Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-12-19

The world long wondered at the strange
" quiet and philosophical conclusion OF
a life so restlessly hostile to the highest
interests of man. We now know some
thing of the frantic bigotry, the continued
dictation in secular and political affairs,
and the senseless gluttony which disturb
ed the religious peace of the monastlc
seclusion of Yuste. Altogether, we can
not hope for more entertaining histori-
cal work, which is especially valuable
as continuation of Prescott's Spanish
histories, filling as it does the hiatus be-
tween his Ferdinand and Isabella, and
his Philip the Second.
We cannot better conclude our notice
of this work than by giving an extract
showing the gluttony of the royal re-
cluse:
at was not altogether in the refined
and intellectual pleasures of reading and
social intercourse, that Charles passed
the time Of his confinement. He had
brought with him into retirement the
same relish for the pleasures of the table
which he had indulged through life
His appetite was excessive, rivaling that
of Louis the Fourteenth or Frederick
the Great, or any other royal gourmdnd
whose feats are recorded in history. The
pertinacity with which he gratified it I'M
der all circumstances, amounts to trait
of character. A Venetian envoy at his
court, in the latter part of Charles's
reign, tells us that, before rising in the
morning, potted capon was usually serv-
ed to him, prepared with sugar, milk and
spices after which he would turn to
sleep again. At noon he dined on va
riety of dishes. Soon after vespers he
took another meal, and later in the eve
ming supped heartily on anchovies,. or
some other gross and savory food, of
which he was particularly fond. The in
vention of his cooks was sorely puzzled
to devise rich and high seasoned dishes
to suit his palate and his maitre d'hoteI
much perplexed, told his disconnected
master one day, knowing his passion for
time-pieces, that he really did not know
what he could do, unless it were to serve
up his majesty fricasee of Watches
The reply had the effect of provoking q
hearty laugh from the Emperor-a cir
cumstance Of rare occurrence in the lat
q ter days of his reign.
To wash down this extraordinary
f quantity of food, Charles drank in pro-
f portion. Iced beer was a favorite bever.
/ age with him, administered often the
/ first thing on rising in the morning
: When stronger potations were required
: he had to objection to Rhenish vine
# Roger Asharu, when in Germany, saw
!. the Emperor on St. Andrews day, sit
e ting at dinner at the feast of the Colder
|, Fleece. He drank the best say:
: Asham, that ever saw. He had hi:
: head in the glass five times as long a:
; any Of us, and never drank less than
S good quart at any once of Rhenish' /
: was in vain that his physician remonstra
t. ted, and that his confessor, Carolina
h Loaysa, with an independence which dit
n him credit, admonished him to desis
n from the pernicious practice of eatin,
n and drinking to excess, reminding hin
:. that his Creator had not sent him int
C the world to indulge in sensual delights
e but by his diligent labors to save tn
e Christian Commonwealth. Charles CAV
II as little heed to the warnings of the di
!. vine as TO those of the doctor. Unfortu
: nately, his position enabled him to Obtain
e too easily a dispensation from those fast
e of the church which might otherwis
Ie have stood him in good stead. In tn
W end came the heavy reckoning for sue
10 indulgence. He was tormented with in
r digestion, bile, govt and various othe
maladies that fesh-especially whe
IS high-fed and over-fed-is heir to. Th
gout was the most formidable of his foe,
% Its attacks were incessant. The ma
% who had followed the chase withor
is fatigue among the toughest passes of til
il Alpugarras, who had kept the saddle da
Of and night in his campaigns, and ha
d been esteemed one of the best iousters
Of Europe, was obliged at length, wheueve
1. he travelled, to be borne ON a litter Xix
N a cripple. Care and excessive toll ha
J. combined with his incorporate way {
d, life TO break down a constitution natura
,e ly robust, and before he had reached tn
O. age of fifty, Charles was already an oil
Il man."
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