Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-15
srRFMAS WHO ARE GOOD COOKS
Men I'm the Life-sayipz stations
Along the Coast Live Well.

The retired surfman was inclined to DO
talkative and after flIing his pipe with
a liberal supply OK rough and ready
and applying a match to 1t. he said;
II often read about these chefs who do
the cooking for the millionaires and get
enormous salaries In my opinion they
get more than they are really worth, Tor
there are many Americans who could
do the work as well. To-day there IL q
small army OF men doing service In Uncle
Sans llfe-saving stations along the coast
who are the best OF cooks. As RUE
their knowledge OF the culinary ART -
not confined to the preparation alone OK
plain dishes. but includes pastery cook
ing and bread baking as well. know
surfmen who would do credit 10 any
mans kitchen | spent more than twenty
years I'm the life-saying service and have
taken an active part in fcosts that were
III for the gods In more recent years 1
have been a guest az some OF the BEST
hotels in the cities OF the East. nave
dined at the homes OF wealthy men, VINO
prlded themselves on the agility of their
hIgh-salaried French and Italian chefs'
nut for all that sim know OF mon I'm
the llve-ssvng service who could dis-
count some Of these chefs.
There ara men In some OF the stations
who have been cooking OF and on for -
aided by the Knowledge OF their motne's
and grandmothers and there were anu
SIN are some mighty good cooks IN Jer
ssy and old Virginia. There IL not So
OF men anywhere, take II the world over,
who are better llvcrs than the iife.raNHs
crews OF the Government. Ihey rave a
variety OF food and II is prepared In sucn
a manner that one seldom hears VI
AT present there are seven surimen dt
each life-saying station. I'm addition 10 tfe
captain or keeper. Every man nas W
taaa mis- turn as COOK except the oap.a,r
The same crews do duty year after year.
with seldom a change. When one otop,
out through old age or disability tne new
man who fills the vacancy ~ suppos,e W
have some knowledge or coohlnk'
rule the additions 10 the crews nave naa
"A wear or two OF experience as suDsu'uee
surfmen aud during that time tney etS
drilled lu the AIT or meat, Nekt'aoi, r anu
pastry cooking and bread oahiis an1i
take an interest I'm this part OF the woih
and when they become regulars thty a,u
we'll qualified 10 take their turn III Tue
kitchen Each member OF the crew w. w.
his trick OF one week = cooking aun 'ne,h
has six weeks of. In this manner e1yn
rnan has chance TO demonstrate 70 n.'
fellow stirfnen his ability as caterer.
Each tries to Guido the other IN maHi,s
his week ono OF gasthonomlc JOY, -
and delicious tlSnt~ 'yIh' N'''1 -.
ouently. Usually some wife, sweetheart or
mother has instructed the COOK 10" W
prepare the dainty. -,
As bread. pie and cake bakers SUR
men have few equals. Through force OF
circumstances they all become expert pa
kers The stations are generally IN $50
lated places far from stores where bread
can be purchased. They must depend on
themselves FOR their supply, And sucn
breadl IL Is none OF the chat. dosed WIN
alum and bad water. that f. handed our
in MANY of the city bake shops IL -
" hIte and naky. the kind that our grand
mothers and mothers baked and sent 10
the country fairs To win premiums. Del-
clous MES. buildings and cakes are pro-
ducts OF the llfo-saving station hltchen
stoves. AS game cooks many OF the men
excel. wild fowl are ever plentifui III ,ne
waters along the coast and there IL hstl-
lv. "A DAY passes during the iall WIZ,
and spring months that does NOT nnu
ducks. geese or some kind OF snire on the
surfman's bill Of fare. The men Wno
shoot .hs game know how 10 prepare II;
At nearly all seasons OF me year ISA Vi
a dozen varieties are plentiful.
'grhere are no better fed men In the
country than the llfe-saying crews. Inc
cost OF all the good food they eat ~
small Every article purchased Tor tapie
uee Is accounted fO- I'm "A daybook ana NJ
the end OF each month, the amount eA,
rended is divided into eight shares ana
each man. the captain Included, pays MS
portion which rarely amounts 20 SUM
exceeding s. a man.
Il tell YOU on s. n month the surimen
live better than tho average man Goes
on so -