Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-04-24
DAILY VIRGINIAN.
From the Courier des Etats Unis.
A Modem II Lucullus

We find the following story in a Partisan Jour-
nall
The other day, a Senator, whose name is not
of yesterday, wishing to give very exquisite
dinner to connoissuer guests. sent for his head
servant lmaitre- queu) and ordered some rare and
incredible dish, which could be served to put
mark upon this feast. The chef reflected, and
objected that everything was now in season with
the principal caterers. and he saw nothing really
impossible, but n fish which is not seen in Paris
more than twice year-a Dorado.
The Senator exclaimed TINT this was precisely
whnt no wanted. He remembered having eaten
OF the fish once at NJ. Villels, that the effect was
an emotion was talked about for a month, and
TINT hc would have n Dorado at any price The
chef went to find Chevet. that great caterer for
delicate Europe. Chevet replied that the Dorado
was rare sea fish which does not approach the
eoasts, that it is found only on what the sailors
call the Sound. that is to say, the part Of the o.
eean where the longest sounding lines lose bot
tom II is all tho same, notwithstanding tho sea-
son he did not despair of being able to comply
with the wishes of his ExceIlency.
Ten days passed. and Chevet, who has agents
every whore on sea and land, gave information at
the Senatira hotel, that he had received not one,
but two Dorados
The Senator was ravshed, he flung out his in.
yiatlons to tho most exquisite forks Of tho aris-
tooracy of the palace--the Luxembourg At tho
ama1ement to see on tho porcelain card bill Of
fare, printed in Florentine bronze powder, tho
Doraeo which announced itself after the turtle
soup and tho Norman salad, violent aperitive
which advise you to go Immediately and order
at the great artists in the Chartres gallery, "A
Dorado" exclaimed every one, "but ii is fabu-
lous." The fact is, that in Paris the Dorado,
so painfully sought for by sailors far from land,
with their harpoons, is almost as much myth as
IA siren, mermaid, or n sea-serpent. The mai
tire dhotc put on very modest air to oil the ques-
tons launched at him.
The Dorado was served. 1t was stretched on
four folded napkin of Holland damask, forming
n snowy bed for the strip of board that was laid
across n silver dish. The beautiful rainbow col
which varied it's metallic cuirass.its great eyes
still blue, notwithstanding they were cooked.caus-
ed II shout of admiration and longing from tho
excited guests. The exhibition made, the mai
tire dhotel raised the dish ut the length Of his
arms to pass it between two black coats which
were inycrsely inclined 10 make for it. But
the fish is enormous, tho dish heavy, the board
slips from beneath it. and dash-the magnificent
Dorado falls to the floor, and is broken into .
hundred pieces as may be imagined from the cx-
treme delicncy of its fibre cooked to the exact
point =:5
1t was climax of distress and horror enough
to soften and change the expression of the bronze
faces of tho candelabra satyrs. The Senator
alono did not finch. Ho waited for u moment
with cooness which seemed scandalous. till tho
general CONSERVATION had yielded to the first
shock of the disaster, then taking time, az at tho
theatre for an effective speeoh,he said with calm
and collected voice: es
at is Of no consequence, bring in another i'm
mediately,"
Imagine the effeot-another Dorado. He 10
mad, they thought But not at all. The other
Dorado appeared, to the great stupefaotion Of the
guests, and their greatjoy. You will easily d.
vine thnt tho fall and sacrifice of the first fish was
atheatrcal stroke concerted beforehand. At
any rate no table incident ever produced such an
effect.
In order that the Dorado may not seem as fab
uous TO readers as il does to the Parisians,we
quote from Button his description Of it, which
agrees with that in the story
"Ihere is n fish, in some degree resembling the
preceding, which is called by naturasts, by way
Of eminence, the Dorado, but which sailors erron-
eously call the Dolphin. 1t is chiefly found In
the tropical climates, and is at the most ao-
tive and the most beautiful of the inney race. Il
is about six feet long, tho back all over enamelled
with spots of blush green and silver; the tail and
fins of a gold color; and all have brilliancy of
tint that nothing but natures pencil can attain to.
The eyes are placed on each side of the head,
large and beautiful, surrounded with circles Of
shining gold. In the seas where they are always
in notion and play around ships in full sail with
and security. Forever either pursuing or
pursued they are constantly in state Of
warfare, either defending themselves against the
shark, or darting after the small fishes
This fish must not be confounded with one of
somewhat similar name the Doree, which is. ao-
cording to the sailors legend the fish from which
st. Peter took the tribute money, leaving on its
sides the mark of his finger and thumb.