The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1895-07-12
A QUEER COMBINATION.
The Breakfast of Rounder After
q Night Out.
An Institution of Uncertain Origin Yet
Familiar to Ali Opinions
of Physicians ON the Try
Ing Mixture.

rake SIX men of the world-gentle-
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
''drunkard'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 u repast
which is supposed to be peculiarly
adapted to the stomach of a 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 i went to one of the fine
hotels in the immediate neighborhood.
The restaurant was chilly, and that,
added to a severe cold in my head,
must have given.a watcry appearance
to my eyes and q nervous tremor to
my hand as took seatand picked up
bill of fare. An obsequious waiter
stood at hand to receive my order. I
ran over the list of meats second
time, pausing, mentally, midway 'twix
q 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 re salt mackerel, wis re meells
toast and re tea--ver' nice. 1t eez ze
breakfast popular wis gentlemen after
re excitement of re long night
The fellow had actually recommends
ed drunlSard's breakfast for my con-
dition, although as a matter of fact Il
hadn't taken drink in year and n
half
q Next morning i went into another
restaurant near by-not exactly 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 neuralgia
attack. The waiter, decorous, hand
some German-American, handed me
the bill of fare, eyed me suspiciously,
but not rudely, for an instant and
then remarked in anundertone: GLOW
would nice salt maclxerel, 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 frst-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
maclxerel, milk toast and teal 1t is an
extraordinary combination, surely,
and why IL Is peculiarly adapted to
the condition of ran recovering
from 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:
eyes, | know what 'drunlard' IS
breakfast is, but why any man suffer-
ing from over-indulgence in drink
should eat such meal is more than
can tell. Salt mackerel is harsh, acrid,
hot and irritating to an already con-
gested stomach | can think of no
articieof food more likely to increase
the digestive disorders due to drink
than salt maclserel. :"
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.
out discomfort or at least unpleasant
reminders Of its presence. 1t is fisl
that am very fond Of, but If | eat oi
| it even after drinking moderately L
causes an attack Of Indigestion. Nj,
only theory of its supposed poppIari., !,
as breakfast dish for one WI u ba
taken drop too much is this rts saIti
ness cxcitcs thirst for gr anant;tie
of cold water, which ie@s il',,I ,~;,,;e,r
of real benefit 10, ~ ny o fana,e,
f;n, - - .nc irritation 1t enable
etor cIr Z rink water copiously until Tn
* Zach Is cleaned and cooled; and th
Alcohol in his tissues becomes SO d
luted that it Is the more easily elm
mated from his system. AS for its al
mentary value in such cases, / can
see that it has any. The milk toas
would be all right, but salt mackere