The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-11-11
FAT PORK.

n
All great minds have their eccentrici-
ties-their affinities of taste-their lido
syncracial biases-th6ir hobbies of APP
petite-their pivotal attractions-their
epicurian monomanie. Fat pork is
mine.
There is flavor about the delicacy
that can be found in nothing else. The
unctuous, juicy richness of nice pork
steak, cut well forward on the tender
loin-a slice of light brown meat,
streaked with semi-transparent fat, for
all the world like an agate stone-has
charms for me that few other edibles
have. | admire ham, esteem bacon
fiat and lean together, broiled to a
turn, with bit of lemon squeezed over
i)-but love tenderloin!
o golden days of boyhood! How
fondly does my soul gaze backward
with yearning eyes, looking wistfully
through the lorgnette of memory,
toward the halcyon hours l passed in
the valley of the Mississippi-that laud
of fever and ague and swivel The name
of Illinois will forever be coupled in my
mind with the name of tenderloin and
thus made forever dear. How well l
remember going again and again to
Gou's slaughter-house on the Piasa
creek in Middle Alton and getting
large tin pail full of the delicious streaky
pieces-beautiful in their freshness of
rose and snowfall for the inconsidera-
BILE sum of ten cents! And the next
mornings breakfast of tenderloin
crisply broiled, with its gravy poured
over the buckwheat cakes, crisply bakedi
All. why did | ever leave that region of
the setting sun? | have eaten perigord
pate since them have known the joys
of per1rir GUT trufeS-but my gastric
longings still revert to those happy days.
Let ne pause and drop a tear.
/ sat at the long table of the Banquet
House, in the pleasant town of Ingle-
ton, whittier ! had been called on i'm
portant business. As usual, was late
at breakfast always am-but there
was reason for it on this occasion, for
very pretty young lady and her broth
er had also way of coming late.
Three mornings had met them there
and we had got to know one another
so that we exchanged those little eye
recognitions that betoken a readiness
for further acquaintance. If had
bowed to my fair table neighbor she
would have returned the salutation. If
she had smiled and made as if she
would speak" 1 should have bowed.
But we were both observant of etiquette
and did not trespass upon its rules so
far. / am naturally difiident-so was
she; and we contented ourselves with
the salaam of chances aforementioned
until the third morning.
She entered the dining-room leaning
on her brothers arm and looking mex
pressibly charming, in a lowered dress
ing gown, bOrdered with broad scarlet
stripes, and confined about the round,
slender waist by scarlet cord and tas-
sci. Her hair, which was very thick
and dark, was loosely and tastefully ar
ranged with a few little sprays of hello
trope; or something of that sort, care
lessly thrust into its shadOwy tresses.
Her coquettish collar, of white mar
settles. cut in rounded points and but
ton-hole stitched with red silk, encir-
cled a neck of the most bewitching
whiteness and grace of contour. A Sc
rene, yet vivaciOus smile played about
her clear, haZel-gray eyes, with their
long, dark lashes, and her exquisite
mouth, which combined the soft, coral
line pink of some sea-shells, with the
dewy freshness of a rosebud. Her hands
and arms were like her throat, very
white and of the finest form, and were
innocent of any bedizening, if | except
a large single-stOne diamond-ring
the forefnger of her right hand. The
only ornaments her other fingers bore
were their own dimpled knuckles and
polished nails, long, narrow, roseate
and Scrupulously cared-for. As she
tripped down the aisle between the two
tables her swaving crinoline disclosed
glimpses of two charming little feet,
arranged in cunning slippers, with bows
of white lace and red ribbon.
Pardon me, gentle reader, but l am
as observant as | am susceptible.
1t was late, even for US, and my wait
er returned, just as the last-cOmers en-
tered, to say that he could not get what
i had ordered-it was all gone. Imedi-
tated over the bill of fare once more and
became interested in the conversation
of the brother and sister, which l could
not help hearing. They were much
given to discussing the fine arts, htera-
ture, etc, and the young man talked
very well, indeed. He knew it, too,
and was never ashamed to have
stranger hear his enthusiastic, poetical,
and oftentimes eloquent perorations.
On this occasion, their theme was music /,
suggested by aconcert, given by some OPP
cratic stars in IngletOn the night before.
There is nothing like the pure
classic school,. said the young gentle
man; lit seems to call forth something
from within, that is far more divine /
than we know of at most times. For
instance, the long-drawn, sobbing mel |
odv of French horns. in some of Won /
Weber's compositions, awakens a con-
ception of Immortality in me, at least, |
that no sermon could ever teach.'
What will you have, sir?" asked .
the waiter, of me.
What is there?'
The man ran his eye down the bill of |
fare and my neighbor continued:
And then, when all the instrument |
tation of a good orchestra is focus /
ing itself up to grand crash what a |
throbbing Impotence of anticipation we /
feelr'
There is nothing" said the waiter, |
Except some tenderloin-pork tender
loin."
"What wild longings and aspirations 4
thrill the heart! What gorgeous glories /
seem ON the point of bursting forth, to /
dazzle the spiritual sight" said the /
young man.
Bring me some," Whispered TO the
waiter
at is rather fat, sir, but very nice"