Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-02-16


not therefore be inclined to recon-
mend all aspirants for poetic hon
ors to pursue a similar course, lest
sleeplessness and red eyes should
indeed be apparent, but another
+" Wallenstein" " or Marie Stuart"
be found lacking.
In the matter Of breakfasts tne
French have given the law to Flu
rope and the Latin world, and had
we been wise we also should con-
tent to learn of the "greqt nation"
Our neighbors have long recognized
the cardinal truth that the stomach
ON first awakening to consciousness
and a sense of another days trou-
BILE, requires to be comforted and
stayed with gentle and stimulating
ailments; hence the early cup Of
coffee OF chocolate with a morsel of
bread, followed at an interval of
three or four hours by the substan-
tial meal, which it then begins to
imperatively demand. The second
breakfast is of course the equivalent
of the Britannia lunch, except that
it seems somehow or other to be q
lighter and brisker affair. The fact
is that the Briton who has taken a
first solid meal, in accordance with
national customs, has no ned for
lunch, which somebody has de-
scribed as an insult to breakfast
and an injury to dinner. Though
there can be no doubt of the sound
ness of the French rule in regard
to breaking the nights fast-name-
ly, by gradual and well-conSidered
steps there has been good deal
Of discussion as to the propriety Of
commencing the day with a cup Of
coffee and milk, Some doctors have
charged on this custom half the
dyspepsia wherewith Gallo organs
Of digestion are affected, besides
countless other ills, till one almost
expects to hear the loss Of Alsace-
Lorraine and the five milliards
traced to the baneful influence of
the matutinal.
Again, though chocolate, pure
and simple, is not prescribed, choc-
olate with the addition Of vanilla
is pronounced extremely unwhole-
some by the faculty. Bread and
milk, or a plate of soup, is said to
be the safest of all morning refec-
tions. NJ. Alexandra Dumas has
been good natured enough to in
form the world that he invariably
begins the business of the day by
warming himself a plate of soup
which has been left out for him the
night before. He can thus get up
at whatsoever hour he pleases, in
dependently of servants whims,
refresh himself, and set to work till
noon. 1t is, however, essential
that the first breakfast, however
slight, should be agreeable-should
if, possible, be an incentive to leave
ones bed. Therefore, if a man
feels a repugnance TO bouil-
Ion early in the morning, he had
better take something that he does
like. If he smokes and takes his
wine, he is pretty sure not to be too
fond of bread and milk. There is
q tolerably ample choice Of bever-
ages before him, and as he takes
one or the other of them he may
solaoe himself with the thought
that he is following an illustrious
example. The late Emperor Ma.
poleon invariably fortified himself
for dealing with the affairs of the
State by coffee and milk. The
pope is reported to prefer black
coffee, with which cordial fluid his
soldiers were also cheered in the
early morning hours, while rs yet
he had an army, Unhappily for a
Catholic priest, however, he can
never begin the day with material
aids; for mass must first be said
fasting.