Mommsen, in his "Romische Geschichte," refers to the lavish display at the tables of the Romans, and affirms that expense was never considered in their hospitality. In those days, he asserts, "A well-wrought bronze cooking machine came to cost more than an estate." What a trifling difference between these and our modern chafing dishes ! The history of France, that land to which we ever look for gastronomic delights, furnishes many an illustration of the high esteem in wThich chafing dishes have been held by many of the mightiest of their land. Louis XV., according to Goncourt, took much delight in cooking, and often amused himself " by making quintessential stews in sil- ver pans." The palate of Louis XVI. was often tickled by " piping hot dishes, brought in on a chafing dish." Napoleon Bonaparte, when laying down the affairs of war and enjoying for a short period the joys of home life, has cooked, — as Baron Meneval writes, — in a silver chafing dish, an omelet for the enjoyment of the empress and himself. Madame Recamier, the beautiful and intel- lectual society leader, whose salon was always filled with a brilliant circle, entertained by the 14 Chafing Dishes in the Past use of a chafing dish ; and many an historic speech has been made during the preparation of some viand fit for the gods. Madame de Stael, " the greatest woman in literary history," when exiled by Napoleon Bonaparte from her beloved France, took with her, among household treasures, the chafing dish which played a not unimportant part in her Paris entertainments. Glancing at the lives of some of England's greatest literary men, it is found that a faithful history of the London clubs to which they belonged, reveals the history of their manners and their ways. From the time that Sir Walter Raleigh founded the " Mermaid " to the days of the famous u Literary Club," chafing dishes have appeared more or less conspicuously on the tables of those giants of old, where — " Mingled with the friendly bowl, The feast of reason and the flow of soul." " I regard the discovery of a new dish as a far more interesting event than the discovery of a star ; for we have always stars enough, but we can never have too many dishes." If there are still those of this same opinion, with a chaf- ing dish for a companion, cannot they work their way to fame ? *5 CHAFING DISH SUGGESTIONS i7 He who receives friends without himself bestowing some pains upon the repast prepared for them, does not deserve to have friends Brill a t-Sa varin 18 II CHAFING DISH SUGGESTIONS THE chafing dish of to-day has accomplished much as a civilizer, seeming to rekindle the flames of hospitality and to elevate the stand- ard of cookery. Who can doubt its permanent stay ! The bachelor feels himself proud to be called the pioneer in the use of this utensil. All must agree that epicureanism belongs to the lords of creation, and many an one has made himself quite famous by compounding some dish for " those palates who must have inventions to delight the taste."

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Mommsen, in his "Romische Geschichte," refers to the lavish display at the tables of the Romans, and affirms that expense was never considered in their hospitality. In those days, he asserts, "A well-wrought bronze cooking machine came to cost more than an estate." What a trifling difference between these and our modern chafing dishes ! The history of France, that land to which we ever look for gastronomic delights, furnishes many an illustration of the high esteem in wThich chafing dishes have been held by many of the mightiest of their land. Louis XV., according to Goncourt, took much delight in cooking, and often amused himself " by making quintessential stews in silver pans." The palate of Louis XVI. was often tickled by " piping hot dishes, brought in on a chafing dish." Napoleon Bonaparte, when laying down the affairs of war and enjoying for a short period the joys of home life, has cooked, — as Baron Meneval writes, — in a silver chafing dish, an omelet for the enjoyment of the empress and himself. Madame Recamier, the beautiful and intellectual society leader, whose salon was always filled with a brilliant circle, entertained by the Chafing Dishes in the Past use of a chafing dish ; and many an historic speech has been made during the preparation of some viand fit for the gods. Madame de Stael, " the greatest woman in literary history," when exiled by Napoleon Bonaparte from her beloved France, took with her, among household treasures, the chafing dish which played a not unimportant part in her Paris entertainments. Glancing at the lives of some of England's greatest literary men, it is found that a faithful history of the London clubs to which they belonged, reveals the history of their manners and their ways. From the time that Sir Walter Raleigh founded the " Mermaid " to the days of the famous u Literary Club," chafing dishes have appeared more or less conspicuously on the tables of those giants of old, where — " Mingled with the friendly bowl, The feast of reason and the flow of soul." " I regard the discovery of a new dish as a far more interesting event than the discovery of a star ; for we have always stars enough, but we can never have too many dishes." If there are still those of this same opinion, with a chafing dish for a companion, cannot they work their way to fame ? *5 CHAFING DISH SUGGESTIONS He who receives friends without himself bestowing some pains upon the repast prepared for them, does not deserve to have friends Brill a t-Sa varin CHAFING DISH SUGGESTIONS THE chafing dish of to-day has accomplished much as a civilizer, seeming to rekindle the flames of hospitality and to elevate the standard of cookery. Who can doubt its permanent stay ! The bachelor feels himself proud to be called the pioneer in the use of this utensil. All must agree that epicureanism belongs to the lords of creation, and many an one has made himself quite famous by compounding some dish for " those palates who must have inventions to delight the taste."

Chafing dish possibilities