With the advent
of our steaks, the band struck up a selection from Wagner.
I know of no modern European composer so difficult to eat beefsteak
to as Wagner. That we did not choke ourselves is a miracle.
Wagner's orchestration is most trying to follow. We had to give up
all idea of mustard. B. tried to eat a bit of bread with his steak,
and got most hopelessly out of tune. I am afraid I was a little
flat myself during the "Valkyries' Ride." My steak was rather
underdone, and I could not work it quickly enough.
After getting outside hard beefsteak to Wagner, putting away potato
salad to the garden music out of Faust was comparatively simple.
Once or twice a slice of potato stuck in our throat during a very
high note, but, on the whole, our rendering was fairly artistic.
We rattled off a sweet omelette to a symphony in G - or F, or else K;
I won't be positive as to the precise letter; but it was something
in the alphabet, I know - and bolted our cheese to the ballet music
from Carmen. After which we rolled about in agonies to all the
national airs of Europe.
If ever you visit a German beer-hall or garden - to study character
or anything of that kind - be careful, when you have finished
drinking your beer, to shut the cover of the mug down tight. If you
leave it with the cover standing open, that is taken as a sign that
you want more beer, and the girl snatches it away and brings it back
refilled.
B. and I very nearly had an accident one warm night, owing to our
ignorance of this custom. Each time after we had swallowed the
quart, we left the pot, standing before us with the cover up, and
each time it was, in consequence, taken away, and brought back to
us, brimming full again. After about the sixth time, we gently
remonstrated.
"This is very kind of you, my good girl," B. said, "but really I
don't think we CAN. I don't think we ought to. You must not go on
doing this sort of thing. We will drink this one now that you have
brought it, but we really must insist on its being the last."
After about the tenth time we expostulated still more strongly.
"Now, you know what I told you four quarts ago!" remarked B.,
severely. "This can't go on for ever. Something serious will be
happening. We are not used to your German school of drinking. We
are only foreigners. In our own country we are considered rather
swagger at this elbow-raising business, and for the credit of old
England we have done our best.
