Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863 Excerpt:... ham, and pyramids of little Bologna sausages, with huge rolls of bread a yard in length, and lobster salad, and cold punch iu abundance. In the manufacture of the two latter, however, Monsieur Adrien had made an unlucky mistake, having put brandy in the lobster-salad and mixed the punch with fine brown vinegar. Still, as the guests were all very hungry, it made but little difference. To the grisette, and the student, as to the school-boy, everything eatable is delicious. Their appetites are inexhaustible; their tastes primitive; their digestions faultless. Happy race! Is it not a pity that one cannot be gifted with a perennial youth, and belong to thee for ever? The flirtations at supper were tremendous. In a bachelor establishment one cannot expect to find every convenience, and on this occasion the prevailing deficiency was among the plates and glasses; so those who had been partners in the dance now became partners in other matters, eating off the same plate, and drinking out of the same tumbler, which only made it so much the merrier. By and by, somebody volunteered a song, and somebody else made a speech, and then we went down again to the ball-room, and dancing recommenced. The laughter now became louder, and the legs of the guests more vigorous than ever. The orchestra, too, received an addition to its strength in the person of a gentleman, who having drunk more vin-ordinaire, and eaten more of the brandied salad than was quite consistent with the preservation of his equilibrium, was still sober enough to oblige us with a spirited accompaniment on the shovel and tongs, which, with the violin and accordion, and the comb obligato before mentioned, produced quite a startling effect, and reminded one of Turkish marches, Pantomime overtures, and the like...