery-book fume, easily takes pride of place among the 23 new pictures acquired by the National Portrait Gallery, reports the London “Daily Express.” Her picture—a coloured photograph presented by her son, Sir Mayson Beeton—may be the smallest there. It measures in inches what the portraits of Lord Curzon of Kcdleston and Lord Birkenhead measure in feet. But against the imperious challenge of the first statesman and the sophistication of the second, her quiet gaze holds you and brings such thoughts as lino Jugged Hare, the Beeton Mushroom Sauce, her Grouse Pie, and Charlotte Busse all floating to the mouth. Observe her pose—the model of correctness as she leans forward on a cushion —tho cook has probably just left the room. Ono hand clasps a laco handkerchief, tho other is carelessly applied to the cameo at her throat. There is a benign wistfulness about the eyes, and in that yearning to do good a certain line about the firmness of the mouth. She died at the early age of 29, and wrote her famous “Household Management,” from which the numerous cookery books are derived, between 23 and 25. Had she lived, who knows what part she might have played! As it is, she takes her place not only among the portraits of our kings and queens, the conquerors and discoverers of our race, but in the hearts of all women as their guide, philosopher and friend, who showed them how to keep a roaming husband faithful to his wife, i and run a happy home.