The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-03-15
A New Pathway TO Arcadia.

A new experiment was tried last fall
ut a county fair in Middle Tennessee.
According to g. newspaper correspond
ent, a young girl, just bursting into glO-
rious womanhood, well-informed, pretty,
and the daughter of the Mayor of the
the town, made a sensation by Compel
ing for a premium often offered but
never competed for before. 1t is hardly
nrODer to use the word compete when
no competitor appeared in the list, but
we will let it pass, not wishing to straln
at microscopic forms OF speech. Inc
premium was for the bestdlnner cooked
by an unmarried lady, the cooking to be
done on the fair ground. 1t was an nc
in the right direction, but no one ever
condescended to try for It,, ana there
fore the prize, until the past autumn, was
looked upon as a matter OF form. 1t is
easier to imagine than to describe the
excitement that was produced when
the faSirst maiden Of the section rolled
m her sleeves and took her position at
the stove, around which ropes were
stretched to keep the curious crowd at
a safe distance. As the story runs,
every one was eager to witness the nov
al evhihiti0n. "There was a tree near
nv which soon become black with spec
tatOrs who had climbed up to get a bet
ter view. The branches were finally
30 burdened that one by n they broke,
nrecipitating those upon them to the
ground, until only Il mai was left in
the tree. He sat in a lofty fork with
ewes riyeted on the scene below. Nc
amount of persuasion by those beneath:
~envious of his better view, could in
.duce him to come down-even a bride
of ten dallars failed. He said he wal
bound to see or de-
The cooking operation was successful
The Judges sat down to a hot dinner pre-
pared before their very eyes, and they
pronounced everything well done. L
took some time to prepare and eat TIN
meal, Meanwhile the bell rang as
summons for. the trotting horses to ap
near on the track. The people, how
ever. had eyes alone for the fair cir
blushiDg over the cooking-stove. TIL
speed ring had lost its attraction. Th
vo1no deVOtee of the culinary art was
greater magnet than the quick steppin!
horses, Not until the cooking exhibi
fion was at all end did the crowd rus
to the race-track. The fact is pregnan
with suggestions. The horse ring ca
he cast into shadow on the fair ground
of agricultural societies by intrOducin
trials over the cooking stove. TIL
Tennessee Maiden blazed a pat
through the wilderness of doubt to til
plains of Arcadia. Shall not Il broa
road be opened SO that others may tray
el I'M The way that she has travelled
Managing mamas with troublesom
daughters on their hands can also prof
by the story, 1.-THE unmarried men i
the DeighhOrhood were anxious to mai
~ the girl who had been awarded a pre-
MUM for cooking a dinner. She We
overwhelmed with offers, and we tru'
that she chose wisely when she made ht
choice. Anyway, the privilege to chOOs
was hers, and this is something ever
maiden cannot boast of. If bachelO,
can be satisfied that the modern beaut
understands the art of cooking as we
a. she does the art of dressing, the
will cease to stand hesitating IN tt
brink of m%atrimony. When they drea
of the future they do not car to hay
the vision spoiled by the horrible nigh
mare of bad dinners. What say "
all? Shall we not open a new road.
Arcadia by inducing the blooming cir
of the country to compete at our agr
cultural fairs for q premium to
awarded to the one who excels in tt
cooking of a dinner Field al
Farm. -s- ..- 81 SO