The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-11-14
How to Get q Husband.

How to Get q Husband.
A correspondent, writing from Memphis TO
the Courier Journal, gives the following ANU
sing description of young lady's cooking at
an agricultural fair, to secure a special pre-
MUM: son ~
heard of young lady the other day up in
middle Tennessee, who, as river men say, has
taken another chute. The story told about her
did my soul good, and for the comfort of other
half-starved dyspeptics like myself whose tardy
sustenation is effected by means of fried chick
en-, soggy biscuits, greasy hash. and soleleather
fritters, I'll relate it. For years past, as mere
matter Of form something handed down from
remote 9antiqaity--the oficeBf6f the conhtyo
fair held in the ;neighborhood dMhatethis,y young;
lady lived have been in the habit; Of Offering ia.
best dinner. It was q dead letter. Nobody
had contested for the premium within the
memory of the oldest inhabitant. Thiseye
however, the young lady of whom am speak
ing determined to compete forit.s prize. Her
name-I wish could immelts zesij jt-waa,
Kate Janaway. The fair men set up a stove.
for her, stretched canvass to shield her from
the sun, and about II o'clock of the lastday she
went to work.
The matter had been talked about by every
one in the neighborhood, and curiosity was on
tip-toe. A crowd collected around the place
where the stove was set up, early in the morn
ing and kept increasing; but when Miss Kate
herselEa buxom, handsome girl of nineteen,
daughter of the ex-Mayor of the town-ap-
peared on the ground, and putting on white
apron and rolling up her sleeves, commenced
operations, all other attractions were nothing.
Every one was eager to see so novel sight.
There was tree near by which soon became
al 1,oI IL 20
get better view. The branches we're finally
cipitating those upon them to the ground, until
only one man was left in the tree. He sat in
lofty fork, with eyes riveted on the scene below.
No amount of persuasion by those beneath, en-
vious of his better view, could induce him to
come down. Even bribe of ten dollars failed.
He said he was bound to see or die.
Meanwhile the dinner preparations went on
apace The savory smell of the cooking food
seemed to intoxicate the crowd, which pressed
nearer and nearer. 1t took all the police force
On the grounds to keep order. The time ar
rived for the trotting match, announced as the
sport of the day, but the amphitheatre was
empty. The judges with the exception of one
Grabbed old widower), the timers, all we're
missing and so nothing could be done. At
half-past two the dinner was announced ready,
and the judges, happy men, seated themselves
at the table-the crowd regarding them with
ill-disguised envy. A roast of beef delicately
done, was put steaming hot upon the table,
then followed corn pudding, whose delicate
aroma fell upon the olfactories of the excited
crowd "like breezes of Araby the blest;' a
profusion of vegetables, cooked to perfection,
followed next The Judges ate and ate, praising
the flavor of the food and the skill of the cook
at every mouthful. But, when at last a dessert of
piping hot apple dumplings made its appear
ance the forbearance of the crowd was at an:
end. They broke through the ropes into the
ring with one accord, and the dumpling dis
appeared in trice. One old fellow, proprietor
of store and owner of big saw-mill, pro-
posed to the young lady on the spot, but he
was quickly colIared and led off the grounds by
two younger aspirants, who made common
cause against the aged suitor, saw-mill and all.
That young lady was the centre of attraction
in her town after the cooking feat the first
week, and her fame spread through all the
country round. An old bachelor fellow down
in Grundy county, with farm so big. that it
takes him all day to ride around it, and cattle
on a hundred hills, heard of her, and made
pilgrimage all the way to that town to learn
the truth. He got the girl, too, although some
of the young men of the place sued ont writ
of habeas corpus to prevent her being carried
out of the county. They were too late.lz
This is, am aware, rather sad ending for
so good story, but devotion to the truth COM
pels me to give nothing but the simple, unvar-
nished reality. "a
She ought to have married that fellow who
set up there in the crotch of the tree 80; long
and at such fearful discomfort. he wanted I,
her, and he was poor bilious dyspeptic, whom
spleudld cooking would have soon restored to
usefulness and society, but he was poor. Ahi .