The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-22
DELIGHTS OF DINING.
HOW EASILY THE SPELL OF SOLEMN
ENJOYMENT MAY BE BROKEN.

tie AMI Lonely Character Demand At
tention, Reverence and Sncnce-An F,p;-
cures Serious Affiictior.
FOR my thorough appreciation of a
large and good dinner am, I believe.
indebted to my father. He was a great
diner, and it is well known that the fin
est qualities of the English race are her
editary. My father suffered from govt.
and the doctors, who are mass of pref
udices, tell me that also have got it.
However, / am thankful to say that
know my OWN constitution. What is
really tho matter with me is n sort of
cold accompanied by inflammation in
one toe. 1t arises, 7 should say, from
overwork. Old port is good for it.
A fine appreciation of dinner should
be accompanied by n large income.
When my father died Of apoplexy
drought on by quarrel with his cook,
who was fair instance of talent as dis
tlnct from genius( succeeded to his
position in the firm, and to an income
which even in the city is considered to
be fairly large. love largeness. love
large incomes, large houses, large appe-
tites, large waistcoats, large dinners.
can never be too thankful that can we'll
afford large dinners. 1t was ALWAYS my
ambition to be, like my father, great
diner, and it would be but false humility
to say that I shall die without having
earned the reputation.
distinguish between the diner and
the diner out. do not want to be un-
charitable, but have no high opinion of
the diner out. He does not, as Il rule.
take the dinner itself quite seriously. He
IS liable TO show an interest in the
women whom he takes III or in the con-
versation. Now, life is too short for
that division of interests; we only have
time to do one thing well. Let dinner
be that one thing. | say, dinc-merclv
dine. That is enough. Do that well.
and you have tho best delight that this
world can give you. As for CONVERSE
ton, despisc it.
Now, there was the case of Charles
Nutcomb. He was with us 1T one time
and might for family rcasons have come
into small partnership. 1t would not
| have been much--soile c3 ,9uo :; YEAR
but ample for u young and unmarried
| man who is willing to exercise ordinary
| care. Charles was Il diner out. and for
family reasons l once asked him 10 dine
with me, although i'll Il general way I
| VIII not nave young men ut my table
at the very moment when we were cat
Ing vol-au-vent that from its peculiar
| ly subt!N and lovely character demanded
the eaters attention, reverence and 81
lence-at that very moment. Charles
| NutcOmb was tactlcss enough to tell
a story. 1t caused noisy laughter. 1t.
| If l may use the phrase, COMPLETELY
broke the spell. 1t was like whistling in
church. However, it was not in conse-
quence of this indiscretion alone that I
finally decided to get rid of Nutcomb.
He refused port. A man who refuses
port-lny ports Il fool and conse-
| quently unfit to be a partner in Gorg-
bury & Pigge. A fortnight afterward I
| managed to make some excuse for get
ting him ont of office. 1 feel positively
certain that he would have embczzled
money if he had remained. His after
career only confirmed my low opinion
of him. He event completely to the dogs
became an author, in fact.
But am not unduly devoted to wine.
Indeed l sometimes wonder whether l
am more fond Of that or of the solid part
of the dinner. Both are good. Both
bring out all that is best i'll man. The
feeling of gratitude, for instance, is COM
mendable. 1t is impossible to think
much about tho commonest viands-as-
paragus, the simple oyster, or even cut
from perfect saddle of mutton-with
out feeling grateful. Then, too dinner
promotes the kindly spirit. When lie
back in my chair after dinner, breathing
stertorously, my temper becomes kindly
to the verge of fatuousncss.
| When in the morning q clerk arrives
IN hour late and makes some paltry ex
cuse-that his wife is dead. or some non
sense of that sort-I Of course dismiss
him at once. But if / were to defer nv
decision until the evening should very
likely confine myself to fining him a
weeks salary. If it were his first offcnsc,
and my dinner had been Particularly
good, might even let him off with a
reprimand. That is the reason why do
no 'business under any prctext after din
ner. 1t is all very well to feel kindli-
ness, but one has to be careful that the
feeling shall not influence ones actions.
How inseparable from our dearest de-
lights are our deepest sorrows! l have
but one serious affection. the great soup
the soup of the city-has not real at
traction for me. 1t is richly expensive;
it is hallowed by thousand historical
associations; it has brought ecstasy to the
hearts Of men with larger incomes than
shall ever possess, but to me it is al
most closed book. Sometimes when
am eating it at n city banquet feel as
| if could caa nfa. off &c a.eaa4 ...ss->