Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1873-02-08
From feJruary No Of ms .Ns7 IEes'r-'-i
Magazine.
Caycme---A K.ng of the Kitchen.


Cavcme---A King of the Kitchen.
Naric-Autoiue C4rcme the great cook, w,oni
Lady Morgan mentions among tue celebrities
she feels proud. Of having met. was certainly
one Of the most original and pleasing figures
Of the first half Of the nineteenth century
His biography has all the interest ofa novel.
Ny father h%'ells MS in bis Ncnols, "was
poor Jumper who had no less than fifteen
children 20 iced One evening be took me by
tho baud aud brought me outside Paris, where
we Cliuel less f,ugally than usual 0u our re-
turn, night had already set 10, and my father
seemed &, be ia very low spirits. asked him
several questions without receiving an answer,
and he walked so fast that bad some difficult
ty in keeping up with him. All Of a sudden
he stopped in the middle Of deserted thorough
fare aud said "You know, my boy how
wretched we are at home; too often there is
not bread enough or MS all You are a clever
lad and sure to make your way in the world
+ Go, my child-to-morrow perhaps you may
fud more comfortable shelter Farewell,
, and God bless you" He then slipped few
cents iuto my hand, kissed NO and ran away.
believe he was weeping.
q was about eleven years old when thsoc-
Cured. counted the money my father had
given me-frtecu cents Ny parents had
never been uukiud to me- and SO thought
they must have acted FOR the best but i. was
very cold, and felt rather frightened. /
walked a long way without knowing where
was going, but did not cry. At last sat
down on some steps at The door Of little tay-
eru Of the faubourg st. Honore.
"Wheu the tayern-keepcr, whose name was
/ Ladurau, came out to put up the shutters, be
found me there shiycrng with cold | told
him my story. After having examined my
features, he appeared convinced that was no
liar. or he said might sleep in the kitchen,
as he wanted boy to help him. At eleven
wears old. in the space Of two hours, had thus
gained social position. was something
was head waiter and head-sculIion into the
bargain, for Ladurau had 10 other attendant.
Clreme spent several years studyins tho
cookery of tbe ancient Romans the result Of
/ his learned researches proved to hin, that the
dishes which appeared upon the tables even Of
such astronomers as Lucullus, Pompey or Car
,ar were thoroughly bad and atrociously diff
cult to digest. He had learned Latin in order
to consult the writings Of Pallalius, Apicius,
and other ancient authors.
His principal works arc "The Picturesque
Pastyy-coot, The french Naiirc d Hotei The
At Of CookerL in the Ninefee,h Century, An
cicnt and Modern Cookery Compared" You
must not imagine that he writes like cook.
On tie contrary, he has most elegant and
sometimes original style One reads with in
terest his Fragments Of GGstyonomical History.
THe Table Of CamJaceres, The Emperor Napo-
leon at breakfast and many other Of his con-
trihutons to the Rerue de Paris
One day our ilustrious cook WAS sauntering
along the quays Of Paris, dreaming of some
new dish, when his attention was suddenly
arrested by a middIe-ased woman who was
crying bitterly at the door Of a wne-shop.
What is the matter, my good woman p
Can do anything for your
Thank you, sir; butif ! cry It's becauo
no one can help me. Ny husband, who is
Grst-rate silyersmith, spends all he earns in
thatabominablc tavern, and leaves ne to starvo
with our two children"
ole is too fond Of good fare then 2"
"Ah, if he were half as fond Of bis work,
we'd be well off,
Yet, although he is man Of taste, you
condemn him to eat boiled beef every day"
"Eb? Who told You that2' asked the wo-
man, with a look Of surprise.
81 guess it," replied Carcme "No man
cares to go abroad for bad meal If bis wife
can cook a good one Ifyou listen to me, I'll
teach you how to keep your husband at home.
Where DO You live 2"
Number 33 Royal street"
And what is your husbands name"
Wagner"
VERY well. Take these FIVE francs and
purchase soNs charcoal Tomorrow morn
ing you'll receive a basket full Of provisions;
lay them out in tie kitchen and wait ill l call,
for intend to DO the cooking myself"
Tie next morning Careme paid the promised
visit and found the workmen in bed.
" Sir" said he, q havo heard OF Jour
talent as o chaser and have brought you
this silver cup which requires to be repaired
Though the task is a difficult one know that
can safely eutrust it to such au artist as you,
and you may charge your own price. BY the
by, have invited myself to breakfast, as
want to show you that TOO am an artist
Now, Madame Wagner, lead me into the kiteh-
en-, and bring me an apron Wen begin with
the woodcock."
Careme distinguished himself, and the neal
was worthy Of Talleyrand himself Wagner,
who was a real gourmet, had never tasted such
fare.
Why" he exclaimed, Careme himself
, could not prepare a woodcock in better style -
Thank you for The compliment; avn Ca
rene, replied the cook. With your per-
mission, ll come back this day week and If
my cuyis ready, well try a wild duck In
the meantime your wife, to whom have al
,c.I,. ,;-eu c.,,., l,o.1 .,1vica t~fff r,v ,,or,