Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-10-02
rho Art of Dining.

The universality of the pleasure of the palate is
one of those facts which unite all ages of men, and
| bring all races to a common standard The taste for
literature and the fine arts is acquired that for
/ eating and drinking comes by nature. All men are
| equal on the common level of good dinner. This
is one of the great realities of life, which imagi-
nation or idealism can render superfuous Poets
and transcendentalsts have many fine thoughts, and
see many beautiful visions, but even poets must
| dine and no sage has yet discovered a philosophy
| which transcends the wants of this indispensable
stomach .s
| An men are devotees to their dinner-be it mea
| gre or be it muniicent The peer and the pauper
are equal in this appetite, and the great question
g. what shall have for dinner ~ is equally vital to
the scholar and the man of the world All men are
| unappeasable till they have dinner-and most men
are placable afterwards. generous and substan-
tiaI meal has a wonderful and weknown influence
in softening the asperites of the temper and rem
dering even Grabbed men happy and compliment
II is questionable whether the art OF dining IS
progressive science or not. Historically viewed,
there s fair ground for believing that not only
nearly all modern Injuries OF the table known to
the ancents but that some of their gustatory plea
sIIres are to be reckOned among the "lost arts"
Every country has some peculiar habit and table
MANNERS Some like the Qrientas and the ancients,
indulge in the recumbent posture others, like the
Fuponeans and Americans, take their food sitting
around the table. The Romans, in their palmy days
had soft couches on which to recline, accommodate
cd IN four or FIVE persons at a table. They orna-
mented their heads and those OF their guests, with
ga1auds of roses and other pleasant flowers, to re-
fresh their brain, and preserve 1t from the Ill Ell
feets of excess of wine. troop OF 0onS Cl1ahS,
thus arraved used to sup allnight IN company.
We learn from the classic writers that the luXurles
of the table were among the prime sources OF ex-
vense among the Romans. The relgnng taste was
for a profusOn of provisions lows anu game were
served up in pyramids, piled up IN uIses VI lug
Dimensions. Whole wild boars were served up,
stuffed with various small animals and choice dell
cate birds This appears to have Deeh nner sort
of barbecue Mark Antony, 1t IS related, ProfiGeu
eight boars thus stuffed, for twelve guests. Inc
authors of "Apician Morses informs US tna5 uiluS
Cesar and his guests sometimes ate at single meal
the revenue of several provinces. Nitelilus, the
Emperor. made five meafsA day; and those "hich |
he took with his friends never cost less than ten |
thousand crows At one of them, two thousand |
select fishes served up IN every style OF COOK
ing besides seven thousand fat birds, and every |
luxury which the Mediterranean sea or the Italian
marshes could furnish.
Nero used to sit at the table from midday till mid
night amid the most mOnstrOus profuslon. Toward
the latter period of the Republic the rich were not
satisfied with an entertainment if IN the midst Of
winter roses were not seen floating on the Faernian
wine and if in summer, it not cooled IN golden
vases They had female singers and comic actors
to amuse them during the many hours devoted to
lining.
If indulgence and luxury no longer exist. plea
,ure so purely sensual and gustatory that Of the
,slate does not tend however deliberately cultlva-
ed To elevate the character or improve the stand
,rd of the race Moderation in all things" IS the
yoden rule of lfe-for theitable, no less than for
,thep things-and its observation is far more condu
i've TO real and lasting enjoyment than all the Sc
luctive banquets of Apicius or Epicurus. The
,omelv old English saying that enough is as good
IS a feast is sound philosophy, as well as true
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