Year: 1864




Phoenix speaking TO the infant Achilles :
'NOr wOuldst thou taste thy food at home tiH first
placed thee on my knees with my own hand


Thy viands carved, and fed tbee, and the wine


Held to thy lips; and many time IN hts
I Of infant frOwardness, the purple juice
Rejecting thou hast deluged all my vest


And Oiled my bosom


All of which goes to prove, if it prove
anything, that mans appetite for alco-
hOlic drinks is not natural, but acquired.


An people in the civilized world sre
more or less interested in the subject Of
diet. The good things of the spit and
lsrder are standing topic for discussion
in .he best society, and have found that
some people, who are deficient in ability
to converse upon general subjects, can
always find tongue to give utterance to
their opinions in the matter Of alimen-
tiVeness. Next to 3 clear conscience is
good digestion. Combine the two snd
you have the basis for earthly happiness.
1t is written that the Greeks ate four
times a-day, and Cicero informs rs that,
for animal food, swine were chosen first,
they being wholly unserviceable for all
other purposes.


This is the NOSE philosophical argu-
ment I remember to have heard, in favor
of sacrificing the "grunters" to supply
food for man. Il would do very we'll as
an apOlOgetic motto to be suspended
over those large slaughter pens in Pork
opOlis. The argument is as solid as
the multiplication table, and even an
"Old clio" man, would fad its logic ire
sistible.


Most great men are curious and sin
gular in their diet. Mohammed and
Daniel Webster both had 5 passion
for mutton, and the former entered
Paradise sooner than he had intended
to 60, by reason of q poisoned leg of
his favOrite meat, prepared by an unbe.
lieving Jewess. The world will never
know for how much Of good or evil it is
indebted to a good hearty meal, or the !
want Of it. Charlemagne, the Great
Emperor of the West" ordered that no
judge in his dominions should hold
court of justice, except in the morning,
thus guarding against that merciful
leniency incident to full stomach.


It was also a custom among the
Aihenians, in disposing of their guests
at table so as to promote good fellowship,
to temper the variety of humors, by
placing men of angry dispositions near
est the meek and gentle; those of silent
tempers beside the talkative, &c. can
readily understand how this might be
accomplished, provided a portion of
the guests were ladies, for no
Grabbed specimen of the male gen.
der could Withstand the softening
influence and the halo Of sunshine
surrounding a divinity in crinoline st bis
elbow; and nothing that wears psnts and |
beard, could be entirely silent while
one of the "weaker vessels" was utteriDg |
words of sweet music close upon his
tympanum, psusiDg only at long inter-
walls for response.


BE must respond, and no man would

fail to do 50, provided be had : chance
and if he had not, it would make little
difference so long as the conversation
was well sustsined.


Enough for this occasion. On some
future evening, when camp duties will
permit, and time flies lsnguidly, we will
resume our talk, provided you do not
find my desultOry remarks too insipid to
claim your attention. R.H. w.