The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-04-18
GREAT EATERS.

A Distfn uished Instance of the Influence
of Good Cookery In Prolonging Lie.
When epicureanism is joined with an
expert regard for the law of digestion,
it ceases to deserve reprobation. All
the world might, on this basis, proper
ly consist of epicures; for if one has
nothing more to eat than oatmeal por-
ridge, mutton broth and cabbage, and
prepares those articles of food daintily
and skillfully, he may truly call him
self gourmet. A distinguished in
stance of the influence of good cookery
in prolonging life was found in the
case of the marquis and marchioness de
Bechamel, famous epicures in the days
of the old monarchy in France.
Bechamel achieved the distinction of
having sauce, which survives to this
day, named after him He married a
young woman named Valentine de
Rochemont, who is said to have at
tracted him purely because she was a
wonderfully good cook and had re-
markable appetite.
Though this might seem to be an in
sufficient basis for happy marriage, it
proved quite enough in this case. The
marquis and marchioness cooked and
ate together for fifty years, in perfect
accord and perfect health. They were
said to have almost passed their lives
at the table; and when they were not
at the table together they were gener-
ally in the kitchen together. That
their cookery was wholesome their long
life testified, and that it was delicious,
all the famous eaters of their epoch
were absolutely agreed.
They had famous feast at their
golden wedding. For many years the
marquis had been saving for this occa-
sion bottle of priceless Constance
wines, from the Cape of Good Hope; and
every guest was to have drop or two
of it.
just as the bottle was being brought
out the marchioness de Bechamel sank
to the floor. twas quickly ascertained
that she was dead She appeared sim
ply to have reached the term Of her ex-
istence; and her death at such festi-
val was regarded as a most beautiful
and touching one.
The bottle of Constance was put
away unopened The marquis was in
consolable Before long he fell appar-
emily hopelessly i'll In this emer-
gency, his physician having informed
him that his end was surely near, the
marquis called for the bottle of Con-
stance wine.
With a sinking, dying voice the old
man said:
when / meet my beloved Valentine
on the other side she will say: What
is that perfume, my dear, which de-
tect upon thy lips?' And will an
swer, 1T is the Constance wine, my be,
loved, that we had saved for our golden
weddingl'
Bechamel drank of the wine, and his
livid head fell back upon the pillow.
All supposed that he was dead; but he
was merely asleep An hour afterward
he called his nephew, and sent him
with key to open a drawer in secre'
tary and bring from 1t box.
The nephew made all haste, suppos'
ing that the box might contain his will.
or some other document which he
wished to sign or modify before his
death.
To his establishment it was found to
contain pie.
1t was wonderful Perigord pie,
dressed with truffies of Sarlat. The
marquis ate freely of it, and again sank
back upon his pillow.
'Harkl" said the doctor 81 hear the
fatal rattle in his throati 1t will soon
be overi"
But the rattle" turned out to be
snore. The marquis was asleep. And
though he was then seventy years
old, he lived fifteen years longer, and
invented several more famous dishes. =
Youths Companion.