The cook served meats and vegetables, one served tea, coffee or milk in pails, while I managed the jellies, stimulants, etc. We soon reduced the time of distribution for eighty patients to fifteen minutes.
When Surgeon McDougall, in charge of the department, came with his staff to inspect our kitchen, they waited till all was served to the ward masters, and then he said: “Miss Smith, you have the best conducted kitchen in the Department.” Having had little experience in cooking, this was a very pleasant surprise. The inspection was continued by a member of the staff passing his white-gloved hand over the range and sides of the iron kettles, etc., which the men kept so clean that they left no trace. The men were also made happy by the approval of the inspectors.
In addition to this we made large puddings for the twenty wards, ten each day being all that our ovens could hold.
At the suggestion of Surgeon Campbell, a courteous Scotch gentleman and strict disciplinarian, I wore a dress of officers’ blue with infantry buttons, medical cadet shoulder straps with green bands and gilt braid in the centre.
The Thomas P. Way came daily at 10 A. M. bringing ladies of the Association and many other visitors. Andrew had learned to make “perfect cocoa,” which I had served to the guests in my rooms, where, from the large windows, they enjoyed the fine view of Long Island, New Jersey and New York shores.
“LIBERTY”
This was before the days of “Liberty Island,” which later was made immortal by the gift of the French people and the great sculptor Bartholdi, whose heroic statue was to have been completed for the great centennial fair of 1876. Failing to accomplish this in time, he sent to Philadelphia the arm holding the torch which now lights the bay, and is a well known signal light to incoming vessels. While in Philadelphia, attending the exposition, with seven friends I climbed the narrow ladder in the arm, and all were able to sit in the circle of the great torch, now upheld by “Liberty.”
DAILY ROUTINE
Each morning I awoke at George’s call—“Ha’f-a-pas-seex.” Andrew would send up a good breakfast for two, as there was always some lady friend or one of my younger sisters to keep me company at night. No other woman except the wives and friends of the officers at the fort were allowed to remain on the island. The cooks soon learned to manage the men’s breakfast without me.