The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-09-18
The Eastern Shore Girl.

S'Siy iIooISih Shi 10 =
good cook. She is taught .he art thort
oughly, so that she may intelligently INF
Struct her servants, and if circumstance
should require it. so that she may so int
to the kitchen herself and do the cook
ing. The race of old colored cooks Wild
ilourshed before the war is fast dyn@
out, and, as the young colored women
have not inherited their mothers skilI,t
the mistress of the house has been COM!
PEELED to perfect herself in the duties of
the kitchen, so that she may give her
servants a practical training.
Even when required to act as her owl,
cook the Eastern Shore girl finds timi
for other work, and Tor enjoying hersel;
and making others happy. She is exper;
with the needle, fair musician and !
bright talker. Some are dashing horses
back riders and graceful skaters and darl
ing swimmers. They can manage tho
sails of a small boat and can pull strong
oar, and many of them can handle pisi
tol. The outdoor exercise gives rounds
ness and symmetry to 1.-THE fgurej
which is usually surmounted by beauI
tiful neck and face for there are but few
places in the world where lovelier womeri
can converse with sprightliness and orif
ginality upon the best works of English
literature, and criticise with Judgment
the styles and methods of different
authors. She will go into the kitchen
looking as sweet and fresh as a tlowerI
prepare breakfast of fruits, egg pone O;
hot rolls, clear coffee, sliced tomatoes
and fried tailors or rock or perch OF
crabs, and return to the table as neat il,
appearance as when she entered the
kitchen, and SO cherry and pleasing il,
manner that each and every article OF
food will taste the swetter for being in
her presence.
AT dinner you will have fried chicken,
delicately Drowned. ham, baked with
wine or sugar, roast duck, potatoes, corn,
tomatoes lima beans, beets, egg plants,
apple sauce, sweet and sour pickles. cur.
rent jelly, ice cream and peaches, on
peaches and genuine cream, pudding,
pies, cuStards, cake and fruits. For sup
per there will be soft crabs, crocus, Mary
land biscuit, Sally Lunn, money and var
ious preserves, with peaches and crea m.
The preserves are wonderfully fine spec-
mens of the preserving art, for in this
respect the Eastern Shore girl is without
an equal the world over. Strawberries,
blackberries. raspberries, peaches, pears,
ounces, damsons, crab-apples, apricots,
watermelon rind, rock melon and canta-
leup are all subjected to her skill, and
when placed upon the table they not only
retain their flavor but will convince any
man that nature itself has been improved
upon. In winter terrapins and wild
| geese, and ducks and birds, and oysters,
take the place of the fried chicken and
the soft and hard crabs. AS all the things
mentioned above come from the land and
water of the peninsula, the tables of the
poorest families are supplied with them,
though, of course, not in such great
variety.
Persons who have seen and judged the
Eastern Shore and it's people by hurried
visits and by staying at hotels are not 10
blame for lack of enthusiasms, as it is
All undisputed fact that with a few ex-
ceptions the hotels are abominably
served. To appreciate the Eastern Shore
and its people you must 90 into their
homes, ride with them over their farms,
walk with them through their OF char ds,
sail with them on the delightful river or
take part IN sleighing carnival, or join
in some of the other out-of-door sports
this, you go away and say the Eastern
Shore is not beautiful and hospitabe,
that its women are not charming and
that its men are not cultivated gentle
men, good fellows and clever politicians,
your opinion will be a reflection upon
yourself.
Rich folks are the exception on the
peninsula; contented folk are the rule.
Small but comfortable incomes, pleasant
homes, hours for work and hours for
pleasure, sincere sociability aud wide
spread, earnest sympathy are the causes
! of this coutentment.