The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-09-29
The Eastern Shore.

An enthusiastic correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun, who has been soiourn-
ing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland,
writes cit must not be supposed that
a tempting table is the only attraction
of the Eastern Shore; it is but part of
a genial and general hospitality of
which the greatest charm is the lovely
and charming woman who presides over
the household. 1t is she who makes
the meal so enjoyable, the varied and
abundant products of the land and the
water being merely aids. Nearly every
Eastern Shore girl is good cook. She
is taught the art thoroughly, so that she
may intelligently instruct her servants,
and, if circumstances should require it,
so that she may 90 into the kitchen her.
self and do the cooking. The race of
old colored cooks who fourished before
the war is fast dying out, and as the
young colored women have not in
herited their mothers skill, the mistress
of the house has been compelled to per-
feet herself in the duties of the kitchen,
so that she may give her servants a
practical training. Even when required
to act as her own cook the Eastern
Shore girl finds time for other work
and for enjoying herself and making
others happy. She is expert with the
needle. fair musician and a bright
talker Some are dashing horseback
riders and graceful skaters and daring
swimmers. They can manage the sails
of small boat and can pull strong
oar, and many of them can handle a
pistol. The outdoor exercise gives
roundness and symmetry 10 1.-THE
figure, which is usually surmounted by
beautiful neck and face, for there are
but few places in the world where
lovlier women can. be found. She is
fond of reading, and can converse with
sprightliness and originality upon the
best works of English literature, and
criticise with judgment the styles and
methods of different authors. She will
90 into the kitchen looking as sweet
and fresh as flower, prepare break
fast of fruits, egg pone or some other
kind of delicious corn-bread, hot rolls
clear coffee, sliced tomatoes and fried
tailors or rock or perch or crabs, ant
return to the table as neat in appear
ance as when she entered the kitchen
and so CHEEKY and pleasing in manner
that each and every article of food will
taste the sweeter for being in her pres
ence. AT dinner you will have fried
chicken deliciously Drowned, ham baked
with wine or sugar, roast duck, potatoes
corn, tomatoes, Lima beans, beets, egg
plants, apple-sauce, sweet and soul
pickles, currant- Jelly, ice-cream peaches
or peaches and genuine cream, pud
| 10 tic
For supper there will be soft crabs, GRO
Gus, Maryland biscuit, Sally Lunn
honey and various preserves, witt
peaches and cream. The preserves are
wonderfully fine specimens of the pre-.
serving art, for in this respect the East
ern Shore girl is without an equal the
world over. Strawberries, blackberries
raspberries, peaches, ounces, pears
damsons, crab-apples, apricots, water
melon rind, rock-melon and cantaleuI
are all subjected to her skill, and wher
placed upon the table they not only re
tain their flavor, but will convince any
man that nature itself has been i'm
proved upon. In winter terrapins an(
wild geese and ducks and birds anC
oysters take the place of the frieC
chicken and the soft and hard crabs
AS all the things mentioned above com,
from the land and water of the PENN
sula, the tables of the poorest families
are supplied with them, though o
course not in such great variety. Per
sons who have seen and judged tn,
Eastern Shore and its people by hurried
visits and by staying at hotels are no
to blame for lack of enthusiasm
as it is an undisputed fact that with
few exceptions the hotels are abom
inably served. To appreciate the East
ern Shore and its people you must g
into their homes, ride with them owe
their farms, walk with them through
their orchards, sail with them on tn,
delightful rivers or take part in ;
sleighing carnival, or join in some o
the other out-of-door sports and in-doo
festivities. If, having done this, you
90 away and say the Eastern Shore il
not beautiful and hospitable, that it
women are not charming and that it
men are not cultivated gentlemen, gooC
fellows and clever politicians, you
opinion will be reflection upon your
self, Rich folks are the exception OF
the peninsula; contented folks are tn,
iults pllldll Dul lutOllltS
pleasant homes, hours for work an,
hours for pleasure, sincere sociabilit,
and widespread, earnest sympathy arr
the causes of this contentment. Their,
are not many opportunities for maxim!
fortune, and for this reason not a few
of the ambitious young men go to The
cities to make money and reputation
but they never lessen their attachment
for the peninsula, and they are Away
proud of proclaiming their native heath
despite the fact that in doing so the,
often subject themselves to attempted
ridicule, which, when sifted, shows gros
ignorance of the state, geographical,
and otherwise, disporting itself in tn
disguise of humor.'
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