Soyer's Culinary Campaign: Being Historical Reminiscences of the Late War.: With The Plain Art of Cookery for Military and Civil Institutions

pleased and very grateful. When we had satisfied our appetites, we made ready to start, and offered to pay for the accommodation we had received: but scarcely had the English sovereign fallen upon the stone slab before the old father, who was nursing the two youngest scions of his race upon his knees, than he rose up with a spring, dropped the children on the floor, and stroking his long white hair with one hand, made a sign for the sovereign to be immediately returned to the pocket with the other, as if he feared that the heaven towards which his eyes were directed would punish him for violating the laws of hospitality if he accepted the money. We did as he desired, and peace and friendship were at once restored. It was a scene worthy of the _Dame Blanche_ of Boieldieu, taken from Sir Walter Scott’s _Monastery_, where the Highland farmer says to travellers like ourselves, “The Scotch mountaineers dispense their hospitality, but never sell it.” Soon after this charming incident had occurred, we left our generous host and his fine family in their peaceable dwelling. This love of hospitality did not prevail amongst the retail dealers, who, on the contrary, endeavoured to fleece visitors in every possible way, as if anxious to get one’s skin in order to sell it for what it would fetch. As curiosity had allured us thus far into the bowels of the land, and as we were not particular about trifles, even in money matters, on this auspicious occasion, these human vultures were permitted to gorge themselves at our expense and that of our pockets. Champagne was sold at a pound and more the bottle, stout at ten shillings, and everything else at the same exorbitant rate, but by way of compensation all was of an inferior quality. CHAPTER XXXIII. HOSTILITIES AT TABLE. Culinary education of the soldier-pupils--Meeting with Miss Nightingale--Reforms in the hospitals--Testimonials--Miss Nightingale’s carriage rescued--That lady’s exertions--Her faith--General Lüders’s visits--Marshal Pelissier--Grand ceremonies--Trip to Yalta--The _Alar_--A peculiar position--Rescued at last--A pleasant excursion--Prince Woronzoff’s palace--Dinner at sea--Outside the harbour--The banquet--Wanted at head-quarters--A new