Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-08-12
LUCULLUS AND NAPOLEON.
FAMOUS Generals Whose Appetites
Overruled Their Better
Judgment.

In his Bright Sides Of History" E. n.
House has something to say about the
appetites OF famous people. "You know
already" Uncle ClaNton began. that
Lucullus was great general at one
period, and that he led his armies VIC
toriously through many parts of Asia
Minor. The kingdom. of Pontus was
completely subjugated by him; and the
spoils collected from it's principal cities
formed the basis of the enormous for
tune with which he afterward enjoyed
himself and entertained his compan-
ions in Rome. But gold and jewels we're
not the only things that attracted the
attention Of this man Of varied tastes.
The city Of Cerasus, on the shore of
the Euxine sea, was celebrated for it's
cherries, specimens of which were of
fered to him as the choicest delicacies
OF the region. He was SO delighted
with them that he ordered the fruit to
be cultivated on his estates al home,
and from that time cherries began to
be known in Italy. You may be sure
that Lucullus the soldier was different
being from Lucullus the Sybariic. 1t
needs n clear head to win battles and
govern kingdoms, and while he was
busy with those pursuits he could not
have wasted many hours in revelry. lie
had before him as a warning the fate
OF Alexander, who threw away his life
in dissipation while he was yet young.
in almost exactly the same part of the
world.'
You were telling US the other day."
said Percy, "that Napoleon Bonaparte
had no time to think about what he
ate"
THAT was often the case" Uncle
Claxton replied, "when he was out
campaigning. He had very little time,
and not much inclination. Even in the
peaceful intervals of his reign he was
extremely abstemious. But h. lad his
fancics in the way of food, and it has
been said that he was punished terribly
Tor indulging one Of these at the wrong
time. Boiled mutton with onion sauce
was dish Of which he was often tempt
cd to eat TOO much, and on the day of the
battle Of Leipsic, when he should have
been especially careful of his diet, he
chose it for his principal meal, and
dined so heavily that within a few hours
violent collie seized him, and he was
compelled to leave the field at mo-
7cient when all his skill was needed to
wort disaster. Other causes have been
assigned for his defeat but the story
which ] give you was believed at the
time. and do not know that 1t has ever
1ecn proved false. The harm may have
come from his habit of eating too fast,
for which Napoleon was notorious. He
did not ordinarily allow himself leisure
enough to enjoy the few dishes he liked
best. His famous rival, Wellington, was
just as careless, and even more in
different."-St. Nicholas.
So popular was bull batting in olden
days in England that riots fo1lowed'the
attempt to suppress it in the large
towns. Bear batting was more popular
still, If that could be. In various
places, Liverpool especially, it made
part Of the festivities at the election of
the mayor, being held before his wor-
ship started for church. Ladies COM
monty; attended in great numbers.
There was famous bear at Liverpool,
which showed such grand sport in 1882
that certain fair admirers presented it
with a garland, decked it with ribbons,
and carried it to the theater. where a
special entertainment had been "com-
manded," which Bruin sat out in the
front of their box. But of gossip about
bull and bear batting there is no end.
Enthusiastic lovers Of Shakespeare read
with interest the petition of the royal
bear warden, addressed to Queen Eliz-
abeth in 1895, complaining that his Ii
censed performances had been neglect
ed of late because every one went to the
theater.