DOI Heft:
January 13, 1866
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16877#0021
January 13. 1866.]
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
13
RATHER A DAMPER!
Rapid Young Lady. “ Come along, Mk. Green ! I want a lead at the Brook ! ”
[Green thinks Women have no business out hunting.
COOKERY AND CRUELTY.
Dear Mr. Punch,
The annual return of what is called the festive, which means
the feastive season, sets one naturally thinking about roast-beef and
plum-pudding, and other less substantial dainties for the dinner table.
Not but what I think about such matters pretty constantly at all
seasons ; for I hold that men with brains ought always to give thought
to what they put into their stomachs, upon the well being of which the
healthy action of the brain is materially dependent. So my eyes and
ears are always open for advice in the matter of my diet, and 1 welcome
with delight a hint of a new dish, or a suggestion to provoke the vigour
of my appetite, and increase thereby my relish for the pleasures of the
table.
As the people who read Punch give proof by their so doing that they
surely are possessed of considerable intelligence, there are doubtless
many among them who will be as glad as I am to hear of some new
triumph in the noble art of cookery. Doubtless therefore they will
thank you for letting me make known to them, through your delightful
columns, this exquisite Chinese recipe for cooking turtle, which 1 copy
from a lately published book by Dr. Rennie, on the people of Peking •—
“ The turtle is place in a vessel of water on the fire, with a lid over it having an '
aperture of sufficient size, and so arranged that the turtle can just get his head out,
and within the reach of highly spiced wine. As the temperature of the water
increases, so does his thirst; and he gradually goes on drinking the seasoned fluid
until the heat kiUs him, by which time his whole system has become impregnated
with the vino-aromatic seasoning, and a flavour described as delicious is imparted
to the dish. ”
I dare say there may be persons who may possibly consider this a
somewhat cruel way of putting animals to death. But man, Sir, after
all is the superior animal; and the pleasure he derives from eating
turtleflesh “ impregnated with vino-aromatic seasoning ” should be
weighed against the pains which, in the process of such seasoning, the
turtle may endure. Besides, Sir, just consider: it really is not certain
that the turtle, when thus dying, suffers any pain at all. Sipping good
spiced wine, while taking a warm bath, can hardly be considered a cruel
form of torture; and except that, when the water approaches boiling
point, the turtle doubtless feels uncomfortably hot, I can scarcely see
that he has any reason for complaining of the treatment he receives.
Ail turtles must die; and being slowly boiled to death while drink-
ing aromatic wine may be a rather enviable way of ending one’s
existence. Not being used to wine, the turtle doubtless quickly finds
it get into his head; and long before his dying he is probably dead
drunk.
A turtle, to be sure, is not a ruminating animal; still if he have any
power of reflection, he must surely, when thus boiled, feel consolation
in the thought that he dies a glorious martyr to the noble cause of
cookery, and that, dying as he does in the most savoury of odours, the
greatest veneration will be paid to his remains.
Poncfly hoping that in spite of our Society for Cruelty-Prevention, I
may live to taste a turtle, who, while half seas over, has died in a warm
bath, believe me, dear Mr. Punch,
Yours candidly.
An Alderman.
P.S. I wonder if the Chinese eat their turtle soup with chopsticks.
I fear, from want of practice, I am clumsy with those implements;
and, if I be invited to eat aromatic turtle, I should like my host to say
to me, as the child did in the story-book, “ Won’t you take a spoon,
pig ? ”
A Great Irish. Fact.
The Irish Republic is flourishing in America, but not only flourishing.
It has arrived at the maturity of a State that has rebellion within its
own bosom to put down. The Peuian President at New York finds
himself under the necessity of disavowing the acts of a Penian Senate,
self-constituted in opposition to his Government. The Republic of
Ireland thus appears to exist in quite as high perfection as it would if
its President occupied the Castle at Dublin, and College-green were
in a state of revolt.
