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

down at all, general?” “Very little indeed,” was the reply. “That I can conceive. But in time of peace you must admit four or five to be rather an early hour to call upon a friend, as you proposed doing to General Garrett.” The general was a man of very agreeable manners--spoke French rather fluently--had a very quick eye--was no sooner seated than he took a survey of the company. The lunch was much relished--the speeches were short and to the point, and all went on to everybody’s satisfaction. The Russian general was particularly pleased, and highly complimented his host upon the dainty repast, which he could not conceive was to be had in the Crimea. His aide-de-camp informed me that he was a bit of an epicure, and always kept a good table when at home. Both the aides-de-camp were much taken with the engravings from the _Illustrated News_ pasted round the walls of the general’s dining-room. They could not make out how it was that General Pelissier wore a Russian uniform, and Prince Menschikoff the French military order--that General Canrobert was dressed like the Emperor Alexander II., while his Majesty was dressed in the French general’s costume. Count Orloff wore the French imperial uniform; and above all, their general-in-chief, Prince Gortschikoff, appeared attired as a Highlander, while the Grand Duke Constantine was rigged out as a Zouave. They remained some time after the general had left the table, puzzling over these strange contradictions. “This,” said I, “was done during the cut-throat time; but now we are at peace, and in future every one will carry his own head upon his shoulders, and each military man wear his own uniform and orders. War,” I continued, “is a mischievous evil, which turns everything topsy-turvy, while peace will restore every head to its proper owner.” This explanation appeared to puzzle them more than the thing itself; so I showed them that the heads had been cut off with scissors and placed upon other bodies. This amused them so much, that the general had to wait some time for them. They were