Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-10-08
Ancient Oriental EessiIng.

Roman giuttony became 50 eAceo'i.o
that claws were framed TO repIes' az, ~,
ard a decree passed, interdicting tne
use of certain dishes at their PuDllS
feasts. The Emperor Hairian lssueu
an edict. prohibiting all persons Irom
bathing before the eighth hour, 10 pie
vent the abuse of the bath, when was
much used after excessive gorging, 10
give relief by assisting the olges.d,ond; d,ad
The Emperor Titus IS said 10 nave uieu
from this cause.
Between Greek and Roman extrava-
pance there was wide distinction. Inc
Greeks were much more refined, tein-
perate and artistic; IN their States
individuals were not able, as IN Rome,
to amass vast wealth; of that they dlu
possess they expended more upon art
and less upon indulgence. Inc no
mans had no social arts, and endeavor-
ed to supply their deficiency by prolu-
sion. They hired dancers, SINGERS
musicians and testers u amuse tnen.
Throughout Greece it was esteemed
reproach not to know how to play, sing
and dance; music was introduced at
banauets. and the guests were expected
to sing. The arts and graces were IN
nate IN the Greeks; the Romans ohiy
borrowed them.
There is such a close affinity between
the Roman and German cookery anu
festive habits, that | believe all thas
now remains of Roman gastronomlc ART
must be sought only in modern Ter
many. The agro-dolce sauces, by
which the former was characterized,
still distinguish the latter. The cdd
commingling of meat and fish, OF sweet
fruit sauces with meats, the larger pro-
portions of wine used IN their dishes.
certain viands having boiling vinegar
poured over them just asithey are ready
to be served, and the variety OF sausages,
including those made of fish, which are
said to have been invented by the En-
peror Hellogobalus-al suggest no
man origin. Though the light OF the
kitchen fire was probably the brightest
spot in the Dark Ages, yet as its refiec-
ton has not come down to us, we can
only conjecture that barbarian kings
would feast, as they did everything else,
coarsely and ravenously. The contl-
mental nations preserved traditional
traces of Roman luxury and Eastern
festivity, extinguished by long series
of invasions and disasters, revived In
much more agreeable fern under the
Siracens. An old writer relates that
the cook of an inn served a poisoned
shoulder of mutton on no less person.
age than Mahomet, remarking with
cynicism quite modern IN character,
''If he is a prophet, he will discover II;
if he is an impOstor, no matter what
becomes of him."
The ARABIAN Nights" furnish pic
turesque accounts of the graceful ban
quets of the true believers, to which
flowers and perfumes were as necessary
as food. Tinted meats and grains.
snowy pullets, reposing on plateaus OF
rice, chickens as rosy as the flowers that
surround them; the wine of dates, and
occasionally the forbidden vintage OF
the intidel; with the variety of fruit,
5weetmeats and cakes, which formed
the basis of all their entertainments,
are described over and over again. But
il is the perfect social equality OF all
true MuSselmans which strikes so forci-
bly, IN those fascinating romances The
III, al of the traveller is ready III every
house; every guest that appears Is well
come, irrespective OF condition. III a
man exhibits emotion when he diScoy-
ers that he has been unwittingly sup
ping with the Callph himself, it is not
the rank that disturbS him, but the con-
5 j, usnesS that he might have lost his
h adam infallible consequence, If any
o. his words or looks had given um-
bragg to the despot. With this one little
drawback all are equal. Zobede and
her sisters entertain the porter who
carried home their provisions. the three
Calendars, and the disguised Caliph and
his Vizier, with equal hospitality. And
the ouly difference that | perceived in
the guests at this charming supper is
that the peter appears to be the most
sensible of the party. Where there Is
any objection to eating in uniting sit
uations, the difficulty arises from some
sONrce quite apart from the condition
of the company. When the Vizier and
Agib's grandmother are indignant with
tie servant who has taken their relative
to feast in the cooks shop at Dimas-
Gus, it is evident that the cause of their
wrath must be sought elsewhere than
in the diverse ranks of the parties. But
as it WIS customary to perform ablu
tiOnS before eating, and as the Orientals
are strict observers of etiquette, fancy
consequent on taking a repast at Il
cooks shop, which enraged the child's
distinguished friends.