The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-17

"Try bit of lamprey fattened on a young maiden-a Gallic slave, suppose. No? It's curiosity. merely of singular delicacy. Heliogubulus liked it; but if it grates in the least on your sensibilities, you are quite right in refusing it. lrareiy take it myself-,t's too cloying. Ah, here is a pleasant thing-a simple bird nest, but Chinese. Let us degust it."
 He selected another bottle, dipped in another wire and put the latter in his box Tn place of the one already in position.
 As directed by his gesture, swallowed another pill; the nerves of taste thrilled in fibre with the pleasure of the havors which recognized.
 The science of composing dinner, , said he, beamng on me benignantlY as the delightful taste slowly evanesced from our palates-" the science of composing a dinner lies in so selecting your viands and arranging them in consecutive courses that each course shall m ike you raven ously hungry for the particular thing which is to follow, and for nothing else.
 Then, and only then, will you attain perfect dinner. Now, is there not a tender, subtle harmony between the Dir IS nest oi China and the plovers egg of merry England? That gentle twinkle in your eye IS sufficient answer. Let 1t be an egg"
 Another bottle, another wire, another pill But l cannot describe that banquet. 1 have no words titly to record the rav- !shing ecstasy which overwhelmed every sense as 1 swallowed pill after pill and goblet afier goblet of water. Now it was the brain of the peacock. then young pheasants roasted inside of sucking pigs now an unknown wine brilliant and sparkling; then one redo!ent of the dark hued clusters of Bourgogne-stra Al rican wines from the palm-Julces from rare tropical fruits. Hours seemed to pass unmarked, save by the recurrence of new yet always harmonious savors. No feeling ct repleion marred the perfect pleasure of the sym mposium.
 Some tlavors seemed to me like strains ot sweet music, amorous and lute-like :; others rang and reyerberated through my nerve oenters like the blare oftrumpets and clash of brasseS. while others again called up memoties which wre he'd and entwined themselves iato tender symphonies. We had one pill which was given the hlvor ot pastry of pearls, violets and honey from Cleoparas tomb, he said-lhat somehow mingled in my inner ear with the clinglng notes of faintly sounding z'ther, bringing to mind q long forgotten tune that had never known, yet seemed to know again despite myself
 Was this the earthly paradise? sup pose l uttered this last aloud No," he replied solemnly listen and think"
 A draught of something bitter, etferves- cent and acid, which he gave me, then aroused my perceptions, and again the desire to know the secret began to re. place every other thought. listened breathlessly as he spoke
 We are now," said he, Gin the year ot grace 1885 The marvels of teddy were the wllo vagaries of the visionary of yesterday. The vagarics of to-day will astonish and conquer the world of to. morrow
 Twenty years ago, who would have dared to predict that you in New York could talk to me in Chicago that here could control your auditory nerves I GOO miles away by the aid of electricity and line of wire? If electricity can affect one set of sensory nerves, why not an other set?
 We have found the machinery for making it affect the nerves of hearing is 1t unreasonable to believe that VIC can hud other machinery for making it in- tluence the nerves of taste3 If tele- phone, why not telegust?"
 True" l exclaimed, but where is it?"
 Here" he said triumrhantly, placing his hand upon the still covered box "here is the machine. Here" pointing to the case of little bottles aud the wires " are the contrivancss through which it works. In these minute vials are frag- ments of the real food preparations which have just delighted your palate. You have seen me place an intinitesimal par ticle of sach into that box, which con- tains-'
 "What ?" interrupted, unable to con- tain myself.
 Wait, and you shall know For the present understand that there is within 1t small but powerful electrical battery for producing the current. That current goes through the particle of food inserted in the apparatus. The current is thus wholly modified in character. It be- comes gyratory. That's one of the great principles of my discovery. Just as the telephone current is said to be 'undula- tory, so 1 claim that the telegust current IS gyratory.
 "A gyr ltory current has extraordinary properties, but resembles the undula,ory current in only one: that is, that while know it is there, no one can prove its eX. lstence. Yet gyrations are essential to all telegusts.
 " Is the idea not luminous? The cur rent is led through the body by the brace let, goes through the gustatory nerves and mikes you taste whatever material l put into the teleguss without regard to whatever you may be actually eating. Is 1t not beautifully simpler"
 = It is-it is," murmured, gazing ad. mirinsly at the great inventor, but edg- jug gradually toward the instrument The yearninp I pneSeese1 to DonncA ,non