Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-05-07
TTA-raLEs.

The Russian gentlemen drink their tea
out Of glasses the ladies out Of china.
Thefe Is az amusing legend attached to this
custom. The first tea cups flor Russia)
were made at Cronstsdt, with a view of
that city at the bottom of the cup. Il
often happened that the proprietors OF the
cafes did not make the tea so black as was
desirable, from motives of economy, and
transparent liquor was the result. Where
upon a waggish customer summoned the
proprietor, and, pointing TO his cup. ex-
claimed :" / see Cronstadt" The saving
passed into proyerb, and so, to prevent
their customers seeing CrOnstadt" any
more, glasses were introduced, at the bot
tom Of which they could see nothing. No
article on tea could omit mention of DR..
johnson and his great Partially for that
beverage. In his review of Hanway's
Tea and los Pernicious Consequences,
he proclaims himself as "a hardened and
shameless tea drinker, who has for many
years diluted his meals with only the in
fusion of this fascinating plant whose
kettle has scarcely time to cool /; who with
tea amuses the evening, with tea solaees
the mdnight5, and with tea welcomes the
morning" "Bozzy" says that ne suDposes
AiO INC SNCA GA4itySAl Win more T6lSQ b5iS
fragrant leaf than johnson. The ouanti-
ties he drank of it at all hours were 30
great that his nerves must have been IN
commonly strong not to have been ex.
tremeiy relaxed by such an intemperate
use of it. 1t ia related of him, but not by
Boswell, thar, while on his Scotch tour, the
Dowager Lady Macleod, having repeatedly
helped min until sic had poured ont six.
teen cups, then asked him If a small basin
would not be more agreeable and save him
trouble 81 wonder, madam" he an
swered roughly, why all the ladies should
ask me such questions. 1t is to save them
selves trouble. madam, and not me-" On
another occasion he said What de-
lightful beverage must that be that pleases
all palates at time when they can take
nothing else at breakfast" Crocker men
tons that the Doctors teapot held two
quarts,
Five O'Clock tea is by no means modern
invention. 1t is of Swiss origin, and ia
mentioned in the "Almanaeh des Gour-
mands. ''About o'clock in the evening
the lady of the house makes herself in the
middle of the drawing room some very
strong tea, softened by few drops of rich
cream; slices of bread and butter are
served with IL. Sueh IS the Swiss tea In
all its simplicity; but in rich houses there
are added cakes, preserved fruits, and even
ices. 1t is served every day, and is the
only meal to which strangers are invited"
Let US end with a statement of Balzac's.
We cannot pretend to know whence he de-
rived it. The English Government (date
not mentioned) allowed three criminals,
condemned to death, to choose between be.
ing hung, or to live exclusively on tea,
coffee or chocolate, without adding any
other liquid. They accepted, and drew
lots for the drink. The one who lived on
chocolate died in eight months. The one
who lived on coffee lasted two years. But
the man of tea enjoyed existence for three
years. Balzac adds details of the particu-
lar way in which each died, but they would
hardly be welcome at the dinner or break
fast table. London Globe.