The Queen Pedauque

d Thought

able laid for three, where M. d

a dozen times. But we could not see any joints. As well as we could, my kind

n the future. At present men eat without philosophy. They do not nourish themselves like reasonable beings. They do not think of such. But of what are they thinking? Most of them live in stupidity and actually those who are capable of reflection occupy their minds with silly things like controversies and poetry. Consider mankind, gentlemen, at their meals since the far-away times when they ceased th

advantages that men have drawn from this celestial present, one of the happiest was the possibility of cooking food, and by this treatment, to render it lighter and more subtle. And it's in a large part due to the effect of a nourishment submitted to the action of the flame that slowly and by degrees mankind became intelligent, industrious, meditative and apt to cultivate the arts and sciences. But that was only a first step, and it is grievous to think that so many millions

the silken tablecloth, the Venetian glass, the chased epergnes full of rare flowers, the heavy candlesticks-they cannot change, cannot lend a dissimulating charm to the true nature of this unclean charnel-house, where men and women assemble over animal bodies, broken bones and torn meats to gloat greedily over them. Oh, what unphilosophical nourishment! We swallow with stupid gluttony muscle, fat and intestines of beasts

used but the quintessence of oxen and pigs, the elixir of partridges and capons, and all that is swallowed could be digested. I do not give up a

ng his eyes over the thin black broth in his plate, l

But the day will come when we shall know exactly the nourishing elements contained in animal carcasses, and it will become possible to extract those very same elements from bodies without life, and which will furnish an

site and the absorption salutary. Cookery will be done in retorts and stills and alchemists will be our cooks. Are you not impatient, gentlemen, to

el them," said my kind tutor,

ome marvellously active, their sight will become singularly piercing, and they will see the ships gliding on the seas of the

e all organs flatten and end by disappearing altogether. It has been observed that fishes deprived of light become blind. I myself have seen in Valais that shepherds who fed on curdled milk lost the

t to be disagreeable when women get a little corporation, especially if all the remainder of her body

t. I have to acknowledge that all I have till now predicted is nothing but a preparatory measure for the real nourishment, which is that of the Sylphs and all aerial spirits. They drink light, which is sufficient to give to their bodies marvellous strength and subtility. It is their only potion, one day it will be ours also. Nothing more

his head sadly lowered. He seemed to contemplate the cha

ot speak at yonder cookshop of an elixir

good for philosophers, and by that you may understand how rest

to submit it to him, certain that he would enlig

conceived a charming idea, have they unhappily spoiled their teeth by light drinking, as the she

that we should call such. But their gums are furnished with two ranges of pearls, very white and very brillian

that I was glad it wa

some ornament similar to the pearls of the Salamander. Then it will become incomprehensible that