Smyrna times., 1857-08-12
Curious Facts from History.

The Chevalier D'Aubigne, who fled to Eng
land during the French revolution of 1898, and
for while lived there in very straitened man.
ner, accumulated a fortune of eighty thousand
francs by teaching the English fashionables how
to mix salad. He visited his patrons in a car
riage, attended by servant.
The custom of sitting at table to drink,
after dinner was over, was introduced by
Margaret Atheling, the Saxon Queen of Scot
land. She was shocked to see the Scottish
gentlemen rising from the table before grace
could be said, and offered cup of choice wine
to all who would remain.
Fish did not become popular article of diet
in Greece until comparatively late period, and
there was society against "cruelty to fish,
by abstaining from devourng what was alleged
to make the devourer ferocious and inhuman.-
With Romans the mulet was priced above all
other fish. 1t was sometimes served up six
pounds in weight, and such a fish was worth
three hundred dollars! 1t was cooked on the
table, for the benefit and pleasure of the guest.
Talbot was next highest in estimation, and oc-
casionally offending slaves were thrown into
the ponds to feed them.
The older Romans paid special henors to ag-
riculture, as did the Jews. Their coin was
stamped with symbols in connection Herewith.
The Greeks refreshed the mouths efthelr plow-
ing oxen with wine. Charles the Ninth ex-
smpted from arrest for debt all persons engaged
in the cultivation of the staple articles Of agri-
culture.
Cortes went to Mexico in search of gold
but the first discovery he made was OF choco-
late. The monks were the earliest to adopt it,
but the generous beverage was considered
sort of wicked luxury for them, and they were
warned against it. The moralists eagerly con-
demned it, The Spanards. however, well
coined it with enthusiasm.
1t is recorded that Anthony once rewarded
his cook with the gift of a city, for having pre-
pared repast which ELECTED the encomlums OF
Cleopatra.
An English Dean, named NOVEL;, who
f1ourished in the turbulent reign of Queen Mary,
was the accidental inventor ofbotted ale. HE
was out fishing with bottle of the freshly
drawn beverage at his side, when intelligence
reached him that his life was in danger. He
threw down his fishing rod, buried his bottle OF
ale in the grass, and fed. After reclaiming his
bottle the cork flew out at the touch, and the
dean was SO delighted with the creamy con-
dition of the ale that lie took good care thereaf-
ter to be supplied with the " same Sort"
Streams and springs of water were greatly
reverenced by some ancient nations. Accor-
ding to the popular belief Of the Greeks, every
stream, spring and fountain had a resident del
ty. The Egyptians, grateful for the blessings
they derived from their beloved Nile, flung in
to it corn, sugar and fruit, as thank offerings.
The Persians and Cappadocians raised altars
beside streams, and paid alteration to the god
whose existence was evidenced by the crystal
element The common people of Rome drank
to excess of water, both hot and cold. The
former they drank in winter, as a stimulant!
The breakfast of Greek soldier, taken at
dawn of day, consisted of bread soaked in
wine. Greek patricians sat down daily to
but one solid meal; soldiers and plebeians par
took Of two. They were accounted peculiarly
coarse people who consumed three. The Ro-
mans were in this respect similar to the Greeks.
In Rome milk was used as cosmetic, and
for baths as we'll as beverage. Five hundred
asses supplied the bath and toilet vases Of the
Empress PoppGa. Some dozen or two of the
same animals were kept to maintain the decay
ing strength OF Francis 1. of France. Apropos
ofmilk. Butter was not known either in Greece
or Rome until comparatively late period. The
Greeks received it from Asia, and the Romans
were taught its use by the German matrohs.
Eggs filed with salt, used to be eaten by Gu
rious maidens, after whole days fasting, on
StGAgnes eve, in the belief that in the after
dreams of the maid her future husband would
be revealed to her. g"