but would deprive us of a most humanising and refining means of
enjoyment. How beautiful and necessary, then, is the arrangement by
which, morning, noon, and night, (I pity folks who only eat twice a
day,) the members of the household are brought together in such
kindly intercourse around the family board! How seldom would they
assemble thus pleasantly, were it not for the meal!

The little wounds and scratches which the sharp edges of our
characters will inflict upon each other, when brought together in
the necessary contact of daily intercourse, would otherwise be
suffered to fret and vex us sorely; but before they have had time
to fester and inflame, meal-time comes, and brings with it the
magic, mollifying oil.

It is meet, then, (we spell the word with two e's, mind you,) that,
on any occasion of public rejoicing, the banquet should be an
indispensable accompaniment. The accomplishment of some important
public enterprise, the celebration of the birth-days of great and
good men, a nation's holidays, the reuenions of friends engaged in a
common cause, are occasions in which the dinner, very properly,
constitutes one of the leading features.

And what can be more exhilarating than the innocent mirthfulness,
the unaffected kindnesses, the witty speeches, the sprightly
conversations which are universally incident to such occasions? No
wonder Lycurgus decreed that the Spartans should eat in public.
Ostensibly, it was for the sake of the grave conversations of the
elders at such times, but really, I imagine, it was to keep the
citizens (who had been at swords' points with each other) in a good
humor, by bringing them around a common table.

He knew that if any thing would soften their mutual asperities and
cultivate mutual good feeling, such a measure would. Would it not
be well for modern times to take a hint here? Had I been appointed
architect of the Capitol, I think I could have saved the feuds
which long ago sprang up, and which have resulted in, and will yet
bring about, alas! we know not how much bloodshed. I would have
constructed a couple of immense dining-rooms, with all the
necessary appurtenances. Just to think how different would have
been the aspect of things in the chamber where Sumner once lay
bleeding, and in the hall where