Housekeeping in Old Virginia — Edition Insights

Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

On page 51, the phrase starting "the over-night" may be missing words.

On page 214, the phrase "half a cup of water" may be missing words.

Index spellings were made consistent with the text.

HOUSEKEEPING IN OLD VIRGINIA.

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY LADIES IN VIRGINIA AND HER SISTER STATES,

_DISTINGUISHED FOR THEIR SKILL IN THE CULINARY ART AND OTHER BRANCHES OF DOMESTIC ECONOMY._

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.... She looketh well to the ways of her household and eateth not the bread of idleness."

_Prov., chap. 31, verses 10 and 27._

JOHN P. MORTON & CO., _LOUISVILLE, KY._ 1878.

COPYRIGHT BY MARION CABELL TYREE. 1877.

_Dedicated_ TO THE SISTER HOUSEKEEPERS, WHOSE KIND ASSISTANCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE SO MUCH LIGHTENED THE LABORS OF THE WRITER AND ENHANCED THE VALUE OF HER WORK.

_List of Contributors_ 11

Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate 61

Oysters and other Shell Fish 85

Brunswick Stews, Gumbo, and Side Dishes 211

Pickles and Catsups 255

Fritters and Pancakes 416

Jelly, Blanc-mange, Charlotte Russe, Baked Custard, Creams, and Miscellaneous Desserts 417

Ice Cream and Frozen Custard 430

Preserves and Fruit Jellies 443

Beverages, Cordials, etc. 468

The Sick-Room--Diet and Remedies for the Sick 476

House-cleaning, etc. 497

Recipes for Restoring Old Clothes, Setting Colors, Removing Stains, etc. 505

Miscellaneous Recipes 508

Virginia, or the Old Dominion, as her children delight to call her, has always been famed for the style of her living. Taught by the example of her royal colonial governors, and the numerous adherents of King Charles, who brought hither in their exile the graces and luxuriousness of his brilliant court, she became noted among the colonies for the princely hospitality of her people and for the beauty and richness of their living. But when at length her great son in the House of Burgesses sounded the cry of war, and her people made haste to gird themselves for the long struggle, her daughters, not to be outdone either in services or patriotism, set about at once the inauguration of a plan of rigid retrenchment and reform in the domestic economy, while at the same time exhibiting to their sisters a noble example of devotion and self-sacrifice.

Tearing the glittering arms of King George from their sideboards, and casting them, with their costly plate and jewels, as offerings into the lap of the Continental Congress, they introduced in their homes that new style of living in which, discarding all the showy extravagance of the old, and retaining only its inexpensive graces, they succeeded in perfecting that system which, surviving to this day, has ever been noted for its beautiful and elegant simplicity.

This system, which combines the thrifty frugality of New England with the less rigid style of Carolina, has been justly pronounced, by the throngs of admirers who have gathered from all quarters of the Union around the generous boards of her illustrious sons, as the very perfection of domestic art.

It is the object of the compiler of this book, for she does not claim the title of author, to bring within the reach of every American housekeeper who may desire it, the domestic principles and practices of these famous Virginia homes. In doing this she has not sought to pursue the plan adopted by so many authors of such books--to depend upon her own _authorship_ for her rule. She confesses that in this matter her labors have been largely editorial.

Through a long life it has been her good fortune to be a frequent visitor, and often the intimate guest and kinswoman, at many of these homes; and she has sought, by the opportunities thus afforded, and guided by her own extensive experience as a housekeeper, to gather and select from these numerous sources those things which seemed to her best and most useful to the practical housewife, and which, carefully observed, would bring the art within reach of all who have the ambition to acquire it.

It will be seen that she is indebted to near 250 contributors to her book. Among these will be found _many names famous_ _through the land_. Associated with them will be discovered others of less national celebrity, but who have acquired among their neighbors an equally merited distinction for the beautiful order and delightful cuisine of their homes.

The labors of the writer have been greatly lightened by the kindness of these contributors. And she desires in this public way to renew her thanks for the aid which they have given her, but even more for the goodness which prompts them, at cost of their sensitiveness, to allow her to append their names to the recipes which they furnish.