Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-10
LEES MOST DIFFICULT CAMPAIGN,
How the Great Warrior Diplomatic
caIiy subducd His Cook.
(Yaahingtcn Post.

When Lieutenant Colonel Robert +.
Lee. Of the Second Cavalry, was ordered
20 West Point some years before the civil
war as Superintendent OF the United
states Military Academy. be took with
him his cook from Arlington; she was
Gordon bleu among Virginian cooks.
She was a favorite old family servant,
and a tremendous stickler for all of the
rights. privileges, and perquisites apper-
tanning unto the kitchen. She was con-
suited and deferred to upon the occa-
sion Of a dinner party, and was greatly
looked no TO by the other servants. The
future great General afterward told with
a great deal of quiet humor his expert
ence with Aunt Patsy" at West Point.
Being a model of military punctuality In
the discharge Of his duties, 1t was, OF
course, important at West Point To have
his meals on time. Mrs. Lee ana the
family were at Arlington, and the Super
intendent and Aunt Patsy were run
ming the West Point menage on a basis
Of mutual concession. the sovereign au-
tonomy Of the kitchen being insisted
upon by Aunt Patsy" as q sine qua
non. Aunt Patsy" accustomed to get
ting breakfast at later hours. and not
always ready 10 the minute at Airing
ton. was dreadfully ratified by the mill
tary hours at West Point. Her master,
whom she had known since he was q
boy. and was devoted TO. derived no ad-
ditional dignity in her estimation from
the fact of his being the superintendent
of the Military Academy. The hours for
breakfast and dinner soon got down TO
the Arlington time. and MARS Robert
felt constrained to remonstrate mildly
with Aunt Patsy
II sent for Aunt Patsy" said he.
"and she came In evidently rufiled. Aunt
patsy said /. now Just to please me
won't you try and have breakfast on
time. so that I can go about my work
and not be detained here at my quar-
ters? You know the government ex-
meets me TO do my work. but you don
want me 10 20 TO 1t without my breakfast,
do your
she looked at me in n hurt sort or
way. tied a fresh knot In her bandana
head handkerchief. and said:
MARS Robert, Use done the best ! KIN
by YOU. and dar amt no correspondence
for you to be Fostering me 'bou yo' VII
tails. Use de cook. | knows what Use
bout what does des here boys want 70
be gittin' up here at daybreak Just IKE
poor white folks. Dey is sassy set, how
somever you take EN-
But said l. don't you see. Aunt
Patsy. that the government pays me to
look after things here, and I've got TO
30 Il. breakfast or no breakfast. Then
tho interview closed. and Aunt Patsy re-
turned very huny 20 the kitchen, but
there was no improvement In the hours
for meals. She was not 70 be dictated TO
about anything In her domain. Next DAY
I sent for her again. she came up not
ana worried. Mars Robert she began
what is de matter wild yo' since 20 don
cum here TO dis West Pint? Amt yO git
tin good vittals; Amt de bread and cof-
Zee. and de eggs and de fried chicken
and de corn pone and dem hannel cakes
cooked TO suit yo?'
Now. Aunt Patsy said I, have
been trying 10 please YOU ever since we
have been in West Point, but II seems
emit I'm afraid you are not happy here.
so / expect ia better set you free and
send you 10 Liberia. where you won't be
bothered with cooking for me, and can
do Just as you please
4" what's dat yO' allow. Mars Roberto
said she; set me free? send me to Il
beriam. away from you and ole Mistls?
For mercy sake don't yo' do dat ]
specks rs cantankerous fool. an If yO'
les won't sen me away TO dat outlandish
Liberiam I'm gwne to Kit yo' dat break
fast every mornin' before de chicken done
crow. deed an double deed hope l may
die II / don't
Peace" said he. twas thus restored
and Aunt Patsy and lived like fighting
cocks thereafter with the meals always
on time"