sts largely of lactopeptine,
hydrochloric acid, and various other efficient digestives which render
it innocuous to the most delicate digestion."

"Very well, Memnon," I replied, making a wry face, "bring it on. I'll
try a little of it, anyhow." I must confess it did not sound inviting,
but a guest should never criticise the food that is placed before him.
My politeness was well repaid, for nothing more delicate in the way of
an omelet has ever titillated my palate. There was a slight metallic
taste about it at first, but I soon got over that, just as I have got
used to English oysters, which, when I eat them, make me feel for a
moment as if I had bitten off the end of a brass door-knob; and had I
not calculated the cost, I should have asked for a second helping.

Memnon then brought me a platter containing a small object that
looked like a Hamburg steak, and a most delicious cup of _cafe au
lait_.

"Filet Olympus," he observed, "and coffee direct from the dairy of the
gods."

Both were a joy.

"Never tasted such a steak!" I said, as the delicate morsel actually
melted like butter in my mouth.

"No, sir, you never did," Memnon agreed. "It is cut from the steer
bred for the sole purpose of supplying Jupiter and his family with
tenderloin. We take the calf when it is very young, sir, and surround
it with all the luxuries of a bovine existence. It is fed on the most
delicate fodder, especially prepared by chemists under the direction
of AEsculapius. The cattle, instead of toughening their muscles by
walking to pasture, are waited upon by cow-boys in livery. A gentle
amount of exercise, just enough to keep them in condition, is taken
at regular hours every day, and at night they are put to sleep in
feather beds and covered with eiderdown quilts at seven o'clock."

"Don't they rebel?" I asked. "I should think a moderately active calf
would be hard to manage that way."

[Illustration: CARING FOR THE CALVES]

"Oh, at first a little, but after a while they come to like it, and by
the time they are ready for killing they are as tender as humming
birds' tongues," said Memnon. "If you take him young enough, you can
do almost anything you like with a calf."

It seemed like a marvellous scheme, and far more humane than that of
fattening geese for the sale of their livers.

"And this coffee, Memnon? You said it was fresh from the dairy of the
gods. You get your coffee from the dairy?" I asked.

"The breakfast coffee--