138 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
Concerning the Poet Crabbe (1818), a lady told Hallam that 
“Mr. Crabbe was very good Cake, only there was such a thick 
layer of sugar to be cut through before you could get at. it.” 
His manner to women was of the kind called “ philandering,”’ 
and there is nothing a woman hates more. : 
In the days of our grandmothers the dough of a home-made 
Cake was sent sometimes to the bakehouse (instead of heating 
the domestic oven), being wrapped in a blanket, and pricked 
on the soft dough with the letters of the owner’s name; and 
hence originated the familiar nursery rhyme :— 
“ Pat a.cake, pat a cake, baker’s man ! 
So I do, master, as fast as I can. 
Pat it and prick it, and mark it with C, 
Then it will serve for Charley and me.” 
“ Pistoris puer, o dulcem mibi tunde farinam, 
Imo etiam rapida res erit acta manu. 
Punge decenter acu, tituloque inscribe magistri. 
Sic mihi, sic Carolo serviet illa meo.” 
For producing light, sweet, and wholesome Cakes a capital 
baking-powder is to be made from grape cream of tartar, as 
manufactured in America, and which is said to surpass all others. 
CAPER. 
THE Caper (Capparis), with which we are familiar, as pickled, 
and used in sauce with boiled mutton at table, is a product of 
countries which border the Mediterranean; the unopened buds 
being used for condimentary purposes. Sometimes instead of this 
(Capparis spinosa), those of the wild Caper (Euphorbia lathyris) 
or Caper Spurge, are substituted, being used while unripe. Canton 
used to be famous for its capers, but the English market has cut 
them out. At one time scented Capers figured largely in the 
list of every Italian warehouseman, and were an indispensable 
item in every housekeeper’s list of domestic stores. But they 
are not now nearly so much used as formerly, when brought from 
Italy, or Toulon, dried, and pickled in salt or vinegar. They 
then had an established reputation for curing diseases of the 
Spleen, whilst externally the pickle of capers was applied against 
the left side of the belly below the ribs, on linen cloths, or 
sponges, for reducing enlargements of the same organ. In 
Germany, Capers are chopped up with anchovies, and spice, 
