I5TN3. 93 



the general fall of commodities and wages. It 

 is true that the horn of plenty scatters its blessings 

 in profusion. Your breakfast and tea table is 

 overloaded with cakes, green cucumbers, pickled 

 cucumbers, cheese, sweatmeats, and sallad, be- 

 sides more agreeable viands ; but then the coffee 

 is sometimes burnt (not roasted) so that the aroma 

 escapes ; or you have the deleterious green tea 

 instead of black — and instead of wholesome 

 bread, you are served with a mixture cf flour and 

 milk, which is really disgusting ; because as soon 

 as the latter ingredient acidifies, it taints the whole 

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

 The bacon and eggs, at dinner, and the broiled 

 chickens and veal cutlets are very fine. You 

 have good beer and cider — fine wine is rarely to 

 be got. And in this country of cheap timber, 

 the ice houses are comparatively rare. 



When you call for a meal, you are frequently 

 surprised to find yourself surrounded by strange 

 travellers. This is a contrivance of Madame 

 Traiteur to save trouble — and then it is consider- 

 ed an essential etiquette to place a neatly dressed 

 female at table, to preside over its ceremonies^ 

 and to pour out the coder. This is frequently 

 very agreeable, and you are often pleased with 



the conversation of a modest, sensible young 



woman. 



