The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-06-02

hot rum punch from the fat. bellied bottles
Of red Jamaica, or gin todles from the
high shouldered Dutch bottles Of that
compound, had we had taste or stomach
for them. We were given to understand
that we were not expected to retire to bed
because of this finale to the feast, but that
it was always at this hour this course was
here served, and each followed out his
taste and inclination of stepping in here
at this hour, or before retiring, to suit
their convenience.
On retiring, maid aud man servant were
in attendance at our rooms as before, and
We were informed that nine o'clock was
the hour for family prayer and breakfast,
but that the latter was served TO guests in
the house any time after that hour till
twelve We chose, however, to be ready
at the first mentioned hour next morning,
when, as we entered the breakfast-room
We found the servants standing in line,
awaiting US. Prayer was read, after which
breakfast was served. BY the side OF
each ones plate were any letters and
papers that had come down for them by
the early mail from London, and il was
quite in order to open and read the letters
while breakfast was being broughtin, that
being one at which no ceremony was re-
quired, our host appearing in velvet
shooting jacket, and madam in a morning
wrapper and plain collar Everything at
this meal was free and easy as possible,
all ceremony dispensed with, a footman
and maid performing the service, and
those at the table reading aloud an occa.
sional extract from the Times as they
slipped their coffee, giving a bit of news
from u letter, or making plans for amuse.
ment and employment during the day.
An English breakfast is very different
affair from the solid, bountiful repast of
that name in America. The substantial
surlon or tenderloin steak You seldom see
ut an English breakfast-table the nearest
approach to it is "chops, aud those are
considered hearty Those dyspepsia pro-
moters, the American hot biscuit, are also
missing. Neither are there oysters, or
fried potatoes, or buckwheat cakes, and
rarely broiled chicken. Indeed, the art
of chicken cooking in all England is infe-
rior TO that practiced at our American
first-class hotels Neither is there hot
brown bread, or Indian cake, or fapjacks.
Tomatoes, which are dressed aud eaten
in so many forms in America, and the
various styles Of serving oysters, seem to
be but little known in England. A friend
of mine, noticing that there were tomatoes
exposed for sale at green.grocer's, in n
country town in England, near the hotel
at which he was staying, ordered the land
lord to provide some for his dinner, and,
in answer to the question as to how he
would have them served, replied raw.
Imagine his surprise at finding, when the
succulent fruit was served that the cook
had scoped out the entire inside of it,
leaving but thin rind to be eaten
A still more amusing story is told, of
which it is averred that no less an impor-
tant parsonage than the late George. Pea.
body, the celebrated American banker,
was the hero. 1t appears that Mr.. Pea u.
body had invited three Englishmen to
meet two Americans at dinner, and on
this occasion, having received as n gift
ten ears of green corn, determined to
renew the recollections of his youth, as
tonish his English and please his American
guests by having it served up in the well
known American style
Accordingly, at proper time, plates of
butter and salt were placed before each
guest, and the banker, with something of
an air of mystery, announced that he was
now about to treat his guests to a we'll
known and delicious American dish of
food, cooked in the American manner. 1t
would be no novelty to his American guests,
but the Englishmcn must watch how it
was disposed of by them, aud follow their
example and manner of disposing of it.
Then at signal, enter stately butler
bearing large covered dish, which he de-.
posted solemnly before Mr.. Peabody. la
moment more, in obedience to the bank
ers nod, he whisked off the cover, and
there, before the astonished guests, was
displayed pile Of ten boiled corn coJsl
The banker gazed for an instant in
mute horror and dismay, and then found
voice to demand an explanation, which was
finally reached when the cook was sum
moned-a fellow who had never before
seen an ear of Indian corn in his life
who replied that he had followed his
masters directions to "strip off all the out
side before boiling" which he had done
most faithfully, not only husks, as was in.
tended, but kernels also, so that the bank
er had only what is in America the mute
evidence Of the feast to indicate what were
his good intentions to his guests.
The majority of heavy English dine rs
makes very light breakfast; not but that
my host had prOfusion, but it was OF the
English style of breakfast; rashers of
English bacon done to turn; eggs drop.
ped, fried, or boiled, the boiler placed be.
fore you on table, with minute-glass
attached to regulate cooking to your taste,
as no two persons like an egg boiled in
the same manner mullins, fresh, or split
and toasted broiled fish a species Of
toasted or roasted herring Fiuian had.
dock, cold meat, tongue, and picked
tongues, two kinds Of cold meats, and cold
game pies at the sidcboard, from which
the servants helped you, or il was in order
to rise and help yourself. Bread sweet,
white aud close grained, at least one day
old golden butter, and delicious honey to
eat with it tea or coffee from the silver
service, at which madam presided, or a
mug of beer from a silver tankard, if you
preferred it.
Rising from the breakfast-table, we pro,
ceed to one of the drawing rooms, with its
open windows letting in the flower per,
fumed breeze from the garden and lawn
and discuss how to amuse ourselves for
the forenoon. Shall ii be horseback rid
ing, croquet on the lawn, a jaunt over tC
the fsh pond and row upon the water
or ride in the carriage through the leafy
lanes and the pleasant country2 We
choose the last aud carriages and horses
were ordered, which soon appeared with
their liveried drivers, and away we bowl
over the smooth English road, the host.
eldest boy scampering after or riding be-