The Somerset reporter., 1893-09-28
DELIGHTS OF DINING.
HOW EASILY THE SPELL OF SOLEMN
ENJOYMENT MAY BE BROKEN.

For my thorough appreciation of
large and good dinner | am, believe,
indebted to my father. He was great
diner, and it is we'll known that the fin
tst 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 the matter with me is a sort of
cold accompanied by inflammation in
one toe. 1t arises, | 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 II fair instance of talent as dis
tinct from genius), | succeeded to his
position i'll 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 well
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 | shall die without having
earned the reputation.
| distinguish between the diner and
the diner out. do not want to be I'M
charitable, but have no high opinion of
the diner out. He does not, as a rule,
take the dinner itself quite seriously. He
is liable to show an interest in the
women whom he takes in 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, dine-merely
dine. That is enough. Do that well,
and You have the best delight that this
world can give you. As for CONVERSE
ton, | despise it.
Now, there was the case of Charles
Nutcomb. He was with us at one time
and might for family reasons have come
into small partnership. 1t would not
have been nuch-some G3 600 year
but ample for a young and unmarried
man who is willing to exercise ordinary
care. Charles was diner ont, and for
family reasons | once asked him to dine
with me. although in a general way |
will not have young men at my table.
AT the very moment when we We're eat
ing a vol-au-vent that from its peculiar
~ subtle and lovely character demanded
the eaters attention, reverence and 81
lence-at that very moment. Charles
Nutcomb was tactless enough to tell
story. 1t cansed noisy laughter. Ii,
if | may use the phrase, completely
broke the spell. 1t was like whistling in
church, However, it was not i'll conse-
quence of tins indiscretion alone that |
finally decided to get rid of Nutcomb.
He refused port. A man who refuses
port-my ports IA fool and consc-
quently unfit to be II partner i'll Gorg-
bury q Pigge. a fortnight afterward |
managed to make some excuse for get
ting him out of Office. feel positively
certain that he would have embezzled
money If he had remained. His after
career only confirmed my low opinion
of him. He went completely to the dogs
became an author, i'll fact
But am not unduly devoted to wine.
Indeed | sometimes wonder whether
am more fond of that or of the solid part
of the dinner. Both are good. Both
bring out all that is best in a man. The
feeling Of gratitude, for instance is com
mendable. 1t is impossible to think
much about the commonest viands-as-
paragus, the simple oyster, or even cut
out feeling grateful. Then, too, dinner
promotes the kindly spirit. When l lie
back in my chair after dinner, breathing
stertorously, my temper becomes kindly
to the verge of fatuousness.
When in the morning clerk arrives
an hour late and makes some paltry ex
cuse-that his wife is dead, or some nom
sense of that sort OF course dismiss
him at once. But if were to defer my
decision until the evening | should very
likely confine myself to filming him a
weeks salary. Int were his first offense,
and my dinner had been particularly
good, might even let him off with
feprimand. That is the reason why do
no business under any pretext 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 inseparahle from our dearest de-
lights are our deepest sorrows! have
but one serious affection. the great soup
the SOUP of the city--has not real at