The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-07-13

DINING IN TEXAs.--A letter from
Houston, Texas, June 10, to the Turf,
Field and Farm, saws: -'
MI, Greeley, in his letters from Texas.
mentions the great abundance of food.
and Its abominable preparation for the
table, and adVertises for forty thousand
cooks to reconstruct the State in this
particular.
This was a hard hit, but few will deny
Its Justice, as the following anecdote
viii prove: Our gifted but eccentric
was called to distant settlement in
consultation over a Enotty case, in which
the local physicians had (for a wOnder1
differed. The family was wealthy il,
Texas goods-lands, cattle, horses, chill
dren and other " country produce D-but,
lamentably poor In culinary aceOmDIish
ments and the kindred arts. Now, no
man ever left the Blue Grass region Of
Kentucky with a keener appreciation Of
the points OF q blood horse, the flavor Of
Bourbon .whiskey and the taste of good
",v1ttles," than the doctor, and he has
always been ready to quit any other
business, however important, to discuss
either OF these subjects, particularly
when opportunity was afforded to films
trate with samples.
But to "return to our muttonH (beef
III this ease After due deliberation,
accompanied with salvOs of bigartillery
words, (the legitimate weapons of the
Iaculty,l, the case was decided, and n
plan OF treatment agreed upon. Dinner
was now announced, and all followed
the little ebony messenger to the dining
room. Here on a long table, without n
covering, was displayed an assortment
OF plates, which, from the variety i'm
size and color, were evidently intended
to suit every popularity of taste ina
croekeTy. The knife and forks was
equally various, and ran through the
huge butchers knife, mounted on a
corn-cob handle, The forks ran down
from, three prongs to twO-one-and
tGrmlnated in a tWo-pronged stick,
mere We're two large platters of boiled
beef, a pan of Yariegated butter. a, big
gingerbread-cOlOred earthen pitcher Of
creek water, and an abundant supply of
pallid, dr0psical- looking chunks Of corn
bread, which on their surface of fracture
presented O marbled appearance aud ex-
hailed peculiar animal Odor.
Ali being seated there was @ long
pause and the lady of the house, de-
eee1ved by the solemn cOuntenance, bald
head and Datriarchal beard of DIR. r.
into the belief that he was q preacher.
broke the silence by requesting him te,
say Grace. The doctor promptly bowed
his head, lifted his hands and in a ne
etlliarly reVeTential tone, so low as to
be only heard By those nearest him,
uttered:
= S1ood Lord--who blessed the 1oaves and fishes,
DO net forgive these dirty dishes;
But add sa1He mamma to this meat
Or something else that's fit to eat;
when We come here again to dine
With shis creek water mix some wine.
We'd huMbly ask If 'twOuld he fair
70 eat otEf butter without hair,
And scrutinize with care the bread,
TO find what tits within that's dead
For these we would our thanks return.
The Madam, here, don't care dtlrn"
:, They who were near enough to catch
the trace made q lively dinner of it,
and the lady was delighted with tbe an
probation of her repast, and on parting
gave pressing invitation to all, to cali
again. F.says he "obeys no more calls
to that ministry,n