The St. Johns herald., 1894-08-02
i A QUEER COMBINATION.
The Breakfast of Founder After
 a Night Out.
An Institution of Uncertain Origin Yet Familiar to All Taiters-OpiniOns
 of Physicians on the Try tf, ing Mixture.

1dkc SIX men or the WOrlQ-GeQJlo-
 men, I mean, Of an all round social eX-
 perience, who have been unfortunate
 enough to stay too long with their
 liquor once in awhile-and probably
 five of them will tell you what is meant
 by the term ''drunkard's breakfast, $
 says the New York Herald.
 For the enlightenment of the sixth member it may be explained that a
 1drunkard's breakfast" so called in
 many swell clubs and restaurants, con-
 sists of salt mackerel, boiled, not
 broiled; dish of milk toast, and pot
 of strong, hot tea. This is a repast
 which is supposed to be peculiarly
 adapted to the stomach of man who
 permitted himself to be tempted to look
 too promiscuously upon the wine the
 night before.
 My wife's absence from home com. pelled me to take my meals at the restaurants recently. For my first breakfast went to one of the fine
 hotels in the immediate neighborhood. The restaurant was chilly, and that, added to severe cold in my head, must have given a watery appearance to my eyes and a nervous tremor to my hand as took a seat and picked up a bill of fare. An obsequious waiter stood at hand to receive my order. ran over the list of meats a second time, pausing, mentally, midway 'twix a steak and chop. The waiter, noting my indecision, but utterly mis- taking the spirit behind it all, stepped to my side and with perfect politeness said: "Eef may be permit, recon men ze salt macl1erel, wis ze meelk toast and ze tea-ver' nice. It eez ze breakfast populair wis gentlemen after ze excitement of ze long night.''
 The fellow had actually recommend ed drunlzard's breakfast for my con- dition, although as matter of fact I hadn't taken a drink in year and half
 ONext morning I went into another restaurant near by-not exactly a first class place, but an extraordinarily good second-class one-where the busi- ness is enormous. the cooking excel lent and the service generally satis- factory. My eyes were bloodshot and watery still, the result of a neuralgia attack. The waiter, decorous, hand some German-American, handed me the bill of fare, eyed me suspieiously, but not rudely, for an instant and then remarked in an undertone: 'How would nice salt mackerel, boiled, a plate of milk toast and pot of tea suit you this morning? That is what many of our patrons order for break fast after they have been out late. Much better than cocktails, assure you"
 There was no impertinence in the mans voice or manner. He didn't dream of being intrusive. He merely thought he was doing me friendly service in suggesting regular brac- ing ''drunkard's breakfast"
 The same suggestion will be offered in many first-class restaurants to any man whose appearance or manner in any way excites the suspicion that he drank too much the night before. The hint is always offered politely and quietly, and only after the waiter has convinced himself that his purpose in making the suggestion will not be mis- understood.
 And thus, in some mysterious way, it has come to be believed among res taurant walters that for a man who has had long drinking bout the cor rect breakfast should consist of salt 1 milk toast and tea! It is an combination, surely, and why it is peculiarly adapted to the condition of a man recovering from a spree is as mysterious as the identity of the genius who first pro- posed it.
 A popular physician who was spoken to with reference to this fad said: -'Yes, l know what a 'drunkard's breakfast is. but why any man suffer ing from over-indulgence in drink should eat such meal is more than I 1 can tell. Salt mackerel is harsh, acrid, hot and irritating to an already con- gested stomach. 1 can think of no | article of food more likely to increase l the digestive disorders due to drink l than salt maclerel"
 Another physician of long practice and wide observation said: Ut would be interesting to know how and with whom the 'drunkard's breakfast origi- ! mated. 1t is a ridiculous idea. None | but normal stomach in healthy con- | dition can digest a salt mackerel with l out discomfort, or at least unpleasant | reminders of its presence. It is fish | that am very fond of, but if I eat of l it even after drinking moderately it | causes an attack of indigestion. My | only theory of its supposed popularity as a breakfast dish for one who has l taken a drop too much is this: Its salti- | ness excites thirst for great quantities | of cold water, which is, in my opinion, | of real benefit to a stomach fevered | with alcoholic irritation. It enables him to drink water copiously until the | is cleaned and cooled, and the alcohol in his tissues becomes so di- uted that it is the more easily elimi- | hated from his system. As for its ali | value in such cases, I can't | see that it has any. The milk toast | x0,vld ho all ,-inbT hut So If ,oo oIyaroI |