THE COOKERY OF VENISON 



VENISON plays so important a part in the story of the 

 human race, that volumes might be devoted to it. 

 But even in the merest sketch in outline, it must be 

 treated historically, romantically and practically. We 

 must go back to the birth of the world as we know 

 it, and to the opening chapters of Genesis. When 

 our first parents exchanged the fig-leaves for skins, 

 we believe all commentators are agreed that their 

 rudimentary costume was a dress of deer-hide. As 

 they had been expelled from their garden, and had 

 neither ploughed nor sown, we take it for granted 

 that they lived on the game they killed. The 

 patriarch Isaac had flocks and herds in abundance, 

 but although 'the world's grey fathers,' like the 

 Bedouin, lived chiefly on a ilk diet on curds and 

 koumiss, and light dairy preparations Isaac seems 

 to have been a gourmet. He loved savoury meat, 

 and had a predilection for venison or rather antelope- 



