The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-11-14
SERVANTS IN WASHINGTON.
virginia Auntics who Used to Cook Fo
dc Fail of Rlchmon'.

As rule cooks and other household
help in Washington are negroes, and
the white servant is comparatively
scarce. The supply is drawn chiefly
from Virginia and Maryland, accord
ing to a writer in the st. Louis Rcpub.
lie, but as Washington became the
negro's paradise about the time the
Freedmans Bureau was established,
they came here from all parts of the
South, but of course Virginia and
MARYLAND, on account Of the proximity
to the national capital, furnished lar
ger quotas than any of the other states.
A great prize in the eyes of a proud
Washington housckeepcr of means is
to secure a genuine old Virginia cook
an cold auntie," as they are called
one who hasn't too many newfangled
notions, and is willing to work and
who takes delight in preparing de-
licious home meals such rs she used to
serve up "fO' de fall of Richmon' as
so many of the darkies here express it.
1t must not be inferred that there are
no good cooks among the younger
generations, for there are, and of re-
cent years negro men have been culti-
waiting the art of cooking, and negro
male cooks, while employed chiefly at
hotels and restaurants in this capital
city, are also being utilized in the
homes. A darky is so fond of good
eating that it is but natural they
should cultivate the art of improving
themselves so that they can command
big wages. The younger set are not
as reliable and steady rs the old-timcrs
who were trained in slavery days, but
they do quite well considering all the
circumstances, and if a housekeeper is
a fairly good manager there isn't
really much trouble in securing here
good cook. The wife of q Western Re-
publican Senator says that when she
was a small girl she used to hear her
aged grandmother talk of dishes that
were peculiar to Virginia, her grand
mother having gone West from that
state. The Senator's wife had almost
forgotten these dishes, but on coming
to Washington to live she employed a
negro woman as her cook, and it was
not long before cold aunty" was plac-
ing before her some of the dishes she
had heard her grandmother speak of.
''Old aunty" had succeeded in chang
ing completely the diet of her Western
tlSs uuu aAO 81 bphN va WV
new way of eating things, so far as
they are concerned, that they prefer it
to the Western.
This is the bright side of the culin-
airy question in Washington. Some
people have no end of trouble, especial
ly those who happen to engage rest
less, impudent and worthless young
black woman, who has at times had
her own way and literally bossed the
people who hired her. They have this
kind in Washington as treasures, and
unhappy is the lot of the family who
has an experience with cooks of this
description. One good housewife,
| about six months ago, lost valuable
| cook who had been in her employ for
! many years, and she had q tormenting
experience before she secured another
that approached her. After trying a
half dozen she hired one day likely
woman who came we'll recommended
and said she had been walking around
for week looking for n place, and
seemed glad to find employment again.
Being told that she would be expected
to prepare light supper on Sundays
she Indignantly replied; mo, indeed
ma'am; YOU cant git me to cool
nothin' on Sunday evenin' fer nobody
She then switched off to look for an
other place.