Partnership without Limited Liability.—Marriage.
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
13
RATHER A DAMPER!
Rapid Young Lady. “ Come along, Mk. Green ! I want a lead at the Brook ! ”
[Green thinks Women have no business out hunting.
COOKERY AND CRUELTY.
Dear Mr. Punch,
The annual return of what is called the festive, which means
the feastive season, sets one naturally thinking about roast-beef and
plum-pudding, and other less substantial dainties for the dinner table.
Not but what I think about such matters pretty constantly at all
seasons ; for I hold that men with brains ought always to give thought
to what they put into their stomachs, upon the well being of which the
healthy action of the brain is materially dependent. So my eyes and
ears are always open for advice in the matter of my diet, and 1 welcome
with delight a hint of a new dish, or a suggestion to provoke the vigour
of my appetite, and increase thereby my relish for the pleasures of the
table.
As the people who read Punch give proof by their so doing that they
surely are possessed of considerable intelligence, there are doubtless
many among them who will be as glad as I am to hear of some new
triumph in the noble art of cookery. Doubtless therefore they will
thank you for letting me make known to them, through your delightful
columns, this exquisite Chinese recipe for cooking turtle, which 1 copy
from a lately published book by Dr. Rennie, on the people of Peking •—
“ The turtle is place in a vessel of water on the fire, with a lid over it having an '
aperture of sufficient size, and so arranged that the turtle can just get his head out,
and within the reach of highly spiced wine. As the temperature of the water
increases, so does his thirst; and he gradually goes on drinking the seasoned fluid
until the heat kiUs him, by which time his whole system has become impregnated
with the vino-aromatic seasoning, and a flavour described as delicious is imparted
to the dish. ”
I dare say there may be persons who may possibly consider this a
somewhat cruel way of putting animals to death. But man, Sir, after
all is the superior animal; and the pleasure he derives from eating
turtleflesh “ impregnated with vino-aromatic seasoning ” should be
weighed against the pains which, in the process of such seasoning, the
turtle may endure. Besides, Sir, just consider: it really is not certain
that the turtle, when thus dying, suffers any pain at all. Sipping good
spiced wine, while taking a warm bath, can hardly be considered a cruel
form of torture; and except that, when the water approaches boiling
point, the turtle doubtless feels uncomfortably hot, I can scarcely see
that he has any reason for complaining of the treatment he receives.
Ail turtles must die; and being slowly boiled to death while drink-
ing aromatic wine may be a rather enviable way of ending one’s
existence. Not being used to wine, the turtle doubtless quickly finds
it get into his head; and long before his dying he is probably dead
drunk.
A turtle, to be sure, is not a ruminating animal; still if he have any
power of reflection, he must surely, when thus boiled, feel consolation
in the thought that he dies a glorious martyr to the noble cause of
cookery, and that, dying as he does in the most savoury of odours, the
greatest veneration will be paid to his remains.
Poncfly hoping that in spite of our Society for Cruelty-Prevention, I
may live to taste a turtle, who, while half seas over, has died in a warm
bath, believe me, dear Mr. Punch,
Yours candidly.
An Alderman.
P.S. I wonder if the Chinese eat their turtle soup with chopsticks.
I fear, from want of practice, I am clumsy with those implements;
and, if I be invited to eat aromatic turtle, I should like my host to say
to me, as the child did in the story-book, “ Won’t you take a spoon,
pig ? ”
A Great Irish. Fact.
The Irish Republic is flourishing in America, but not only flourishing.
It has arrived at the maturity of a State that has rebellion within its
own bosom to put down. The Peuian President at New York finds
himself under the necessity of disavowing the acts of a Penian Senate,
self-constituted in opposition to his Government. The Republic of
Ireland thus appears to exist in quite as high perfection as it would if
its President occupied the Castle at Dublin, and College-green were
in a state of revolt.
Partnership without Limited Liability.—Marriage.