Colonial recipes, from old Virginia and Maryland manors

Through the kindness of Mrs. Mary Tabb Lee of Ravensworth, we have these old recipes from Arlington and from Ravensworth. Mrs. Lee is the widow of General W. H. F. Lee, known during the war as " Rooney " Lee, who was the second son of General Robert E. Lee. He was born at Arlington in 1837, ar,d served in the Civil War in every grade from captain to major-general. After the war, General Lee settled down as a planter on the old Custis estate, "White House," which was the scene of George Washington's marriage to Mrs. Custis. He afterward made Ravensworth Arlington 27 worth his home, a place noted for its wonderful beauty. It was the old Colonial manor of the Fitzhughs. Mrs. Lee was before her marriage Miss Mary Tabb Boiling, and she still lives at Ravensworth. These are the old Lee recipes: FRITTERS {Arlington) Make up 1 quart of flour with 1 egg well beaten; a large spoonful of yeast, and as much milk as will make it a little softer than muffin dough. Mix it early in the evening. In the morning, when well risen, work in 2 tablespoonfuls of melted butter. Make into balls the size of a walnut and fry a light brown in boiling lard. Serve with wine and sugar or molasses. BUNS (Ravensworth) Make up at night, 1 quart of flour, 1 cup of yeast, and a piece of lard the size of an egg. Set to rise. In the morning add 4 eggs well beaten, a large spoonful of butter, and enough flour so you can work it; then set to 28 Arlington rise again. When light make out into round rolls or buns and let stand in pan to rise again ; then bake. When nearly done brush the tops with white of an egg and sprinkle sugar on thin. Mrs. Mary Tabb Lee. The following is not a Colonial recipe, but it seems most fitting that it should be placed here, and especially so as it is given by Mrs. John Redmon Coxe Lewis of " Buena Vista," who was a cousin of General Robert E. Lee, and her husband, Colonel Lewis, was a first cousin of Mary Custis, wife of General Lee. ROBERT E. LEE CAKE (Buena Vista) Ten eggs, the weight of 10 eggs in sugar, half the weight in flour, the juice of one lemon. Make like sponge-cake, bake like jelly-cake. FILLING FOR CAKE To 2 pounds of pulverized sugar add the juice of 5 oranges and the peel grated of 3. The juice of 3 lemons. This must not be spread upon the cake until cold. This quantity will make 2 cakes and 3 layers in each. Mrs. John Redmon Coxe Lewis. SHIRLEY Shirley, the home of the Carters on the James River, was built in 1642, and has been described as a palace. Robert Carter, called " King " Carter from his enormous grants of land from the Crown, wielded enormous power, and the old chronicles tell us that the homage received by him was like that accorded royalty. On Sunday the congregation in the country church did not enter until after the arrival of the Carter coach, when all followed Mr. and Mrs. Carter into the building, one-quarter of which was reserved for the Carters and their dependents. " King " Carter is buried near this little church which he himself built to the glory of God, and on the slab that marks his grave we read, " Here Lies 1 King ' Carter and his Seven Wives." Shirley has sheltered many distinguished guests, among them were Lafayette, the Marquis of Lome, and William Makepeace Thackeray.