New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-20
IEd-TALES.
From The London Gto6e.
preparation.

From. The London Globe.
The Russian gentlemen drink their yea out Ol
glasses the ladies out of china There Is an anus
ing legend attached to this custom. Inc frst TEA
cups for RussiA) were made at Cronstadt, with
on az Of the cafes did not
make the tea 80 black as was desirable, from mo
tives OF economy. and a transparent liquor was the
result. Whereupon waggish customer summoned
the proprietor and, pointing to his cup exclaimed:
see CIonstadt.n The saying passed into proyerD
and so to prevent their customers seeing Cron-
stadt" any mole, glasses were introduced. at the
bottom of which they could see nothing
No article on tea could omit mention or LII. John-
son and his great partially for that In
consequences" he proclaims himself as" hardened
and shameless tea-drinker, who has for many years
diluted his meals with only the INFUSION Of . ;nls
to cool who with tea amuses the evening With tea
solaces the midnights and with tea welcomes the
morning." BOzzy" says that he supposes no one
ever enjoyed with more relish the fragrant leaf than
johnson. The quantities he drank OF ut all hours
great that his nerves must have been uncom-
monty strong not to have been extremely relaxed by
such an incorporate of it, 1t is related OF him,
but not by Boswell that Will st on his Scotch tour,
the Dowager Lady Macleod, having repeatedly
helped him. until she had poured out sixteen cups,
then asked him if a small basin would not be moro
agreeable, and save him trouble. IL wonder,
madam he answered roughly, why oil the ladies
should ask mo such questions. 1t is to save them
selves trouble. madam, and not me-" IN another
occasion he said: "What q delightful beverage
must that be that pleases all pslates at tlme
when they can take nothing else at breakfast"
Croker mentions that the doctors teapot held two
FIVE o'clock tea is by no means modern inven-
tion 1t is of Swiss origin and is mentioned in the
Almanach des Commands" About O'CLOCK IN
the evening tho lady of the house makes herself in
the middle of the drawing-roOm some very strong
tea. softened by a few drops of rich cream slices
of bread and butter served with it. Such 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 it is the only meal
to which strangers are invited The well-known
stlngnes, Of the Swiss renders this extremely prob
able 1t is to be hoped that the tes was better in
those days than it is now, or a short time ago.
One shoulders on recalling to mind the appalling
mixture contained in the hotel teapots.
Let us end with statement Of Balzacs. We can
not pretend TO knew whence he derived 1T. The
English Government tdato not mentionedl allowed
three criminals condemned to death. to choose be-
tween being hung or to live exclusively on tea,
coffee, or chocolate without adding any other nour-
Ishment whatever, or being permitted to drink 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 partlc
ular way in which each died; but they world
hardly be welcome at the dinner or breakfast table,