The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1849-06-16
From the Gusts Recoloelions OF lhe lifo
mud Character Of Wnshington,l
w ashington'R ward

mud Character Of Washington.
w ashington's Ste ward.
Frnn6is, whoAcpt the tavern IN New York
where Washington took leave ~ his officers
IN l1S3, wns the lirsi steward 20 tho Prcsi-
dom. Francis Wns a rnre'N hig in The Rev,
olutoimry dry, aud attached 10 little iup0r
lHnco 10 his lhfsun and character from tie
CIRCUMSTANCE af tho memorable parting of
tic Comnandorin chief with liia old Hnd
long endeaTcd companions IN arms having
hkru place Ut Fmncis'r Tavern, IN ~ York,
The Steward WIS a man OF tnlcnt hhd con-
siderable lasla IN the line Of his profession,
bat whs NJ Ito Fnmc Tins ambitious, fond Of
display, md Trgurdlcss of expense. This
produced continued difficulties h,twccu tho
Presided md ccraiuy one Of ia" mort de-
,olsdly attached Ia him at all his housc hold.
Thu expenses of lhc Presidential Mansion
wcrr settled Nceklyi md. upon tho bills hs
ING prcycntgd, the President would rate his
steward soundy upon lie oXpeneiyeuGss,
saw ing that. while hc wished ~ Tive c0nfurn-
ally 10 his high station literally, nay hand
folucyho nhhorrcd waste and cXirnvnPnncc,
md insisted HAT his hourehold should ho
conducted Will due rcgurd to economy aud
usefulness.
Frnucis would promise amendment, md
the next week ihc snuid -scone would he re-
enacted in MI ils parts, tho Steward refining
, iu tears, mud cNclain,iug. "Ncil ho uiny dis.
charge me: lao muy Nil mo IL hu will. hut
/ " bile hc H. President oC tho u. States, and |
lave tie houurjo hc ls Steward, his cstnl-
B lishmcnt shnll be- supplied with the very hes,
orcvcrything that the whole county ram Of.
! furd.n
Tho story oriho fish, rotated in another
fVVI ~ rho work, Unopened l,IfiuR- lranciE'S
4. fl.
/ fond ol IN. 1t WINS the habit ofNow Eng.
land lndios frequently 10 prepare tho Goldfish
~ very nice mnnncr,and scud il onvoloped
IN o.olh - NJ TO arrive quite wtrm ior tho
Presidents Saturday dinner, he always eat
hg. rodtsl, un that day ~ compliment to his
New England rocollcriious..
Il happened tint q single Sliud WINS caught
In the Delaware IN February md brought ~
the Philadelphia market Cor SHE. Francis
pounccd upon u wih th0 speed urHu Osprey.
regardless oi price, hat charmed HAT lee hnd
secured drlicacy that. above all others, he
knew would bc agreeable 10 the pHlae OF his
Choc ,----
When the fish WINS served. Washington sus-
Ipcctcd departure front LIS orders touching
tho provision 20 bo male for his table, and
said to Francis, who stood at his post at The
sidchunrd, "NhOt fish is thiri' "A shnd, n vcr-
iGo shad, was Tho rcply;l knew yourENcel-
/ loucy was particularly fond ofihls kind of
! fish. aud was 50 fortunate ~ to procure ihs
ono in the market n solitary one, md The first
fthe season" "'Iho price, sir, the price
continued Washington, in stern command
! ing tone: "thc price, SIR" "1hrec, three
iollsrs,' stMuncrcd out lho con, ccncC-s tric.
ken steward "Tnke u away, "thWdorrd tho
chiei;'rnkc 1t away, sir; It shnl never ho snid
that my table sets such an example of luNu-
~ and extravaganza" Poor Francis trcm-
hllngly obrycd md the first shad oflhe sea-
son was removed untouched, To he speedily
discussed 10y the gourtuands Of cheeseman's
hall.
THE CHIEF CooK,
This celebrated artistic ms no would have
krr t-rtff--( ~ 41sadHEga patlance. Mhs named
II lefealee, fan.iliarly termed uncle iInrkiess.
Trained in the mysteries or his art from ear
~ youth, aud IN the pnlmy days OF Virginia,
when her thousand chimncys smoked Ia in
tlicRte tho generous hospitality that roigned
ihrouehout the whole length and breadth Of
her wide domain, Uncle Inrkless was ut ths
period OF the first Presidency MS highly nc
complshcd proficient in The culinary art NJ
could be found in tho United Stntcs. Ito waa
dark brown man, TIIIr6 IT any HboVo The Ustl-
nj size, ye, possessed oCsuch great muscular
power ns TO cn,llc him Ia loo compared with
! his nHmcsnkc of fabulous history.
The Chief Guut, rleFied il, the cleanliness
! and nicely of his kitchen. Under lis iron
discipline, wo to his underlngs fspeck or
spot could 10 discovered on the tables or
,lrcssers, or ifthe utensils did not shine Ilikn
polished tilver With the lnckless wigits
who had offended in these particulars there
WINS no arrest "f Judgment mud execution
went hnnd in hand.
The Steward, aud indeed the whole house.
hold, treated the Chief Cook with much re-
spect. ms well for his valuable services MS for
his general good character auL pleasing man
uers.
1t was while preparing the Thursday or
Congress Dinner that Uncle ilarkless shong
in all his spcndor., During his lhboFs upon
this banquet lIu required some half dozen
aprons, aud napkins out of number Il wns
surprising The order and discipline that WINS
observed IN 30 busting scene. His under
/ lings few in all directions to execute his Oy.
ders, while he the great masIer spirit, seemea
to possess the power Of ubiauity, and to bs
IeveFywhere ut The same moment, ''-
! When the Steward, in snow white apron.
silk shorts and stockings, and hair in fI'll
powder, placed tho last dish on the iobls.ii1s