The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-02
SOUPE A LA RENE.

Desperate diseases require desperate remedies" This is the wisdom of past ages, and it is not for me to dispute it, rather l would attest its truth. for l had grown desperate. My household affairs had driven me day by day into this state. had we'll nigh lost my self.Con- trol in the incessant fight between my own purpose and desire for a we'll kept house and the utter ineficiency of the men and women who, as servants, sought to have the rule over me.
 1t all came-all this trouble and per- plexity, which, if not yet desperation, bor- dered close upon it-from Jenny, my "treasure of cook" having married the butler, John, leaving me to supply her place and his as best might. forth with had inserted three lines in news paper. Then sent a message by tele- phone to the intelligence office to ask that a awell-recommended butler might be sent me at once. No reply was ever received to my beguiling description of the home which good cook might have found. The intelligence office kept me in hand for month, and every day or two had a new man in my pantry, without finding one who had (from his want of knowlede C at least judged that this was the case ever before had position in we'll do family. Twenty-one aspirants thus tried " me and were dismissed. And as for the cooks
 We'll, there was Katy o Ste gle, pretty, rosy-faced, blue-eyed Irish woman, who came from Mrs. Romaine with glow ing recommendation for cleverness, thor oughness and kind temper. liked her looks. Her spotless cleanliness, her pro- fessed knowledge ot all that needed in cook, took me captive, and engaged her. But soon found that a pleasant face would not insure good dinner, and while she protessed to know everything, she well-nigh starved me and my family by her pefectly crude cookery. had had sundry extraordinary broths which Katy called soups when sent for her to explain my ideas on this subject to her She came, picture of as bright and we'll looking servant as one would care to see. Her white cotton frock, with its cof- fee-colored spots, was fitted perfectly to her broad shoulders and ample bust her arms were bare to the elbow, as liked to see them with the short sleeves finished with neat ruffle, while a similar finish was round her full, white throat her black hair was combed straight back from her forehead, which was white and smooth as any lady's, and the little, curling locks at the back of her head were drawn in as close as could be, to prevent any until diness. She said nothing, but smiled upon me as she folded her arms upon her white apron and waited for my commands.
 "Katy" said, "how do you make soup2"
 "Just as you phase to have it made, mem."
 replied: "l want to know how you would make white soup for dinner, Katy"
 "Would l, mem2 What in the warld is there to hinder2 With all the beauti- fullest pots and pans that are to be had in the town, a-hanging up in the closet, mem."
 "Stop, Katy, and tryto understand me, wish you to tell me exactly how you would make white soup for dinner"
 "Ah, weel," like half-wild creature driven to bay by a provoking pursuer, she cried: ah, weel, it's white soup, is it, mem2 see! I'd just have some white fish, cod-rale fresh cod would be nice-and bit O -four, not lumpy, but foine and white, and a bit O silver onion, Bermuda ones, mem. Them's very foine, mem, and plenty O milk, and if you loike, mem, just for style, mem, a few white roses thrown in promiscuous- them gives style, mem, and mebbe it would be good"
 May be it would, Kitty, but that will do. You need not wait"
 Poor Katy. She could not understand why had dismissed her. She had suited Mrs. Romaine." Wouldn't she suit me9 "No," in spite of her tears, for Katy went most unwillingly. She had to seek new place, and a new servant.
 Then came her successor, an Italian, dark-eyed Juno.looking woman. She knew how to cook. Shall I ever again eat such pastry as Lucia used to prepare i? l fear not, but while she made my table delight, she made my kitchen a terror. Her love of smoking was a nuisance She smoked dainty cigarettes, and when the dinner was served, tiked back in her chair with newspaper tossed over her head, she smoked and slept; while the poor little kitchen maid, in terror of her superior's abuse, dared not so much as touch pan or kettle or attempt any task until the clock struck eleven. Then Lucia fell to work to polish and SCOUT until every utensil and the kitchen also shone with her energetic cleaning. or course the end come. Soupe la reine, white as ivory, smooth as velvet, had been her weekly achievement, but could not keep her.
 Then followed one after another, till had had twenty-seven failures, and it was then grew desperate.
 But when brooded mournfully over my ill fortune my opposite neighbor opened his house to an auctioneer, and as all his furniture passed ints this mans hands, there fluttered from the second story window red flag, which for three days informed the public of the sale. Nov, G., where live, is large place, with most conservative inhabitants, who >s-