THE LITTLE TEA BOOK 



The new beverage did not have the 

 field all to itself, however, for, while 

 it was generally admitted that 



Tea was fixed, and come to stay, 



It could not drive good meat and drink away. 



Lovers of the old and conservative 

 customs of the table were not anx- 

 ious to try the novelty. Others 

 shied at it ; some flirted with it, in 

 tiny teaspoonfuls ; others openly de- 

 fied and attacked it. Among the 

 latter were a number of robust versi- 

 fiers and physicians. 



"'Twas better for each British virgin, 

 When on roast beef, strong beer and sturgeon, 

 Joyous to breakfast they sat round, 

 Nor were ashamed to eat a pound." 



The fleshly school of doctors were 

 only too happy to disagree with their 

 brethren respecting the merits and 

 demerits of the new-fangled drink ; 



17 



