The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-12-13
memphis Correspondent Of the LouisviII,
Courier Journal.l
COOKING A DINNER.

, / heard of a young lady the 9th,
: day up in middle Tennessee, who, ;
river men say, has taken another chuu
The story told about her did my sol
, good, and for the comfort ofother ha
|, starved dyspeptics like myself. of frle
chicken, soggy biscuits, greasy hash
and sole-leather fritters, II relate it
For years past as a mere matter o
torm-something handed down iron
remote sntiquity--the officers of the
county fair held in the neighborhood
where this young lady lived, have beer
In the habit OF offering a premium to
the lady (unmarried) cooking the best
dinner 1t was dead letter. Nobody
had contested for the premium within
the memory of the Oldest inhabitant.
Ihls year, however, the young LADY OF
whom l am speaking determined to
compete for the prize. Her name-I
wish L could lmmortalize twas Kate
Janaway. The fair men set up a stove
for her, stretching canvass to shield
her from the sun, and about eleven
O'Clock OF the last day she went to
work.
The matter had been talked about
bF 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 morning,
ane kept increasing, but when Miss
Kate herself, buxum, handsome girl
of nineteen, daughter of the ex mayor
OF the town, appeared on the ground,
and putting on white apron and roll.
ing up her sleeves, commenced opera
tions, all other attractions were moth
ing. Every one was eager to see such q
novel sight. There was a tree near
by which soon became black with
spectators who had climbed up to get
a better view. The branches were
finally so burdened that one by one
they broke, preclpitating those upon
them to the ground, until one man was
left in the tree. He sat in a lofty
fork, with eyes riveted on the scene |
below and no amount of persuasion by
those beneath, enyious of his better
view, could induce him to come down;
even a bribe OF ten dollars tailed
He said he was bound to see o. de-
Meanwhile the dinner preparations
went on apace. The saYOrY smell OF
the cooking food seemed to intoxicate
the crowd which pressed nearer. 1t
took all the police force on the ground
10 keep order, The time arrived for
the trOtting match, announced as the
sport of the day, but the amphitheater
was empty. The judges with the ex-
ception OF one old widower) the
timers, were all missing, and SO moth
ing could be done, At half past two
the dinner was announced ready, and
the judges, happy men, seated them
selves at the table--the crowd regard.
ing them with i'll disguised envy. A |
roast OF beet, delicately done, was put !
steaming hot upon the table, then lol-
lowed corn pudding whose delicate
aroma fell upon the Olfactories of the
excited crowd, "like breezes Of Ara
by the blest )" a profusion of veget-
ables, cooked to perfection, followed
next. The Judges ate and ate, prais
ing the flavor OF the food and the skill
of the cook at every mouthful. But
when at last dessert of piping hot-ap
pie dumplings made Its sppearace, the
torebearance of the crowd was at an
end. They broke the ropes into the
ring with one accord and the dump
liDgs disappeared in trice.
One old fellow, proprietor of store
and owner eff big saw mil, proposed
to the young lady on the spot, but he
was collared and led off the ground by
two young as2irants, who made COM
mon cause against the aged sutton, and |
mill and all. The young lady was the
center of attraction in her town after
the cooking feat. She received TWEEN
ty-fve offers of marriage the first
week, and her fame spread through
all the country round. An old bach
slor fellow down in Grundy county
with farm SC. big that it takes him all
lay toride around ii, and with cattle ona
hundred hills, heard of her, and made
! pilgrimage all the way to that town
70 learn the truth. He got the girl,
TOO, although some young men of the
place sued out a writ OF habeas corpus
10 prevent her being carried out OF
The county. They were too late.