New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-01-10
A Gour,,,and,

| A Gourmand
The following is tale Of gormandziug which il
related by Mr.. Dumas in connection with desperate
onslaught made by his pet cat, Mysou on the aviary
Mysouf, owing to the contemporary escape of three
monkeys, and to the time spent in their recapture
had been Cutting herself with fnches, canary BIRDS
and other pet songsters, with oil the indifference of
hardened criminal. She had in fact, like certain
Viscount v, made dinner of five hundred francs.
How this happened we must leave Mr.. Dumas to re.
late his own word,:
Yiscount ", broker to Count Horace de ", one of
the most consummate gourRlets OF France-not only
q france but OF Europenot only OF Europe, but all
| the word-yentured one day, at meeting consist
ing partly OF artists and partly of mon OF fashion, the
| following proposition:
Gone man shall eat by himself dinner that shall
cost it, i've .s hundred francs, J" tsloo3
impossible !" exclaimed two or three voices,
| Ut must be understood" replied the Viscount,
"tat IN the word eat the word drink is also com
prehended.n -
| Certainly" H.
| ''Well, then, I say one man-vben saw a man.
do not mean carter or a coalheayer mean gour-
| ment-can eat dinner OF five hundred francs'
yourself, for example?n
eyes, myself for example," 4z.-sfess=-s
"Will you bet 2"
II will bet."
81 have the five hundred francs,s said one of those
| present. = -
And will eat them,n said the Viscount.
| "C0me, show US how it can be donen
." IL Is very simple. dine at the Cafe de Paris.
make my selection according to my fancy, and eat
| i've hundred francs worth at my dinner"
The wager was accordingly made and he began to
arrange his dinner for the next day.
| The maitre d hotel was summoned. It was winter
time the viscount wanted certain forced vegetables
and FRUITS he wanted game, also, and the shooting
season was over.
The maitre d'hotel asked for delay of eight days
The dinner was accordingly delayedfor that amount
Of time. .s -, = - ri l.l5 ~
The umpires were to dine with the Yiscount to the
right and left Of the table.
The Visconnt was allowed two hours for his dinner,
from seven to nine He could either converse or not,
just as it pleased him. FL
AT the hour appointed, the viscount made his ap-
pearance, bowed to the company and down to the
table.
The bill of fare was mystery to the adversaries.
They were to have the pleasure Of surprise.
The viscount sat down. Twelve dozen Of ,Ostend
oysters were placed before him, with hafbottle Of
Johannisberg.
The viscount was in good condition he asked for
same wine. /
This was followed by soup of swallows' nests,
which the Viscount turned into bowl and drank up
like basin of hot milk.
Really, gentlemen" he then observed, "my ap
petite is excellent to-day, and feel inclined to in
dulge in a fancy"
AS you like! you are your own master''
DeeISteakS potatoes.
biftek aux pOmmeso
The garcon, astonished, looked at the viscount.
Wel,' he said, "don't you understand ~
"oh, yes, bnt thought that the viscount had Or
dered his dinner.H- --
True but this is an extra. will pay for 1t as
such.n ~ " /
The umpires looked at one another A biftek aux
pommes was brought and the Viscount devoured the
whole.
"There. Now for the fish,"
The fish was brought. ~ ,.9. "
Gentlemen" said the vscount, it is atrout from
the lake OF GENEVA kind that is only found there
but which still can be eat here. Tt was shown to me
this morning whilst was at breakfast alive. 1t was
brought from Geneva to Paris in the water of the
lake can recommend this fish to you j; 1t is deli
ciCus eating.N Ss 81 A. .s3sa L.
Five minutes more, and there was nothing Init the
bones on the plate. 1.tHIf
Garcon, the pheasant ~ shouted the vscount.
a pheasant with truf1es was laid before him.
/" A second bottle of Bordeaux, same vintagen
second bottle was brought.
The pheasant was discussed in ten minutes.
Sir, observed the garcon, 81 think you made
mistake in asking for the pheasant before the salms
dostolans.n
.Ah true! Well luckily, it was not agreed in what
order the ortolans should be eaten, or l had lost.
NOW for the salmis d'ortoans garcon."
The salmis dOrtolans were brought
There were ten of these delicious little birds the
Vscount disposed of them in as many mouthuls.
Gentlemen, said the Viscount, 'the rest of my bill
OF faress very simple asparagus, green peas pine
tie OF COnstantia half bottle of sherry that has
been to India. The coffee and liquors that is under
Stood" ..ofs.5 = qa'5
Each thing came in its turn the vegetables and
fruit were conscientiously deyoured the wines and
liquors were inlbibed to the last drop.
The Viscount had been one hour and fourteen min
utes at his dinner. @I
ted N ' e->e'>'
The umpires expressed their assent
"Garcon, lacarte ~ .-
The Viscount cast his eyes at the sum total amount
ing to SOC francs, and handed over the bill to the UNI
pires. 9e
The account was examined and found to be cor. |
rect.
The bill was conveyed to the Yiscount's adversary
who was dining in cabinet.
In less than five minutes time he made his appear.
ance, bowed to the Viscount and drawing forth six
notes Of thousand francs each from his pocket book
he presented him with them. That was the amount |
of the bet.
"Oh SIR exclaimed the Viscount .there was no |
hurry; besides, perhaps you might have wished for
your revenge ?"
"Wonld you be disposed to give it to me, sir 2"
Most assuredly So"
"When?n
"Why" replied the Viscount, with a simplicity
that partook of the sublime, sat once sir, ii you
like
The loser reflected for second Or two, and then
he said
Il had rather not. After what have seen, think
you would do anything
IMPROVED DENTIsTRY.-Dr. B. F. Smith, who is at
located at the ST. Louis HOTEL elsewhere gives notice