The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-10-07
DELIGHTS OF DINING.
/ HOW EASILY THE sPELLNoF SOLEMN
ENJOYMENT MAY BE BROKEN

indebted to my father. He was N great
diner, and it is well known that Rthe fin
est qualities of the English race are her
editary. My father suffered fro N gout
and the doctors, who are a mass pf pref
udices. tell me that ! also have got it.
However, l am thankful to So z that I
kpow my own constitution. y hat is
really the matter with me is a hsort Of
cold accompanied by inflamml ition IN
one toe. 1t arises, should ssy, from
overwork. Old port is good for ht.
A fine appreciation Of dinnep should
be accompanied by a large Income.
When my father died Of hpoplexy
drought on by quarrel with khis cook,
who was a fair instance of taleuta dis
tinct from genius) l succeeded to his
position in the firm, and 10 an income
which even in the city istconsidered to
be fairly large. love largeness. love
large incomes, large houses, large appe-
tites, large waistcoats, large dinners.
can never be too thankful thatI can well
afford large dinners 1t was always my
ambition TO be, like my father, a great
diner, and it would be but false humility
to say that 1 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 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
ime to do one thing we'll. Let dinner
be that one thing. l say, dine-merely
dine. That is enough. Do that well,
and you have the best delight that this
world can give you. AS for conversa-
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 much--some $4,000 a year
but ample for young and unmarried
man who is willing to exercise ordinary
care. Charles was diner out and for
family reasons / once asked him to dine
with me, although in a general way l
will not have young men at my table.
At the very moment when we were eat
ing vol-au-vent that from its peculiar
ly subtle and lovely character demanded
the eaters attenti~a, reverence and 81
lence-at that very moment Charles
Nutcomb was tactless 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-
auence of this indiscretion alone that
finally decided to get rid Of Nutcomb
He refused port A man who refuses
port-my ports fool and conse-
quently unfit to be a partner in Gorg-
bury & Pigge. A fortnight afterward l
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, in 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
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 fatuousness.
When in the morning clerk arrives
an hour late and makes some paltry ex.
cuse-that his wife is dead. or some non.
sense of that sort-I of course dismiss
e him at once. But if l were to defer my
e decision until the evening should very
u likely confne myself to fining him q
weeks salary. If 1t were his first offense
and my dinner had been particularly
II good, l might even let him off with G
reprimand. That is the reason why dc
no business under any pretext after din
ner. 1t is all very well to feel kindli
S, ness, but one has to be careful that tn,
Z feeling shall not influence ones actions
" How inseparable from our dearest de
s. lights are our deepest sorrowsl hav,
y but one serious affliction. the great souI
the soup of the city--hss not real at
traction for me. 1t is richly expensive
'sl it is hallowed by thousand historical
associations; it has brought ecstasy to tn,
II hearts of men with larger incomes thar
le shall ever possess, but to me 1t is al
e. most a closed book. Sometimes when
am eating it at city banquet feel a
If could see afar off its perfect mean
rp ing and catch dim glimpses Of its su
d. pAtb generosity. But that is all. lean
e e not love it as know that it ought to b
loved
Heretofore have kept my afiiction
secret, but last night, when Thoma
Piggs and were dining with the Fen
dermakers lone of the 12 principal com
panies), noticed that he was watching
ki me. He saw that did not really under
en- stand that soup. However, l am no
" afraid that Thomas Pigge will ever dar
'A to reproach me for this. He also has hi
weak point, and, as he is aware. l knOI
it. He is quite unorthodox on the sui
II ject Of sauce hollandaise He has the
ory 80 to the correct preparation Of
which can only be characterized as daI
IN gerous and revolutionary.
~ But / must pause. hear the gong
waking gently and sleeping as gentl
again. Blessed soundl Blessed. blesse
Nv dinnerl write no morel Igei-Henr
Pain in London Illustrated News.