The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-30
DIET AND HABITS OF THE HUNGA-
RAMS.

An intelligent correspondent of The hide
pendent, giving an account of his observations
in Hungary, speaks of the uniformly strong
and athletic appearance of the inhabitants He
goes on to speak of their habits of eating, as
follows:
took considerable pains in Hungary to no
tice the diet and habits of eating of the people
as connected with this remarkable vigor of the
race hoping some useful hints might be derived
for America on the subject This seemed more
desirable. as there is no country Of Europe sc
resembling our own, or I'd. fesse the Middle
States of our own in climate The same ex-
tsS.,,ss >sss bssss Ss..t1 s2i5; .he e.c.e s,.a5c
yidNhI changes on IeripefaruS& INC onssne e~ea,,
stimulating atmosphere, which mark the Amer
lean climate, and distinguish it from the usual
European There are districts in Hungary
which produce the most delicious grapes and
melons and peaches in the summer, which are
buried in snow in winter precisely like the in
land counties some years in New York. And
in travelling over the best part of the land,
might have thought, as far as productions were
concerned, was journeying through the plains
of inner New York or Pennsylvania; the only
exception being the rine, for the want of which
in America | am disposed to think the cause is
not to be sought in the climate.
In respect to the habits of the people the
great popularity seemed to be their Temperance
in eating and drinking, and ut the same time
their making of their meals a pleasant social
occasion, and not merely a means of filing up
the stomach. When | say they are temperate,
mean they indulge in no excess; as, in respect
to wine drinking there is scarcely man in
the land who does not drink the light wine at
his dinner and supper. But with the Hunga-
rian the mea-time is a time for social inter-
course when friends meet; or when the chill
dren and relatives all gather with the parents,
and have almost their only merry familiar con-
versation during the day. They sit great
while at table, and taste of great variety of
dishes, at least among the better classes Still
they are not by any means as hearty eaters as
the Americans or English. Indeed, to u travel.
Ter with keen appetite, or to one accustomed
to the vigorous exploits of the English at the
table, the Hungarians seem really abstemious
They make much more use of fruits, and salads
and curious buildings and the light pure wines
than we OF the Anglo-Saxon race. Indeed q
Hungarian would consider himself in danger
of becoming sot if he should drink every
day the strong branded wines which every
Englishman has on his table The English in
Hungary say it is impossible, in that clear, oxy.
gonated climate, to keep up their habit of beef
eating and drinking
The first meal among the Hungarians is
taken mt seven or eight in the morning, and
consists only of glass of coffee with rich milk
and some meager cuttings of cold toast broken
up and eaten in the coffee.
This is the universal breakfast for all classes
except the poorest bauer. Between this and
the dinner at one or two, nothing is usually
eaten or drank The dinner, as | have said, is
long with o great variety Of dishes, not essen
tally differing from our own except that it i
lighter, and greater use is made Of light
wines. This meal is always followed by cup
of coffee. The only other meal is the supper
at eight o'clock in the EVENING" long meal
again, with soup, fish, pudding and wine. Tea
is very little drank in the land sugar, and
sweetened articles too, are seldom used
What especial theory Of diet to draw frou
all this am at loss to determine Still, the
facts may he useful to some who are invcstiga
ting the matter The principal things worthy
of imitation seem to be the moderation and 80
ciability of the meals and the distance of time
at which they are separated-the last being
no doubt, very conducive to health. The prin
cipal cause of their vigorous health and well
formed bodies must be found without doubt
in their opcn-ar pursuits and manly exercises
to which they are ardently attached They ar,
a nation of herdsmen and farmers and are en-
joying the benefits Of their pursuits.
No account of their habits would be com
plete, without stating that the whole popula
ton, from the nobeman and clergyman dowr
to the lowest bauer on the Puszta. smoke in
cessantly, from morning till night