The record-union., 1898-03-23

pOrIant Dfancn IN DOIn NOrf0lk ana
Winchester, which has proved more
successful than the most sanguine of
it's originators had hoped. The woman
at the head of this enterprise, in speak
ing of the Southern branch the other
day, said:
I'VE find we have more applications
for colored cooks than for white ones.
Somehow a colored woman seems better
fitted for a cook than others. They
have the knack Of cooking to suit the
average American taste. The colored
girls who have been up here in the
North for some time are those who were
young when the war was ended or who
have been born since. They came at
a time when the whole coiored race
was demoralized by the fact that they
were free and obliged to work and earn
their own living.
These women have been ruined by
their life up North, and are either
lazy or impertnent. They were a poor
field to work on, and so after long and
mature elaboration we determined to
establish branch in Norfolk and com
mence our operations with brand new
material
The Arabs considered bad cooking
sufficient cause for divorce and it
would surely seem quite as legitimate
as are those in a more enlightened
atmosphere. In fact, in these days
neglect in the culinary department is
entirely unnecessary, when great ad-
vantages are offered and obtained SO
easily. Limitless combinations may be
made, if only mixed, like the old wo-
ro1lsc.
Bearing this in mind we have es-
tablished our branches down South on
these lines. We find the young color
ed girls who come to US to be instruct
ed, when aroused into interest in their
work, displaying considerable of the
talent of their grandmothers and moth
ers. The younger generation of the col
ored race to-day realize the stern fact
that they must work, and have appar-
emily settled down to do it,
You have no idea how quickly they
learn They are not naturally clean
~, but that is the first thing in which
we train them. They have no system.
but with patient prodding we manage
after awhile to inculcate some system
into their work. The old saying that
they are born cooks is a true one. The
work seems to be second nature to
them. They are as easily nodded as a
piece of wax. What we find the most
dlff1cult to overcome with them is their
natural born wastefulness.
They are the most Wasteful Great
ureS you ever came across. and we
nave experienced great deal of diff
culty IN counteracting this fault They
nave considerable pride in doing their
pest, and by offering prizes for the best
cooked dishes we have aroused a sririt
IN them which urges them on to fresh
and greater exertions.
We put them through a thorough
course, beginning with the proper pre-
paration of vegetables, meats, poultry
and game, and after they are perfect
~ competent in these palmer branches
we teach them how to prepare all kinds
OF stock for soups, the cooking of meat
poultry and game as it should be done
getting up entries of all kinds salads
and fish. Finally, we instruct then,
most carefully in the concoction If
every description of deserts-pies mas
try, buildings, cakes, preserves. etc
etc.
We have the girls sent up North to
US ana we provide them with situa-
tiofs as soon as they reach New York.
III TACT. we ind it hard to supply the
demand
Inc commencement of the indus
trial work in the South for the poor
neglected negro class was put in our
hahos' and through the liberality Of a
very wealthy woman, one of New
forks blessings to the poor, a teacher
was sent to Norfolk in 1895. The suc-
cess or this venture has been truly re-
markable Hand in hand with sewing
the instruction has developed the in
teillgence of the children. Obedience.
udiness, ambition to work, have been
developed. 1t seems that we can feel
this is the work which is going to bless
the neglected colored people and prove
a boon indeed to the harassed house
keeper up North New York Herald.