o eat that he may live, gives him appetite to invite, flavor to
encourage, and pleasure to reward.

From the political economist's point of view, the love of good living is
a tie between nations, uniting them by the interchange of various
articles of food which are in constant use. Hence the voyage from Pole
to Pole of wines, sugars, fruits, and so forth. What else sustains the
hope and emulation of that crowd of fishermen, huntsmen, gardeners, and
others who daily stock the most sumptuous larders with the results of
their skill and labor? What else supports the industrious army of cooks,
pastry-cooks, confectioners, and many other food-preparers, with all
their various assistants? These various branches of industry derive
their support in a great measure from the largest incomes, but they also
rely upon the daily wants of all classes.

As society is at present constituted, it is almost impossible to
conceive of a race living solely on bread and vegetables. Such a nation
would infallibly be conquered by the armies of some flesh-eating race
(like the Hindoos, who have been the prey of all those, one after
another, who cared to attack them), or else it would be converted by the
cooking of the neighboring nations, as ancient history records of the
Boeotians, who acquired a love for good living after the battle
of Leuctra.

Good living opens out great resources for replenishing the public purse:
it brings contributions to town-dues, to the custom-house, and other
indirect contributions. Everything we eat is taxed, and there is no
exchequer that is not substantially supported by lovers of good living.
Shall we speak of that swarm of cooks who have for ages been annually
leaving France, to improve foreign nations in the art of good living?
Most of them succeed; and in obedience to an instinct which never dies
in a Frenchman's heart, bring back to their country the fruits of their
economy. The sum thus imported is greater than might be supposed, and
therefore they, like the others, will be honored by posterity.

But if nations were grateful, then Frenchmen, above all other races,
ought to raise a temple and altars to "Gourmandise." By the treaty of
November, 1815, the allies imposed upon France the condition of paying
thirty millions sterling in three years, besides claims for compensation
and various requisitions, amounting to nearly as much more. The
apprehension, or rather certainty, became general that a national
bankr