Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-07-19
A QUEER COMBINATION.
me Breakfast of a Rounder After
q Night Out
Institution OF Uncertain Origin Yet
"liar to All Wai,er.-Opinions
OF Physicians on the Try
Ing Mixture

Take six men of the wor,d-centle-
men. l mean, of an all round social OK.
Perience, who have been unfortunate
enough to stay too long with their
liquor once in awhilc-ana probably
nve OF them will tell You what is meant
by the term 'drunllar,i'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-
slsts OF salt mackerel. boiled, not
oroiied; a dish of milk toast. and a pot
OF strong, hot tea. This is 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
PEELED me to take nv meals at the
restaurants recently. Tor my first
breakfast l went to on, of the fine
hotels in the immediate ighborhood
Inc restaurant was chi ly, and that.
aoded to severe cold in my head.
must have given a watcry appearance
10 my eyes and nervous trcmor to
my hand as l took a seat and picked up
a Dill OF fare. An obsequious waiter
stood at hand to receive my order.
ran over the list of meats second
time, pausing, mentally, midway 'twix
steak and a chop. The waiter.
noting my indecision. but utterly mis-
taking the spirit behind it all, stepped
to my side and with perfect politencss
said: "Eef l may be permit. recon-
men Re salt mackerel, wis re meelk
toast and re tea-ver' nice. 1T eez ze
breakfast popular wis gentlemen after
re excitement of re long night"
The fellow had actually recommend
ed drunkard's breakfast for nv con-
ditlon, although as a matter of fact
hadn't taken drink in a year and =
half!
Next morning 1 went into another
restaurant near by-not exactly first
class place, but an extraordinarily
good second-class one-where the bust
ness is enormous. the cooking excel
lent and the service generally salts
factory. My eyes were bloodshot and
watery still, the result of a neuralgia
attack. The waiter, a decorous, hand
some German-American, handed me
the bill of fare, eyed me suspiciously,
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 a friendly
service in suggesting a 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,
1t 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
mackerel, milk toast and tea! 1t is an
extraordinary combination, surely,
and why it II peculiarly adapted to
the condition of q man recovering
from . spree e as mysterious as the
identity q the genius who first pro-
posed IL.
A popular physician who was spoken
TO with reference to this fad said:
Eyes, / know what q 'drunkard's
breakfast Il. 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
articleof food more likely to increase
the digestive disorders due to drink
than salt mackerel."
Another physician Of long practice
and wide observation said: ut would
be interesting to know how and with
whom the sdrunkard's breakfast origi-
mated. It Il . ridiculous idea. None
but normal stomach in healthy con-
dition can digesta salt mackerel with
out discomfort, or at least unpleasant
reminders of its presence. It is fish
that I an very fond Of, but if eat Of
Il even after drinking moderately il
causes IN attack Of indigestion. My
only theory Of its supposed popularity
~ . breakfast dish for one who has
taken 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 q stomach fevered
with alcoholic Irritation. 1t enables
him to drink water copiously until tho
stomach Il cleaned and cooled, and tho
alcohol In his tissues becomes SO di-
luted that Il f. the more easily elimi-
mated from his system. AS for its ali
meutary value In such cases, I can't
re- thst e has any. The milk toast
would - III right, but salt mackerel
and tea-whAt an insult and crime it
A. 20 furce them upon q stomach al
ready smarting and burning under the
abuses Of alcoholr'
Nevertheless the "drunkard's break.
fsstn l. IN institution and fixture.
If yo1 don't believe it just 60 into an
uptown restaurant some morning when
goa do not feel on particularly good
serms with yourself and allow the
walter TO infer from your manner that
You were somewhat of the coast the
night before. If that waiter is up to
date and estimates you as one of kind.
~ spirit, he will discreetly suggest .
breakfast consisting of salt mackerel
milk toast and tea
oHAsTLYsToRY OF ANEcKLAcE
Ehs Grave oe . Peruvian Princess De
spelled BY American Odcers.
The wife Of q well-known naval off,
cer, whose home is in Washington,
wears about her throat very beautiful
gold necklace, the odd pattern Of which
has attracted much attention and ex-
cited much comment. A great many Of
her timid friends would be Mortified,
doubles, r. they knew that for perhaps
. century that necklace had adorned
the mummy of Peruvian princess.
Some years ago, says the Philadelphia
Press, while . vessel belonging to the
United States navy was cruising off the
coast of Peru, her officers organized an
expedition TO dig for mummies. "Inca
hunting" has been for many years q
fayorite pastime in the American navy.