CHAPTEE IX. 



A BACKWOODSMAN'S STORY THE BREEDING FARM FEEDING 



LONGEVITY TRAINING-STABLES, &C. 



PRECEPTOR. How much the welfare of mankind de- 

 pends on trifles, has been illustrated by Napoleon's losing 

 a battle in consequence of an indigestion. The " Napo- 

 leon of the turf" was unable to manage the race between 

 Eclipse and Henry on account of a lobster supper eaten the 

 night before. Many confidently gave this as the reason 

 why Henry was beaten. Men dislike to acknowledge their 

 favorite has been conquered by meeting a superior horse, 

 and ransack their brains for excuses, rather than admit 

 the fact, apparent to an unprejudiced observer. We will 

 have to be gluttons indeed if the food prepared for us here 

 does any injury. The excellent cooking gratifies the pal- 

 ate, and preserves all nutritive qualities of the food. 



There is no one who despises more heartily than I do 

 .he man who lives only to eat, who is only gratified by 

 the sensuous delights of the table, and is unhappy himself 

 and disagreeable to others, when some dish he delights in 

 is omitted, or falls short of the standard of perfection of 

 which he is a good judge. While I contemn the epicure, 

 I pity the man who does not care what he eats so long as 

 hunger is appeased. He goes through the world deprived 

 of one of the means of enjoyment as much as if he had 

 lost the sense of hearing, though not in so great a degree. 

 You have one thing to-day for dinner, speckled trout, that 

 is the choicest of all food to me, save fruit. I will have 



