The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-12-03
A CUP OF TEA.

A CUP OF TEA.
When Properly Served It IL Productive
of Much Substantial Comfort.
There seems to be an occult quality
in tea, to whose saving potency its devo-
tees render homage. Who does not feel
tears behind the recollection Of the
Issup O. tay" that Mrs. McGurk bought for
her old neighbor out of her legacy of
few shillings, and recognize the new life
and refreshment the drink brings to
the very old and the very poor? We have
known tea leaves to be carried in old
fashioned silver snuff boxes, opened and
offered that the guest might take
pinch and find solace and strength in
the nibbling. But that was in countries
whe,c The kissing urn and tealettle
and dainty china are not widely known,
and tea is not the only fair godmother
who turns Cinderella into the princess.
For where does woman look lovelier
than at the head of her own tea table.
where at high tea the heavier plats are
! served while the water boils in the old
family urn or in the little kettle that
swings before her, or in an iron tripod
at her side? The play of lovely arm
and wrist and of long, white jeweied
fingers, the smiles of interrogatory, the
pretty trouble of pleasing, are all capti-
vating. She is only more agreeable to
the eye when making tea in the draw
| ing-room in the picturesque negllge ap-
propriate to the occasion, surrounded by
| whatever heightens beauty, with her
guests urrayed for the love path in all
their flowers and feathers, with the
murmur about her of the soft frou-frou.
of the sweet voices whose infections
say more than words in the dialogue as
| bright as "Dolly's." Sitting by the table
that, not TO give the room too much the
! lcok of a restaurant, has been made
| fantastic in shape or has been remanded
| to a corner, unless the butler himself
| brings in a big tray with allAthe para
phernalia, she lights her little lamp,
| lifts the cover from the biscuit jar,
witch never more bewitching than when
she makes her brew. And to this one she
sends the cream-which is a reminder
that the Tartar boils his tea with tall
| low and with meal, and in the alkaline
| water of the steppes, which dissolves
| its remotest value, and SO makes OF 1t
a nourishing boullon-and to that one
she offers the slice of lemon, a la Russo,
and if to another cup she adds dash Of
rum, it is no more than her grandmother
did before her, or that that DANES
grandmother did when she had to pay
-, - Co fho y,n,1r,6 nf fa:,
| that just filled her caddy. But to the
true tea-lover she viii serve the golden
fluid clear, with only the one lump ct
sugar in the saucer-the saucer with
| which the Chinese tea-drinker keeps II
and preserves the fragrant fire and half
guessed strength. And with this last
guest, gossip failing. the tea itself is
| alusy-s ready subject Of conversation.
Perhaps she has brewed the green tea,
and wonders if it is intoxicating, and
is assured that, owing to the escape o.
the volatile oil, only the new tea has
such property, and no tea is exported
| till it is year old. Or she tells, as an
| inventor details his processes, or as a
discoverer daates upon his open secret.
the trials, with pinch OF this, and a
pinch Of that, and suspicion OF the
other, that she has made before arriving
| at the perfect proportions of her blend
| of the pekoes with the tantaliziDg evan
escence of it's flavors. Or she confesses
| thatas to her Csylon she can neither add
to nor take away from the subtle delicacy
of perfume, the lingering pieasantness
| upon the palate, suave as the touch OF
0 rose petal, and with q certain spirit
and freshness which make one think
| that if sunshine itself could have an
aroma it would be that. 80
Perhaps she is too enthusiastic; but
| then every woman, be she in palace or
| pcorhouse, is apt to be an enthusiast
about tea. She recognizes what debt
she owes it-recalls its CHEEKY help in
! the cure of her megrims; the sovereign
strength it lends her when her OWL
strength fails, demanding no returns
| whatever of reaction; the blessing that
| it is in the way it has come to the front
as chief friend and aid in her entertain
| ing, stimulating companionship. Great
| ing friendship, and saving her the more
serious labors Of hospitality, together
with its own personal and private
| cheer; and remembering all this, she
| nities more than ever the forlorn and
| dead and gone grandmothers who never
Lnew the consolation Or the pleasant
ness of a cup of tea.-Ha-per's Bazar.