The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-19
Mrs. Latimer Tells Of Her White
House Experience.
EMPLOYED BY MRS. GRANT
Prepared Meals for president Garfield While
He Was Suffering at EIbsmoa and Until
Death Came 10 Hin.

Washington, ID. c., May 19.-Fowler
Latimer. a colored resident Of this city,
claims the distinction OF having served
as cook for four presidents.
She was first employed in this capacity
White House during both OF Gen. Grants S
administrations.
Afterward she cooked successfully for
residents Hayes. Garfield and Arthur,
although the bachelor president ultimate
~ installed a French chef which caused
the retirement OF Lucy Fowler from the
culinary domain of the White House
She was, however. Immediately tele-
graphed for by the Grants. who were then
living in New York city, and resumed her
old post in their household, remaining
until the generals death. in 1885.
Lucy was born in Georgetown and be-
longed TO the Mackall family. one OF the
most aristocratic and influential In Mary
land.
1t was an admitted fact that Lucy's
mother was related by blood 10 one OF
the fine old families OF Maryland. which
no doubt accounts for the unusual intel
igence and refinement of this little col
ored woman and her exceptional charac-
teristics. In speaking of her young days
she said:
-NE" -Nc OLA Ish T.
II hear folk talk about slavery but l
never knew what IL meant. although l
belonged To the Mackall family. When
old Mr.. Mackall died he left IL in his
will that my mother and her family
should be freed; that was in 1857.
so Miss Caroline took us TO the court
house and gave us our papers. We were
always treated like members Of the fami-
ly. and when we were sick were taken
into the big house and nursed by the la
dies themselves.
MY mistress taught all us children to
knit and sew and read and write, and
when i was IA years old and went down
to Georgia, the white people were as
tonished that / was so we'll educated"
Lucy was in Southwestern Georgia all
during the war. and tells of the union sol
diers at Andersonville prison and their
pitiful condition. On Sundays. when
they walked out on parole, she often gave
them food as they passed an alley near
her home.
1t was Lucy's hot ginger bread which
proved her open sesame to the White
House. She was employed temporarily
by Mrs. Horace Porter. whose husband
was then private secretary to President
Grant. The mistress of the White House
had commented upon Mrs. Porter's de-
licious hot rolls. and so when Lucys time
was up. with an eye 10 the interests of
all concerned. Mrs. Porter brought about
her transfer to the White House after
the manner of a genuine diplomat.
MERIT WON HER THE PLACE.
IL was the close of the season when
the presidential party was returning from
Long Branch. This was before the days
of buffet and dining cars, so Mrs. Por-
ter had Lucy prepare the luncheon for the
trip. Mrs. Grant enjoyed the savory con-
of he ha eli h,,o a
in Washington Lucy's mistress directed
her to make one Of her famous Wash
ington cream pies and send IL to the
White House. Mrs. Grant was more than
ever convinced of the prize Mrs. Porter
had in her cook.
you make pan of nice ginger bread
and send it over to Mrs. Grant steaming
hot"
The brown sponge was never so light
and spicy. and its mission was accom-
plished. for the steward from the White
House was sent over promptly TO en-
gage Lucys services.
But IL is not to be imagined that the
days Of the Grants were primitive ones
and that Lucy Fowler's culinary art had
only its wholesomeness to recommend IT,
The state dinners which she served at the
White House were high functions, and
the guests would have been surprised in
deed If they had been told that the ca
terer was a small mulatto woman, scarce
ly more than five feet tall
On one occasion. when Gen. Grant was
about to leave the White House after
his last term, there were some foreign
guests TO dinner. Thirteen courses were
served. and the Europeans commented
upon the delicacy and fine flavor of the
various dishes, evidently presuming that
the dinner was in charge Of a special ca =
terer.
GEN. GRANTS STATEMENT.
Gen. Grant said: "A colored woman
cooked this dinner-every bit OF IT, She
possesses all the secrets of making savory
concoctions in genuine Maryland style.
You won't find any caterer I'm America
who can put things together Tor taste like
that little woman's cookery. We are go
ing to leave her here with Mrs. Hayes.
They are both named Lucy, and hope
they'll get along together"
Mrs. Grant is the best woman I ever
knew" said Lucy. IF all the women i'm
the world were as honest and reliable as
Mrs. Grant, Kingdom Come would be
right here. She was handsome. too. and
l never saw such n little hand and foot
on n woman Of her size. She wears n
misses glove and a No. / shoe. And such
a neck and shoulders! Sometimes when
she was dressed for a party you would
have thought 1t was n baby's skin instead
Of q woman's with grown children.
Miss Nellie was just like her father
She went TO Europe when she was about
1G with the the Borie family Of Philadel-
phia. and met Mr.. Sartoris They were n
fine young couple on their wedding night
| saw Miss Nellie as she came down the
wide stairs and went into the east room.
where they were married