Milford chronicle., 1888-01-27
A TRUFFLED FRENCHMAN.
"A ~, trnfles dnctnra,,

"a few trufIies, doctorg'
''No, thank you, " replied DR.. Patesson
turning away with an air of unfeigned re
pugnancc Il have not tasted trufiies fo
lb the past fifteen years"
But you used to be exceedingly fonC
OF them when l knew you long ago
doctor"
every true, but cannot bear the sight
Id of them since was 'trufiled' myself
a look of puzzled surprise appeared on
every face.
1T is a melancholy story, 4" resumed the
doctor sadly, "and as have nothing more
important 10 talk about meantime, may
as well tell it to you now"
After moments silence, during which
he seemed 10 recall deeply painful recol-
lectiOns, the doctor began.
You know that l was attached to the
navy for many years as a physician.
was around the world several times, and
l have experienced all sorts of curious and
dramatic adventures
but it was in 1872 that met with the
most tragic of them all Iembarked at
that time on board the new frigate the
Lessive, charged to make a cruise in the
southern seas. We had a splendid vOy-
age.
''Not single patient was on board.
} Hence, having nothing to occupy my time,
the days dragged heavily on me- The mo-
notony was almost unbearable My only
diversions were at mess.
Il always made it a point to remain at
table rs long as possible, first to kill time,
and second for the pleasure of the meal,
as our cook was man of real genius in
prs department He had a special taste
an the cOncOctiOn of mushroom sauce, such
as l never knew before or since. An ape
rent, spicy, delicious sauce.
''He was, besides, very proud Of his
superior merit in this respect and treated
us to his sauces as often as possible.
With the sauces that he made one could
eat hen that had died of old age and
think it was spring chicken"
The doctor ceased speaking for an in |
stant and smacked his lips in memory of |
these past delicacies.
Il ended by becoming a very intimate |
friend of this talented cook, he con-
tinued. His name was Amedee, and he
had been favored with an education
greatly above his position. We often
talked over our voyages, science and the
art of cookery, and we agreed with one
another on a variety of matters.
AT length it happened that one fine
evening III August the Lessive cast anchor
before a beautiful green island, not even
as yet explored, as it does not figure on
the maps. We had no sooner stopped
than Amedee, wishing to give the captain
a little agreeable surprise by serving up
some fresh fruits, told me that he was
going ashore in the little boat known as the
cabbage packet, and he invited ME to ac-
company him. l accepted. with pleasure.
and, without giving notice to any one,
we entered the boat and soon reached the
shore An hour afterward we were
prisoners among tribe Of savages,
hideously painted and tattOed, and while !
they led us away we had to witness the 1
agonizng sight Of the Lessiye weighing
anchor and proceeding on her way"
DR. Patesson here emptied a glass of
Champagne TO calm the emotions excited
by so painful a romiaiscence.
I'VE were expecting every moment to
be massacred," he went on, 'ibut they {
contented themselves with putting us in {
the guard of huge sort Of devil savage,
armed with pcnderous club. |
This unwelcome attendant did not c
leave US for an instant during the night, Z
and we could see him at times smack his L
chops and rub his stomach in a way that i
but too clearly signifed that he expected o
to make tOothsome meal of both of us. Y
But they did not roast us either the u
next day or in the following few days +
We afterwards learned that this respite n
was solely due to the fact that owing to Il
recent victory, the larder of the tribe was
lbundantly supplied with prisoners of
War.
Zone morning Amedee suddenly ut
cred cry of JOY. lie had just spied at Il
he foot OF big tree large number of b
excellent mushrooms. He filed his II
pockets with them, and that same even 81
NJ, after having gathered all the herbs dl
hat he required, lac cooked an opossum Il
With the famous sauce. m
eve actually cried with ioy as we eat dl
hem. Our jailer after having tasted Ii:
hem. uttered such cry Of pleased sur &c
rise, that the king, or achief. rushed to VI
ur presence. In less than five minutes
had devOured all that remained on the
late
On the following day Amedee, despite
Is horror and repugnance, was forced to
lok prisoners leg in the same manner. =,
While he was engaged in preparing :,
MS horrible dish / was sitting sadly at eh
le foot of tree was thinking that m
y friend was certainly saved and that | hi
rs rs certainly lost. 1t
IT was only question of short time Pr
ltll should be fricasseed by the hand ma
my friend Amedee and eaten in mush- -
ON sauce. "
while musing on this unpleasant idea Ce
was mechanically digging the soil with ms
piece of stick which had in nv hand. Sol
exclamation of surprise burst from my th'
IS. had just turned up truffle, an 10
imense, sweet scented truifie as fine as lte
y Of those of Perigord. pal
II called Amedee, and having shown ne'
m my discovery, we set to work dig thr
lg the soil. We found that trufiles see
ounded on all sides. That same even Ia
the king dined so sumptu0usly that the
wanted to pass n fish bone through tuI
nedee's nose rs n compliment to his
linary skill eau
During the following week the entire anc
be did not cat less than five times a day. the
nedee, however wore n melancholy air. OF
. Listen TO me, doctor, he said at the Ind
1 OF the eighth day, I have bad news Wo
you. The stock Of prisoners is neagly the
and the kings CHIEF minister, who. the
been appointed my scullion, has given gro
to understand that you must be cooked fiat
1 trufIled. tect
: In order to gain time 1 made him gun
1erStand by gestures that it would be opel
u to first saturate you with trufles in lets
e, so that when killed and cooked Won too
uld have fine truhiy flavor / got two of h
eks' time in which to prepare YOU. and one
ing that time you viii have the conso- time
on OF stufiing yourself with trufies whi,
ming yourself with sauce werl
lie added in fearful voice, 4 prom near
you that no one but myself will have repo
hand in cooking youp'' NOV
ne guests at this point were all atten- over
; listening with knives and forks in the
air. m
Although was daily expecting this safei
3, resumed the doctor, 81 was pros said:
ed when heard it, and the trufies Let
. Amedee served up to me at every By n
Y only added to my CONSERVATION. some
They made me swallow enormous sOutl
ntities Of them, cooked on cinders. and
lsseed, in cocoanut milk, In gravy and patel
orth evide
The savages made the women dig wour
n out. The women devoted Them idlv