272 THE lliVE OF THE BEE-HUXTER. 



We give it as nearly verbatim as possible, but must 

 premise, that from an occasional twinkle that we noticed 

 in the Major's eyes, w^e have never been perfectly satis- 

 fied that he did not, to use the language of an Irish 

 friend of ours, "make an intentional mistake." 



" There ought to be nothing about a dinner, gene- 

 rally speaking," commenced the Major, " to make it an 

 era in one's history in any way. 



" The power merely to gratify the appetite just suf- 

 ficient to sustain life, is eating in poverty ; a life spent 

 merely in gratifying the appetite, is brutal. We like a 

 good dinner, and we sit down to one with that compla- 

 cency of feeling that denotes a thankfulness, that may 

 properly be called, a silent blessing ; yet we feel more 

 pity for a man who recollects his bad dinners, than we do 

 for one who distinctly remembers his good ones. In every- 

 day life, things commemorative often start from the ta- 

 ble. ' Do you remember,' says Gustibus, ' that so and 

 so happened the day we ate the fresh salmon ? ' 'I re- 

 member the event,' replies Dulce, ' from that exquisite 

 bon-mot uttered on the occasion.' 



" I remember my first dinner in New Orleans as dis- 

 tinctly as I remember my first love. I trust it was im- 

 pressed upon my mind through the excitement of the 

 intellect, as well as through the gratification of the senses. 

 As I journeyed on to New Orleans for the first time, 

 I naturally suggested to my travelling companion, my 

 desire to be most pleasantly provided for while in the 



