Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-09
BREAKING THE FAST.
The Morning Meal in Scotland, In
dia, Africa and Australia.
UNBIASED JUDGE OF HORSEFLESH.
Amusing Experience of Two American
Travellers in French Cafe.
ECONOMICAL REPAST IN VICTORIA

| Goblin and Short-at breakfast the other
| morning in downtown restaurant were ex-
| changing experiences in the variety of the
matutinal meals whereof they had par
taken in the course of their wanderings
Goblin had attacked a-so-called-tender-
Ioin steak, while Shorts brows were knitted
in critical contemplation of a chop. The
efforts of the former to disintegrate the
steak were SO distressing as to induce from
his companion the remark:
"Seems tough, eh?"
"Rather. Looks to me like horse"
"Horse isn't so bad, they say. Never ate
it though"
"It's matter of use. remember a fel-
low named Bolton who swore he would never
eat it. It was In South Africa. We were
'trekking' to point several days journey
from our main body to establish post, and
dependent on a limited supply Of 'biltong'
and mealie biscuits. On the third day,
shortly after passing a small settlement.
where we were lucky in getting part of an
OK to add to our larder, one of our horses
and illy at that-gave out and we shot
her. We were for leaving her for the hyenas
suggested that he could make very nice
roast from her brisket. I assented, but told
him not to say anything to the others, know
ing Belton's rejudice to horsefesh. When
we turned out next morning, it was, as usual,
with mighty keen appetites and when the
cook put the brisket down before US we set
to at it with will. I had let the other lads,
all but Bolton, into the secret. He was
especially ravenous and had more than his
share of poor Kate.
ENJOYED IT IMMENSELY.
"'Fine piece of OK meat as ever tasted
cried Bolton. Quite treat after that con-
founded dried meat
"We all burst into q roar of laughter.
Bolton looked around at US with more or
less suspicion.
"'What's the joke, you fellows? What
are you laughing at? Can't come imp
"'Well, for fellow who over and over
again declared his entire repugnance to eat
ing horse flesh, 1 must say you have made
wonderfully fine breakfast, said I.
"But even yet poor Bolton couldn't see.
You don't mean to say he cried, that that
brisket was originally-?'
Part of Kate's anatomy most certainly
we chorused, and such a dIsgusted man as
Bolton was you cannot imagine. He turned
pale as ghost and retired with such pre-
cipitancy to his tent as to induce the sus-
picion that he was i'll. He never forgot that
breakfast. Poor Belton! He fell in a smart
affair shortly afterward.''
"Should think he had nightmare as one
effect of that breakfast" said Short.
"Queer places fellows breakfast in at
times. Spent a holiday once in Scotland
We were out with rods and guns and pulled
up FOR breakfast on the threshold of a High
land bothy. Around US were the moaning,
wind-swept pines, and far above the pale,
blue peak of the mountain giant, showing
dimly against a background of shifting sky.
Far beneath, ripping around the shingles,
the lonely tran, half silver in the sunlight,
half shadowed Ger by the projecting rocks.
A BREAKFAST IN SCOTLAND.
Perched on the grassy ledge, sheltered by
the weather stained bothy, three of us in |
tartans, and the fourth, who would not don
the kilt, clad in somber Sassenach garb.
The guns lying against the brown, bothy
wall; the unjointed fishing rod half buried
in the moss. At our feet basket with the
materials for the dejeuner, bannocks of bar
leymeal and oatmeal cakes, fresh yellow
Highland butter, a cut or so of cold salmon,
and, instead of a coffee pot, mighty fagon
of usquebaugh. Our collie sets up on end
with keen eve to our preparations, while
Rover, the setter, has returned from pre-
liminary skirmish on his own account to
set DonalG, the gillie, as he lifts the trout
from the woodfre and sets them before US.
And then mighty clatterlng OF knives
and forks. A mighty hunger that the
mountain breeze has given us. A long pull
at the stone jar; filling of pipes, and then
to map out our course for the day. Great |
Phabus, what fun!'
"What contrast" remarked the other, sto |
the rural simplicity of an early morn repsst |
on the breezy Highlands, is the ceremonious
BREAKFAST OF THE ANGLo-1ND1AN.
Cup at O'Clock, he takes what he calls his
little breakfast Then he is off to his
paddy fields, morning parade or Office; gets |
to his breakfast at 10 o'clock. For his |
little break fast he ate curry, broiled fowl,
a. devil, with coffee, fruit and preserves |
pretty good meal at that-but his break |
fast is more elaborate. First as to the COM
fort OF his personal surroundings. The table |
is set on the spacious veranda. void of |
windows and hung with tatties,
over which coolies sprinkle water every now
and then to modify the ever-increasing heat.
Punkahs, swing noiselessly to and fro
by the 'wallahs' squatted in the corner,
rustic the petals of the lu1uriant orchids
which decorate the board and watt their
footed and soft-voiced servants, whose snow
white robes are as pure as the linen on the |
table, move noiselessly about anticipating
every wish of the sahib and his guests. The
climbing creepers and tropical plants which
peep in between the tatties are as refreshing
to the vision OF the Anglo-Indian after his
work as is the iced mineral water
and stick, with which he opens the meal to
his inner man.
sUBSTANTIALS OF THE REPAsT.
"Several curries and rice, omelettes, de-
villed kidneys and broiled bones, a bird or
two, a salad, a dish of chops with condi-
ments ad libitum, backed up by excellent
French bread, fresh butter and cream cheese
form the nucleus of the repast. Fruit of
delicious GOODNESS serves as Introductory
course, and never does the sahib rise from
the table without topping off with brandy
pawnee or brandy and iced seltzer, while
chablis, hook and Burgundy are at hand FOR
the softer and more fastidious sex. Perforce
of the climate the Anglo-Indian is a high
liver, and as a consequence in time his liver
becomes his engrossing care. Nevertheless
he enjoys life, and small blame to him
say l."
'When George Huntly and 1 were in
Paris for the first time" said Short, "we
had an experience which proved to be
pretty expensive. The morning after our
arrival we sailed out to do the town, and
incidentally get breakfast. We dropped
into the Cafe de la Paix, and seated our
selves at the only vacant table. We heard
a bell tinkle, and next instant waiter with
a wide smile, side whiskers, swallow-tail
coat, white cravat and hands which he
our side.
THE pOTTTE CARCON