The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-09

account of its greatness that dinerent lashlons
hccon,e nrevaient ut different times IN an ap-
nerentIv arbitrary manner. It Is easier to de-
Eide that is. in accordance with common prae-
tice. than to 90 profoundly into the merits Oh
the question. And perhaps in matters Of eat
ia~ and drinking it is as well that speedy de-
cision should be thus attainable. There ls,
however, principle applicable to the case.
when it is worth seeking for an application.
There is certain correlation between the
various faculties of men whish may ultimately
bring what are apparently questions Oh mere
physical taste before O higher trlouna.
savage, we may presume, likes MS lneat Oh
raw as possible; the meat undergoes greaeer
change In proportion to the increase OF clvlli-
zation: and we may therefore presume .na1
IL should be modified so much as 70 aVold
shockinp the delcacy generated oy Inc
eYisting stage OF refinement, and yet
NOT SO much as to destroy the variety
of flavor which o cultivated palate Is
capable of appreciating. Or, take more
definite example, there was certain analogy,
and probably very close one, between the
port wine which aided or obfuscated the legal
penetration of past generation OF Chancei-
lors and Judges, and the thinner and more dell
cate fluids in favor with their successors. Inc
obvious connection between national character
and national dishes is too obvious to be pointed
out, and it may be assumed that a certain re
action exists, SO that by improving the British
beefsteak we might insensibly elevate the
British character. We admit that arguments
Of this order are Of difficult application, and
that there are wide limits of uncertainty with
in which differences OF individual taste may
fairly oscillate. But that only amounts to say
ing that there are o great many dishes WHICH
may be eaten or declined without moral turp,-
tude, and that there are many points on which
differences of taste and character may co-exlss
with great advantage to the country.
The conclusion, then, Is that even IN ques-
tlons Of eating and drinking careful opserVa-
ton would lead us to the opinion that they are
intimately connected with various socla
and moral principles, and that there is cohse-
ouently abundant room for legitimate argu-
nent. AS rule, In matters OF such renhe-
ment, we have to judge rather by lnstinct tnan
by the coarser logical methods; YET tne lnsllncI
itself is not an ultimate fact, but, IKE moral
instincts, matter for historical and scientiaG
inquiry The disputes which may arise WILL
have to be decided in the last resort by the or
dinary methods of inductive observation. vi
course we must finally come to certain axloms,
as In every kind OF scleutifc inquiry. Whst
they are, and how their validity Is to be estao-
lished. is question for psychologists; but rs
matter of fact they are axioms in which eyery
one believes, though why he believes, and now
they bear upon any given problem, may os
matter for discussion. And further, what we
have said in reference to bcefsteaks and VINE
Is equally applicable, with certain mod!Dca-
tions. to paintings, music and poGtfy; though
we have preferred to take the case In which
the supremacy CT individual taste is at first
sight the most unquestion0blG.