The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-02

osprey, regardless OF price, Jul OnAinOo
hat he had secured delicacy that, above &
sll others, he knew would be agreeable to
The palate OF his chief. d
When the fish was served, Washington (
suspected departure from his orders touch 4
ing the provision to be made for his table, {
and said 10 Fmncis. who stood at his post al
the sideboaId, What fish is this e "a !
shsd, a very fine shsd, was the reply; al /.
knew your Excelency was particularly
fond Of this kind OF fish, and was so ioItu-
nate as 70 procure this one in the market
a solitary one, and The first Of the season.
"The price, sir: the price," continued
Washington, in a stern, commanding tone;
"the price, sir? Three, three, three
dollars" stammered out The conscience
stricken steward. Sc Take it away" thun-
dered the chief; take il away, SIT; it shall
never be said that my table sets such an ex
ample OF luxury and exlravagance. Poor
Francis tremblingly obeyed, and the hrsI
shad Of the season was removed untouched.
to be speedily discussed by the gourmands |
OF the servants hall.
THE CHIEF COOK.
This celebrated artistic, as be would have
been termed in modern parlance, was
named Hercules, Familiarity termed Uncle
Harkless. Trained in the mysteries Of his
art from early youth, and in the Palmy days
of Virginia. when her thousand chimneys
smoked 10 indicate the generous hospitality
that reigned throughout the whole length
and breadth Of her wide domain, Uncle
Harkless was, at the period OF the hrsI
Presidency, as highly accomplished pro
ficient in the culinary art as could be found
in the United States. He was a dark
brown man, little if any above the usual
size, yet possessed Of such great muscular
power as to entitle him to be compared with
mis- namesake Of fabulous history.
The Chief Cook gloTied in the cleanll-
ness and nicely OF his kitchen. Under ms
iron discipline, wo to his underlings if sPeck
or SCOT could be discovered on the tables o.
, dressers, or if the utensils did not shine like
polished silver. With the luckless wig hts
who had offended in these particulars there
!. was no arrest Of judgment, for judgment
D and execution went hand in hand.
[ The Steward, and indeed the whole
I household, treated the Chief Cook with
: much respect, as well for his valuable ser
b vices as for his general good character and
e pleasing manners.
; Il was while preparing the Thursday OF
Congress Dinner that Uncle HaIkless shone
in all his splendor. During his laboTs
upon this banquet he required some bal
dozen aprons, and napkins out Of number
Ii was surprising the order and discipline
that was observed in 50 busting a scene,
His underlings flew in all directions 10 e1
ecuie his orders, while he, the great master
spirit, seemed to possess the power o.
ubiquity, and to be everywhere at the samt
moment,
When the Steward. in snow-white apron
silk shorts and stockings. and hair in ful
powder, placed the first dish on the table
the clock being on the stroke Of four, cease
- the labors Of Hercules
While the masters of the republic weT
engaged in discussing the sayory visnds o
the Congress Dinner, the chief cook retire'
to make his toilet for an evening prone
made His perquistes from the Stops Of tn
kitchen were from one to two hundred dol
lars year. Though homely in person. b
lavished the most Of these large avails upol
dress. In making his toilet, his linen wa
Of unexceptiOnal quality and whiteness. thel
black silk shorts, ditto waistcoat, ditt
stockings, shoes highly polished, with larg
buckles covering considerable part Of th
foot, blue cloth coat with velvet collar an
bright metal buttons, a long watch chat
dangling from his fob. a cooked hat, an
gold headed cane completed the grand co.
tune Of the celebrated dandy (ior there WEI
handles in those days. Of the President
kitchen.
Thus anayed, the Chief Cook invsriabl
passed out at the front door, the Porte
making low bow, which was prompt
returned. Joining his brother loungers
the pave, he proceeded up Market stree
attracting considerable attention, Markt
street being, in the old times, the reso
~ where fashionables " did most congregale.
Many were not little surprised on b,
OF holding so extraordinary parsonage, Will
others who knew him would make lomt
a and respectful bow, that they might receiv
er in return the salute Of one Of the most DO
be ished gentlemen, and the veriest dandy {
in nearly sixty years ego.
e. THE CoAcHMEN.
y. John Pagan, by bnth Hessian, tall an
d. burly in person, was an accomplish
y, coachman in every respect. He undeHtoo
as the mechanism Of carriage, and coul
I'd take to pieces and put together again o.
the parts, should he meet with any accider
on bis road. He drove the President III
W whole tour Of The then United States, fror
is Portsmouth to Savannah, in the white cha
ne riot built by Clarke, Of Philadelphia, with
in out the slightest accident or misfortune bar
l. pening in so long journey.
err On the Presidents return, Clarke was i
lie attendance TO learn the success Of what b
lis deemed his masterpiece Of coachmakinq
S, No sooner had the horses stopped at th
in door Of the Presidential mansion than III
anxious coachman was under the body Q
I'd the white chariot. examining every thin
$. with careful and critical eye, lill Fagal
s, shouted from the box, "All right, MI
Q. Clarke; all right. sir; not a bolt or screy
m started in long journey and over tn
st DIS own roads," The delighted me
e. chanic now found his hand grasped in tia
of the President who compIimented hin