The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-06
ANCIENT FEASTS.
Much GIuttony Among the Ola
Greeks and Persians.
Much

Much GIuttOny Among the Ola
Greeks and PersianS.
Bright sides of History is a series OF
papers contributed by E. H. House to st,
Nicholas. In the December number the
author says
Enormous feasts were spread at the Per-
sian and other Asiatic courts, and the
great Grecian conqueror of those regions
was once or twice in his dazzling career
more lavish than even the successors of
Caesar But it was not a regular habit
with him, nor was reckless prodlgallty
ever a vice of his nation. OF course, there
were exceptions, and that societies devot-
ed to luxurious living existed in Athens
we know from the works of Archestratus
and Athenaeus. who wrote long poems TO
the glory of cookery. The Hellenic cpl
cures were ingenious and often fantastic
in their ideas, but were not, as a rule,
guilty of gross extravaganza. They were
fond of such conceits as having whole
pig served. one side roasted and the other
boiled, and stuffed with great variety
of deIicacies, although the animal had
never been cut or separated in any way.
Their cooks were also sdlful in preparing
vegetables to taste like meat.
A certain king had an intense longing
for a fish called an "aphy," at time
when he was so far away from the sea
that he did not Suppose his desire could
possibly be gratified; but ibis cook made
him an artificial Apply out of turnip.
and disguised it so cleverly by sauces that
the monarch was completely deceived. Oc-
casionally we hear Of voracious gluttons
among the old Greeks. One of the most
noted was Philoxenus, who wished he had
a neck like a crane, so that his enjoyment
of what he swallowed could be heightened
nv several inches. This selfish fellow
used TO keep his throat in training by
gargIins it with scalding water Then he
bribed the cooks wherever he went, TO
send in all the meals furiously hot; and
thus he finished the best there was OF
each dish. before any one else dared to
touch a morsel A fellow guest was once
so offended at this that he refused to
remain at the table of Philoxenus, saying
he had been invited 20 dine with man.
and not with an oven.
In the fulness of his glory Croesus was
visited by Solon The wise man of Greece,
vino was taking long vacation after his
nublic labors In Athens. Croesus hoped TO
make HIM acknowledge that no one on
earth could be happier than the mighty
.vdian King. But Scion would not agree
10 tbfs and insisted that every man must
,,ait ttN the end of his life, and see what
fortune would finally bring him, before de-
Gliding whether he could be called happy
or not The King was greatly offended,
and from that time he never spoke of the
s,ern philosopher until his own death
seemed near at hand. After his defeat
ana caplure by Cyrus the Persian. he was
condemned to be burned alive, in the pres
ence of the conquerer. Just as the sentence
wes about TO be executed, Croesus called
ont the name of Scion three times; and
C,vrus. wondering what he meant, had him
brought forward 10 explain the exclama-
tion. Croesus then described his interview
Win the sage, the wisdom of whose judg-
ment was now proved by his own miser-
ah,e end. Cyrus was deeply impressed
Nv what he heard, and by the resignation
Of his captive. He released Croesus, and
from that time protected and befrended
him. The deposed sovereign Of Lydia was
nromtnent figure al the Persian court
r,ot onlv as long as Cyrus lived, but during
some years OF the reign Of Cambyses, the
successor OF Cyrus"