The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-08-14
SUMMER EATING AND DRINKING.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.

INC utSt placc, munger aDa tnlfSt anu. aitefWaFiy
the palate, made capricious and exscting by long
indulgence A history OF the dietetic usagss
OF the different races and tribes now spreadover
the face OF the world would almost deter US from
laying down rules for selecting the kinds of food
best adapted to the attainment of health and
bodily vigor. Passing as decidedly ex-
ceptionsl the cases of those of the poor wretches
who, with stomach equal to that of an ostrich,
have swallowed and partially digested jack
knives. rusty nails, and the like, we come to the
people of the extreme north, such the Green
landers and Esquimaux, who luxuriate on the
grossest animal tood-blubber, bears flesh, etc ;"
and contrast them with the inbabitaut. of the /
extreme south, such the Hindoos and people F,
of Central Africa and islands of the Pacific,
whose food is almost entirely vegetable
The aborigines of Australia mainly car
niverous; they enjoy very much as relishes,
grubs and ants, with their eggs. We must 90
beyond the animal and vegetable kingdoms to
look to the mineral if we would learn the entire
range of the substances used by man for food.
Humboldt tells that the Ottomagues, upon
the banks of the Orinoco, feed on fat, unctuous
earth, species OF pipe clay, tinged with little
oxide of iron. They collect this clay very care
fully, distinguishing it by the taste, and knead
it into balls of four or five inches in diameter,
which they bake slightly before slow fire -
O."
be used, aud each individual eats about pound
of the material every Gay. The only addition
which they make to this unnatural fare consists
of small fish, lizards and fern roots:
|. These apparent vagaries of appetite-aud the
list might be easily enlaged-are really the re-
suit of the necessities of the people, who are
unable to procure more abundant and nutritive
food The actual difference in the proportional
consumpt ption of ANIMAL and vegetable subs tances
must be sought for in geological causes, climate
and soil The inhabitants of high northern
attitudes require much larger supply Of animal
food, and that of grosser quality than those
in temperate climates; while the latter, again,
more carniverous than the inhabitants of the
equatorial regions, whose food is chiefly vege-
table 1n climate like that of the United
States, in which our assimilate US to the
extremes of almost arctic cold and tropical heat,
We ought to obey correspondingly varied rules
of hygiene. In our manner of living during the
summer months we ought to copy from the 2eo-
pie of Southern Europe, if not from those of
India and southern China.
Our meals should be light, and large pro-
portion Of vegetable substances and fruits but
in saying this do not to include dam
aged or badly cooked vegetables, sour bread or
unripe fruit A little improvement in the cul-
mary art-a thing, by the way, sadly needed
would furnish with the addition of milk and
eggs, great variety of Dishes both nutritive
and palatable. AT this season fresh meat is not |
required, and, except to the hard laboring man,
is not wholesome more than once day, aud
then in the earlier part of it. The heavy sup
pers enjoyed in Winter now distasteful
and if taken they are apt to disorder the diges
ton and prepare the way for serious disease -
We know <that fatal results have followed a
hearty supper of lobster and other shell fish.
Next in importance to the question Of the
digestibiIity and wholesomcness of the several
articles of food is that of the time of the day or
the. meal at which they are taken The Span
iards have saying about the use Of pineapples
| or, some allege, oranges-which is appli-
| cable to the use of fruits: Gold in
| the morning, silver at noon, lead at night " We
| laid stress on this point when speaking OF the
| reveution o. cholera. This lesson cannot be
| too often repeated If a trial is to be made Of
new article of food Of one of doubtful digesti-
| biity, let it be at breakfast, but never IN the
| evening.
| AS relates to drinks at this season, nature
points out those sautary Foremost and
mainly is cool water, to which frequently acids
are added, With the effect Of still more readily
! auenching the thirst.
A convenient substitute for lemon Juice will
| be found in vinegar, which, with the addition of
molasses makes a pleasant, refreshing beverage
The same may be said of cream of tartar punch,
as it is cailed-hot water poured on cream of
tartar, sweetened Slices of apple treated in
the same way are good. A refreshing and tonic
mineral lemonade is made by the addition of
half teaspoonful of tartar sweetened Simple
sweet drinks, such as sugar water, and mo'asses
water, will aesuage thirst, and are relished by
| persons using them. Sugar water is a common
drink among the French. A young Partisan
dandy will stop at coffee house and take it in
stead of a more stimulating beverage Copying
still the habits of the southern people of Eu-
rope, should avoid at this season ardent
spirits aBd the stronger boiled wiaes giving the
preference to claret and the Rhine wines, and
those of home production, from Pennsylvania,
Ohio and California. Tea is to be preferred to
coffee.
| BRIGHAM You've AND HIS WIVES There
isa legend that, one day, a woman went to