Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-06-08
BREAKFAST.
The Morning Meal and What 1t Should Be- Break.
fast in Different Lands.

The Morning Meal and What 1t Should Be- Break
fast in Different Lands.
Harper's BoSor gives these views by
way of answer: But what should break
fast be? Simply, as the name implies,
the fast breaking. Or, as the Germans
call it, Fruhstuck, the " early morsel. -
The French, indeed, reduce their early
morsel to mere cup of coffee or choco-
late, taken on rising, and this suffces
them until noon brings the breakfast
with knife and fork, which IS, indeed,
luncheon of many courses, with fruit
and wine. But this artificial habit doubt
less grew out of the late hours OF the
people, and does not commend itself to
a simpler existence.
The English, on the other hand, from
whom we derive our substantial meal,
break their fast with plenty and elabora-
ton. The kissing urn stands in solid
prosperity at one end of the board, the
tea (always made upon the table, distills
its most fragrant essence within the ugly
but useful "cosy" at its feet; coffee or
chocolate steams in shining silver Dot.
Two or three hot dishes, among them
the inevitable bacon and eggs, announce
themselves liz tempting odors from be-
meath their FURNISHED covers. A monu-
mental muffin plate conceals mysterious
viscera of burning Goals. Above sill
yer tripod hangs cunning egg boiler,
whose flame the solemn butler lights
and tends as if he were the celebrant of
some mystic and depressing rite. A con-
tingent Of we'll Drowned dry toast, "cold
as the fruitless moon," occupies the toast
rack; and jam, marmalade and honey
add color to the feast, while the side
board proffers old joints, game and
vast loaf A well-appointed English
breakfast table is, indeed, as cheerful
sight as a hungry man could desire.
But it is related that cultivated Hindoo
prince, being guest at one, confded to
friend his misgiving that people low
ing such profusion of coarse food could
never become civilized in the fine sense
of that word. And, indeed, except in a
greater refinement of cooking and serv-
ing, such meal differs little from the
beef and Drawn, the boar's head and
mighty hams, divided with the fingers,
and washed down with great mugs OF
strong beer, which made the breakfast
of the gentles OF England in Henry the
Elghth's time.
The German early morsel" consists
of cup of coffee, bread, eggs perhaps,
and comb of golden honey, or some
like dainty. On this fare the fine brain
of Germany has done It's subtle think
ing for generations-the poet his mag
lining, the warrior his planning, the phil
osopher his specializing, the musician
his contriving, the statesman his ethe-
real weaving. the theologian his destroy
ing and up-building. Nay. there was
an earlier nation of poets, orators, phil
osophers, warriors, statesmen, dramat
lists, painters, architects, sculptors--a
nation from which we still borrow the
best we know of art and eloquenoe-
which wrought it's eternal labOrs On a
still simpler effect. The old Greeks
made their breakfast of bread dipped in
wine, to which, in self-indulgent moods,
they added ripe fruit. Dinner, to be
But there were slaves to cook it, and
slaves to serve it; the labors of the day
were done, and the simplicity-loving
Greek might permit himself little ele-
CANT gluttol,y without self-reproach.
Might not we profit by the example OF
the older and the younger nation? A
simple anu llgnU DreakIaSI WOuld go lar
to redeem us from the reproach of being
a nation of dyspeptics. It would great
ly lesson the tolls of the housekeeper,
VIII could teach the most unintelligent
how to prepare good coffee and bread;
and the wholesome Graham pufs var
iously called, or who could herself make
upon the table the best of breakfast tea.
Eggs at some seasons are scarce and
dear. But the matutinal egg would be
far cheaper than the long array of half
spoiled breakfast dishes with which the
conscientious housekeeper struggles
after variety These simple viands
with oatmeal and milk, offer all the
chemical elements required for nutrition,
and may be unfailingly good. This
morning sobriety leaves the head clea.,
the spirits light, the body stimulated,
not clogged. It tends to cultivate sim