New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-04
COMPLAINT OF A COOK.

To the Editor Of Inc ". L. iTiOhHe
SIR: see sometimes in your paper Letters from
"the People and that you take the trouble to answ r
them when they need 1t; 50 thought perhaps you
would kindly help me in my troubles and being but
plain and ignorant person need your help SO much
the more
am not much accustomed to good company, being
only in the situation of cook in family in the town,
but try to do my best in the situation where am
plaeed and have always associated with reputable
neople NV place is good one my mistress Is every
thing that is Kind and good and tries 10 make lie eei
an interest and that have home with her.
You NAV think that have no need to complain, put
indeed ybOdy has some trials and perPex1tIes'
and need not expect to be hee' DO LOT kho" as
oct up very nice dinners for the family, for am
a good cook and sometimes steal up IN the prlde oi
nv heart to see the dishes placed on the table aad
notice how everything is done to turn ana all 10 IN t1e
incest order. always find the table neatly laid, and
ON the corners either two or four decanteIs, WIN
glasses at each plate The wine is placed on the tsoe
usually by the mistress herself, and carefully locked
mn when il is done with, but | know that the de-
caners are now and then emptied and fresh bottles
are brought up from the cellar. My master takes
glass or two OF wine and my mistress takes glass,
and if tncv have friend to dine with them, they aKe
wine together by way of cOmpan0nshp. .
don't question but they think they need 1T Mr;
Y. works hard and comes up from down town urea
and weary and Mr. y. is always busy, ana Oh en-
looks worn out. But work very hard TOO; l mus
and then in such house there is always scrubong
and cleaning, for must have things tidy about me-
and then there great dinner to get, ana sometimes
for company and the smell of the cooking takes away
nv natural appetite 80 that after roasting and frying
| and baking and boiling, am often ready 10 drop
But Mn. Y never says to me, Bridget, here Is a
GLASS of wine" don't suppose she ever thinks thar
what is 70 good for her, might be good for me- ana
can't afford TO buy wine So have done as well a.
| could, and have bought now and then itte orahuy
or gin TO keep up my strength. ! don't deny taat
once OF twice have been overcome by II, ana lel
triAe sleepy or co. and sometimes l have fet very
| hanny but nobody ever thought II any harm 10 see
| NV master 20 to sleep after dinner, and sometimes
they laugh SO loud in the dnirg-room that can near
| them al the way to the kitchen
| But I began to think i was getting mysel ih'o
trouble when one day was passing the parioT dlOi
10 60 M stairs, and some ladies were calling JUS
heard thew were talking about their cooks, Should
think they could find more profitable tak ana hea
MIR. Y say: II really afraid that Bridget DRINKS
and that shall have to part with her, Out shs os
"ytry sorry, for she is an excellent servant. I'M
last part did not make the first any easier To pear on
| | be- gan TO question Win n!scA "h0'ue' WI"
" lille was thinking about this, went one even
inc 10 Temperance lecture, and we were tolu tha' a.
drinking was bad, that alcohol was poison ahu hurV
mi in any form and that wine was no better because
i vos ntver uIre but was made up of all Inannrr o.
doIterous INGREDIENTS He told Us that more Madeira
wine was drank in this country than was ads IA Wv Wv
whole islands to say nothing OF what was uSe9 III ,H'
rest Of the world he told u that drlhAlhg prouueu
disease of the nerves, and that was the reason
could never stop; and many other things when irs u
eped me very much, but which can't just rememb y
| So am determined to give up all drinking myself
and want you to tell me what TO do When ,d, gs
the smell Of sphit can't help wanting it very niue
e.necinUy when am wearied out with COOKING anu
~ Jsrs moi TAX H. or even the wine might some
| times get when there is dinner company;
| And would rather not take any al a -ony van
10 know why it is COED for them and not Tor
| sIso whether | ought 10 leave good place Tor ina.
reason or whether YOU can't persuade them 10 give W
what i, not good for them Gas the lecturer said tor Tue
| sake of us their poor, weak servants ,.-- nov
Your humble servant, 10 e0nnisnd bhiD"Ni '