Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-02-22
A New Pathway to Arcadia.


A new experiment was tried last fall at
a county fair In Middle Tennessee. Ac-
c0rding to a newspaper correspondent, a
young girl, Just bursting into glorious
wOmanhOod, well-infOrmed, pretty, and
the daughter Of the Mayor OF the town,
made sensation by competing for pre-
MUM often offered but never competed
tor before. Ii Is hardly proper 10 use the
word compete when no competitor ap'
pcared In the lists, but we will let IL pass,
not wishing TO strain nj microscopic forms
OF speech. The premium was for thebest
dinner cooked by an unmarried lady, the
cooking TO be done on the fair ground.
IL was an effort In the right direction, but
no one ever condcscended 10 try for IL,
and therefore the prize, until the past an.
tumn, was looked upon M matter Of
form. IL Is easier 10 Imagine than 10 dc.
scribe the excitement that was produced
when tho falrcst maiden Of the section
rolled up her sleeves and took her posi-
ton ut the stove, around which ropes
were stretched 10 keep the curious crowd
at safe distance. AZ the story runs,
every one was eager to witness the novel
exhibition. "There was a tree near by
which soon become black with spectators
who had climbed up to get better view.
The branches were finally 30 burdened
that one by one they broke, precipitating
those upon them to the ground, until on
ly one man was left In the tree. lie sat In
lofty fork with eyes riveted on the scene
below. No amount of persuasion by those
beneath, envlous of his better view, could
induce him to come down-even bride OF
ten dollars failed. He said he was bound
to see or die"
The cooking operation was successful
The judges sat down to hot dinner pre-
pared before their very eyes, and they
pronounced everything well done. 1t took
some time to prepare and eat the meal.
Meanwhile the bell rang as summons for
the trotting horses to appear on the track.
The people, however, had eyes alone fol-
the fair girl blushing over the hot cooking.
stove. The speed ring had lost Its attrac-
ton. The young devOtee of the culinary
art was greater magnet than the quick
stepping horses. Not until the cooking
exhibition was at an end did the crowd
rush to the race-track. The fact is preg.
nant with suggestions. The horse ring
can be cast into a shadow on the fail
grounds of agricultural societies by intro
ducing trials over the cooking-stove. The
Tennessee maiden blaZed path through
the wilderness of doubt to the plains o.
Arcadia. Shall not broad road be open
ed so that others may travel i'm the way
that she has travelled? Managing mann
mas with troublesome daughters on theil
hands can also profit by the story. Al
the unmarried men in the neighborhOoC
were anxious to mary the Girl who ha(
been awarded a premium for cooking {
dinner. She was overwhelmed with of
fers, and we trust that she chose wisely
when she made her choice. Anyway, the
privilege to choose was hers, and this L
something that every maiden cannO
boast OF. If bachelors can be satisfied
that the modern beauty understands tn,
art of cooking as well as she does the ar
of dressing, they will cease to stand hest
tatingly on the brink of matrimony
When they dream of the future they d.
not care to have the vision spoiled by tn,
horrible nightmare OF bad dinners. VIVA
say you all? Shall we not open new
road to Arcadia by inducing the bloomin,
girls of the country to compete at our az
rlcultural fairs for a premium to be award
ed to the one who excels in the cookin,
of q dinner ?-Tltrf, Field and Farm.