INNS. 9 J 



(lie genei'al fall of commodities and wages. It 

 is true tliat the liorn of plenty scatters its blessings 

 in profusion. Your breakfast and tea table is 

 overloaded with cakes, green cucumbers, pickled 

 rucumbcrS} cheese, swcatmeats, and sallad, be- 

 sides more agreeable viands ; but then tlie cofiee 

 >3 sonjctiaies burnt (not roasted) so that the aroma 

 escapes ; or you have the deleterious green tea 

 instead of black- — and instead of wholesonie 

 breadj you are served with a mixture of flour and 

 niilli, which is really disgusting ; because as soon 

 as the latter ingredient acidifies, it taints the whole 

 mass, and oiiends the smell as well as the taste. 

 The bacon and egg;^, at dinner, and the broiled 

 chickens and veal cutlets are \cry fine. You 

 have good beer and cider — fine wine is rarely to 

 be got. And in this country of cheap tai:iber3 

 the ice houses are comparativelj'rare. 



VV hen you call for a meal, you are frequently 

 ;arprised to find yourself surrounded by strange 

 travellers. This is a contrivance of Madame 

 Traiteur to save trouble — and then it is consider- 

 d an essential etiquette to place a neatly dressed 

 f^raale at table, to preside over its ceremonies^ 

 and to pour out the coilee. This is frequently 

 \QYy agreeable, and you are often pleased with 

 the conversation of a modest, sensible young 

 woman. 



