Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-10-16
WHAT MEN EAT.

| French philosophers enjoyed a repast entirely
composed of equine materials. The soup, the
| bouilli, the roti the outlets, the frcasse, and
a host of other dishes, were all horse-it was,
in fact, regular horse feed and although
the world in general was inclined to treat it
with horse laugh, the men of science were
animated by fit of gastronomic benevolence,
and sought to break through a prejudice
which appeared to them undesirable with a
crowded population and high price of food.
M. pAbbe LIE Noir had taken up the subject
of aimentation, and boldly bids Europe learn
| the lessons and consult the experience of the
Chinese. The worthy able considers that our
dietic prejudice are simply the result of the
fertility of our soil and the comparative spar
sity of our population; and if no great catas-
trophe, like the barbaric invasions and the o.
verthrow OF the Roman empire, should again
reduce our numbers, he anticipates the time
when necessity will conquer daintiness, ,and we
must be content to waste nothing, but eat
every thing that is digestibe, excepting, we
suppose, our civilized slaves. French officers
have brought from China and Cochin China,
specimens of all kinds Of comestbles unknown
to or unused in Europe, and they stand in the
bottles and cases of the Conservatoire, sug-
gesting gustative experiments to all families
and cooks. NJ. LIE Noif remarks. that while
the flesh of the dog is thought in Europe to be
one of the worst kinds of food, in China, lit en-
joys an excellent reputation, and is regularly
exhibited for sale in the butchers shops.
Nay, more. Chinese farmers breed variety
of dog with special view to its culinary dis
tinction. 1t is an animal easy to fatten, like
a Berkshire pig, and is known as the meat
dog, (chier de boucheris.) 1t resembles a wolf
dog, but the tongue and interior Of the mouth
are black. A dog of this kind is at present
one of the Inhabitants of Paris. The commits
sariat officer bought lot of fatted beasts in
Cochin China, and among them was this crea-
ture, of whom the sailors made pet instead of
dinner, and so his lie was spared.
ssSome of our restaurants says the able,
s'are accused of Serving up cat for rabbit, but
the Chinese have no need for this mystery,
and their provision shops are decorated by
enormous cats, suspended either by the head
tail Like their domestic companions the
dogs and cats belong TO the agricultural sys-
tenn of the Celestial empire, and at every farm
we find these animals attached TO small chains,
and put up to fatten with refuse rice.'' Af-
ter dogs and cats, the mind naturally turns to
rats and these, instead of being, as in Eng
land simply as nuisance on farm, are OBJ
jects of solicitude and affectonate care. The
Chinese farmer cannot only show his Cockney
friends his piggery, but also his doggery, his
cattery, and even his rattery. In the corners
of walls he places bottles in which the rats
make their nests, and in due season he goes
TO the rattery for supply OF young rats, just
in the same manner, says the able, as we go
to our dove-cotes to get pigeons for pie
Net only do the Chinese take the frog into
their pantries, but they eat all of him, not con-
fining themselves to the hind legs; and even
that more repulsive batrachian, the toad, is
not allowed to escape the omnivorous nav
ssnot a single capraud is lost in Chlna,'' eX-
claims the abbe, in economic enthusiasm.
The cookery, by which these various members
of the animal kingdom are rendered fit for
table is highly praised. The ssChinese are the
best roasters in the world !" they adopt the
old English plan before bottle jacks were in
vented, and make twisted thread of worsted
turn their delicacy until it is nicely done.
Then, whatever the MATERIAL it is chopped in
to small pieces, favored with national sauce,
called SANTA, and served up with rice, no one
being able to make out what the dish is COM
posed of.
In Europe we waste good many sorts of
she'll -fsh-not so the Chinese they eat all,
even the large fresh water muscle. (anodanta,)
which are to be found in the mud of English
ponds. A monster snail. (voluto melo,) is
favorite article, and the able is glad to tell us
that Paris is making progress, and that already
snals can be bought of any merchandise come
stibLes. The insect tribes are not forgotten by
the celestial foragers; exquisite dishes are
composed of spiders, and superiuous silk
worms are conducted to the pot. Grubs and
caterpillars are popular delicacies, and when
the silk is wound off the cocoons, the chry-
sails is taken out and formed into nourish-
ing food. Zoophytes contribute their quota
to the national commissariat. and large sea
cucumber, (holothuria,) appears in a variety
of wavs Sea-weeds are also laid under con-
tributon the so called Chinese grass is said
to be the gelideum corneum, and to be capa-
bic of yielding the substance recently known
in London as Japanese Isinglass."
Mr.. Payne has examined the celebrated
birds nests, and finds thai the Salangene
swallow produces o mocus secretion, which
gives them their peculiar quality and which be
names cubilose. In China, plate of birds
nest soup costs twelve francs, and in Paris
similar quality has been sold for one hundred
and twenty francs So valuable is this article,
that rich China man, who had been ruined,
repaired his shattered fortunes by the Gscov-
cry of Salangane cavern, out of which he
made onehundred thousand francs.
How UNION MEN ARE TREATED IN TENNEs-
sEE.-In copy of Brownlow's Whig. notice
the advertisement of poor widow, for the
sale of her house. Her husband was shot by
a Confederate captain. He was hard-worK-
ing man, and a bold Union man. He had, the
day before, hoisted the flag of his country on
pole, at street corner, near by his dwell
ing. For this offence he was set upon by two
ruffians, fired upon some half dozen times with
reyolvers, and wounded. He ran into his
house, where, seizing gun, he put his cow
ardly assalants to flight. The next day his
murderer posted himself in the attic of a house
near by, and, espying his victim through the
window, shot him, infictiDg mortal wound.
The next day one of these ruffians was promo
ted to majors commission, and the other
captaincy. They are in Colonel Vaughn's
regiment of Tennessee volunteers, lately, and
perhaps now, in Virginia, near Manassas Fhis
affair occurred before Tennessee "seceded."
The widow is now endeavoring to sell her lit
tie home and get away from the sight OF such