Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-07-26
The Bear-Steak.
A GAsrRoNoM1c ADVENTURE.


The Englishman's prediction for beefsteak is
almost proverbial, but we fancy it would take some
time to reconcile John Bull in general to bearsteak.
however much we might expatiate to him on its ex-
ceence and the superiority of its flavor over that of
his old-establshed favorite, however confidently we
might assure him that the bear was d most delicate
feeder, selecting the uciest fruits of the forest and
the most esculent of the earth for his ordinary
nourshment. 1t might be supposed that this dislike
10 bears flesh article of food arose from our
national aversion to everything that is outlandsh;
but the following gastronomic adventure related in
the pages of modern French traveller proves that
our frog-eating neghbors find it just as difficult to
surmount their aversion to feeding on the flesh Of
Master Bruin as the most sturdy and thoroughbred
Engllshman among US.
NJ. Alexandra Dumas, after long mountainous
walk, arrived about four clock one fine atnnnn nf
ternoou at the Inn at Nlartgnity Exercise and the
keen mountain air had combined to sharpen his an
petite, and he inquired from the host, with some de-
gree of eagerness at what hour the abledh ote din
ner was usually served.
sat hall-past five, replied the host
''That will do very well,'' reioined NJ Dumas
81 shall then have time to visit the old castle before
! dinner''
Punctual to the appointed hour, the traveller re-
turned, but found to his dismay, that every seat at
the long table was already occupied. The host
however, who appeared to have taken NJ Dumas
| ed HIM with courteous smile, and pointing to a
small side table carefully laid out, said: 'sHere,
sir, this is your place. had not enough of bear
steak left to supply the whole ta6Le-dhote with it;
! and, besides, most of my guests have tasted this
bear, already, so reserved my last steak for you:
was sure you would like it, So saying, the good
natured host placed in the centre of the table ine
Ijuicy-looking steak smoking hot, and very tempting
in appearance; but glad would the hungry traveller
have been could he only have believed that it was
beef, and not bear steak, which now lay tefore
him. Visions of the misunderstanding al in.als he
had seen drowsily slumbering away existence in "a
menagerie, or covered with mud, and led about by
chain, for the amusement of the multitude, pre-
| sened themselves to the travellers eyes, and he
would fam have turned away from the preferred
treat But he could not find it in his heart to be so
ungracious TO express dislike TO food which the
host evidently considered the choicest delicacy the
country could afford. He accordingly took his seat
at the table, and cut off small slice of the steak;
then screwing his courage to the sticking point and
opening bis mouth wide, as if about to demolish
bolus, he heroically guped the dreaded morse
Ce NEST que te premier pas qui coute. He had no
sooner achieved this feat than he began to think that
bear-aesh was after all, not quite so bad thing as
he had expected. He swallowed a second morsel
sit was really the enderes and most juicy steak he
had ever tasted" "Are you sure this is bear
steak?" he inquired of the landlord.
eSs SIT, can assure you IL repneQ the
good-natured busting he hurried of TO attend
upon his other guests at the ta6Ie-dhoe. Before he
returned to NJ. Dumas at the sde-table three quar-
tiers ofthe steak had disappeared and highly graft
fled at finding his fayorite dish was so much APP
proved of, he renewed the conversation by observing
''That was a famous beast, can tell you; it weigh
ed thee hundred and twenty pounds
| GA fine fellow, indeed, he must have been, re-
joined the traveller.
| at cost no small trouble to kill him.
81 can well believe that rejoined Nj. Dumas at
the same time raising the last morsel to his mouth
''EIe devoured half the huntsman who shot him.
added the lequacious landlord.
Hastily finging aside the loathed morse which
he had just placed within his lips, the traveller in
dignantly exclaimed: "I1ow dare you pass such
jokes upon man when he is in the middle of his
dinner?"
81 can assure you, sir, I am not joking," replied
the landlord: ~ only telling you the simple
truih.'
The traveller, whose appetite for further food Of
any description, whatever, was by this time efec-
tually DESTROYED, rose from the table, and with
look of horror, begged that the host would acquant
him with the particulars Of the tragedy which had
now acquired in his eyes so painful interest
The good man, nothing loath to hear himself talk,
Welded ready acquesce to this request, and con-
] tinued his story as follows:
MHf af0 ea a6.ttnf nin