Among the Celestials : vol.1 / Page 73 (Color Image)

0073	Among the Celestials : vol.1

CHAP. ii.] A RUSSIAN DINNER. 49

coming, we sat down to the main business.

First of all, a great soup-tureen was placed on

the table, filled with a good substantial soup.

" No ceremony, gentlemen ; je mange énorme-

ment," said the colonel. And he proceeded to

ladle himself out a good helping, and every one

round the table then did the same. Each of us

had at his side six bottles of wine and beer,

and these we were expected to attack indis-

criminately. " You're drinking nothing," shouts

out the colonel, as he stretches across the table

and fills my glass with claret. Before that was

finished, another officer would fill my glass—

the same glass !—with sherry. Then the

colonel would insist upon our trying the beer.

Meanwhile course after course of the most

substantial dishes were being served up. Each

one helped himself from them, but in addition

one or other of the officers would cut off a huge

slice and put it down in one of our plates. The

hospitality was genuine and most hearty ; but

how we got through that evening was a marvel

to us. We had been leading a hard, healthy

life lately, so had good appetites, and were able

to keep fairly well in line with the Russians in

the eating way. But the drinking was terrible,

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