The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-10-21
DELIGHTS OF DINING.
HOW EASILY THE SPELL OF SOLEMN
ENJOYMENT MAY Be BROKEN.

tention. Rev, ,.nce and silence-An Epi-
cures serioa~ Afiiction.
For my thorough appreciation Of a
large and good dinner I 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 a mass OF pref
udices. tell me that l also have got it.
However, l am thankful to say that l
know my own constitution. What is
really the matter with me is a sort of
cold accompanied by Inflammation in
one toe. 1t arises, l should say, from
overwork. Old port is good for it.
A fine appreciation Of dinner should
be accompanied by a large income.
When my father died of apoplexy
drought on by a quarrel with his cook,
who was a, fair instance of talent as dis
tinct from g%enius), | succeeded to his
position in the firm. and to an income
which even in the city is considered to
be fairly large. love ~largeness. Hove
large incomes. larsf houses. large appe-
tites, large w~aistcoAts. large dinners. l
car never be too thankful that can well
afford large dinners. 1t was always nv
ambition to be, ike my father. a 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 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
time to do n 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, l despise it.
Now, there vas the case of Charles
Nutcomb. He was with us at one time
and might for family reasons have come
into a small partnership. 1t would not
have been much-some g, 900 a year
but ample for a young and unmarried
man who is willing to exercise ordinary
care. Charles was a diner out, and for
family reasons | one 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 ~yol-au-vent that from its peculiar
ly subtle and lovely character demanded
the eaters attention, reverence and ST.
lence-at that very moment. Charles
Nutcomb WAS t~aetl1ss enough to tell
a story. 1t caused noisy laughter. 1t,
if may use the phrase. completely
broke the spell. 1t was like whistlinci in
church. However, it was not III conse-
quence of this indiscretion alone that |
finally decided to get rid of Nutcomb.
He refused port. A man who refuses
port-my ports d fool and conse-
quently unfit to be "a partner in 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
"DCSdulc oil duluOI, III IdcI.
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 GU all that is best in a man. The |
feeling of gratitude, for instance, is CON- J
mendable. 1t is impossible t. think
much o the commonest viands-as-
paragus, the simple oyster, or even a cut
from a 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 a clerk arrives
an hour late and makes some paltry ex-
cuse-that his wife is dead. or sone nom
sense of that sort-l of course dismiss
him at once. But if ! were to defer my
decision until the evening l should very
likely confine myself to filming him a
weeks salary. II it were his first offense.
and my dinner had been particularly
good, might ever let him off with a
That is the reason why I do
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 inseparable from our dearest de-
lights are oIlr deepest SORROWS, have
but one serious affection. the great scum
the soup vi tine ciLy-IIas not a real at
traction for me. IL is richly expensive.
It is hallo.eu by I. thousand historical
n~4nociotiOns: 1t has brought gcSt .Sy tn,a.
hearts Of men with Larger incomes ,ha.
shall ever possess, but to me il is al
most = closed book. Sometimes when
Nm eating it at a city banquet I feel n
z l could see afar of its perfect mean
ing and catch dim glimpses Of its ST.
perb generosity. But that Is all. lean
not love it as ! know that il ought to b.
Owed.
Hssst0fors I hare kept my affection .
but last pight. when Thomae ,