Sunday 8 April 2018

My Life as a Lady Cook

From Woman’s Weekly, April 6th 1918.

“MY LIFE AS A LADY COOK”


By a Girl who Finds there is Always a Demand for Her Services.

MADGE looked up from the account book with flushed face and sparkling eyes. 
"No good, Mary," she said, "we can’t struggle on any longer.  Here we are at the end of the summer and only £20 to the good."
I looked round our cosy den with a feeling of regret. It was exactly five years since I had left my father's quiet vicarage, and my chum and I had started on our venture as boarding-house keepers. Five happy years they had been, taking all things into consideration.
Until the war started, that was.  But when I tell you that our boarding-house was on the East Coast, I need hardly say more.  As the aeroplanes grew greater in number, our guests grew appreciably fewer, until at last we found we could not count upon doing more than one fourth of our usual business.
"Of course," went on Madge, "that means we must both find something else to do.  I've a great mind to try working on the land, but there's not much doubt as to what you'll do!"
"Oh, isn't there?" I said. "Well, perhaps you'll tell me, because at the moment I haven't the faintest idea."
"Well, with your talent, I shouldn't hesitate a moment. You'd be snapped up as a lady cook to-morrow."
Why, of course!  It was a wonder I hadn't thought of it before.  If there was one thing upon which I prided myself, it was my cooking. I had always loved it.

COOKS ARE ALWAYS IN DEMAND. 
WELL do I remember the advice given me by the old chef from whom I took my finishing lessons before starting my boarding-house career.
"It's a splendid thing to have at one's finger-ends," he said, "for it always ensures one a good livelihood. So long as man must eat food, food must be cooked, and so long will the services of the cook be in demand.
"But there are two things which those who would make good cooks must remember," he went on; "they must take a pleasure in their work, and they must be thoroughly trained.  They can then demand a good salary and be always sure of a post."
How fervently I hoped that I might prove his words to be right, now that the opportunity had come!
A month later saw the winding-up of our affairs at "Moorside—select boarding establishment"—completed, and ourselves on our way to London, where we were to put up with a married sister of mine until we were settled. 
Meaning to lose no time, the very next morning I went to my old friend the chef, who, when he learnt of my mission, hailed me with joy. 
"Well," he cried, "if this is not lucky!  Only to-day I have heard of the very post to suit you.  The wages are good, £35, and I know you will be comfortable."
"It seems like Providence!" I exclaimed.

NO DRUDGERY FOR ME! 
MY friend gave me the address, and, armed with this and a written recommendation from him, I set off for B——.
On my way down in the train I made up my mind that, if taking the position merely meant becoming someone's drudge, I should refuse it at once.  "No working from 6.30 in the morning until 10 o'clock at night for me," I thought.
By the time I reached my destination I had worked myself into such a nervous state that I was more than half inclined to throw the whole thing up. How often I have had reason to be thankful that I did not.
I was taken at once to Mrs. R——, and I must admit that I was charmed with her straight away. 
"It is a responsible position for one so young," she said, eyeing me doubtfully.  "But a trial can do neither of us any harm.
"You will be required to take over the entire household management.  That is to say, I shall leave the arrangement of all meals to you.
"Of course, you will have plenty of assistance, and should you require more you must let me know.
"You will have your own rooms—a bed-room, and a sitting-room, in which your meals will be served."
It sounded attractive enough, and before I left I had agreed to start my duties upon the following Monday.

PLENTY OF RESPONSIBILITY. 
I FOUND that Mrs. R—— had in no wise overstated the case when she said that the entire household management would devolve upon me.
I was expected to purchase and provide the food for the house upon my own initiative.  The more responsibility I undertook the more I was appreciated.
I had a kitchen-maid for my own especial use, and she did all the rough work, such as lighting fires, cleaning and scouring, and preparation.
As I said before, my heart was in my work, and I took a delight in concocting attractive menus—no easy task in these days of rations!  I am sure the dishes I sent up made my reputation.
When Mrs. R—— was entertaining upon a large scale I found the work both arduous and heavy.  But this was not by any means frequent, and at other times my work was congenial and reasonably light.
I found that by planning my work methodically I could get three hours to myself after lunch.  Besides this, I had every Sunday afternoon and evening off, as the family always had cold supper instead of dinner on this day.
Mrs. R—— had two children—Jack and Jill. Twins they were, and great favourites of mine.  They often came to tea with me in my pleasant little sitting-room.  Their mother did not mind, and to me it made all the difference.
To those with a talent and a liking for cooking, who think a similar post would suit them, I would end with a word of advice

HOW TO OBTAIN A POST. 
THERE are two ways of obtaining a post.  First, you can choose a good agency—but be sure it is a good one; place your name upon the books and await developments.  Or you can place an advertisement in any thoroughly reliable paper.
You will probably find that you have a choice of several different kinds of work.  For instance, I had not been with Mrs. R—— many months before I was offered a post as lady cook and steward to a large West End club at a salary of £80 per annum.  This I refused, as a home life had always held an attraction for me.  And again, when my mother was ill and it was necessary for me to sleep at home, I found it quite an easy matter to obtain evening engagements.  These, I may mention, were very well paid.
Personally, I think that my profession compares very favourably with many of those where the woman worker is employed.

[The wages quoted (£35 and £80) were for a whole year - but board and lodging were obviously provided too.] 


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