Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 1895. THE TRIUMPHS AND TROUBLES OF THE TEAPOT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4976, 15 March 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 1895. THE TRIUMPHS AND TROUBLES OF THE TEAPOT.

Tmißi; ia a Paul Pryishness aboul the science of to-day, for it delights in poking its nasal organ into all maimer of things, and of course the result is to make discoveries. Some, times these discoveries are pleasant, but at other times they are of a character to make us thoroughly uncomfortable. The inquisitive spectacles of the scientist have discovered microbes here, and baccili there, that presently we shall dread kissing our best girl, for fear of having transferred a score or more of microbes. We could perhaps have tolerated this hardship, but another is tp bo added tfl our'miser. ies. The curio-hunting men of science have turned their attention to the tea-pot. They might have spared us this, for the tea-pot is the great household god in Australasia, and if by taking tea, we drink in misery, 'then. indeed we are done" "Tea, tea, refreshing tea," has made rapid strides since it was brought to Europe by the Dutch, scarcely three centuries ago, but nowhere has it become such a pronounced favourite, as in these Colonies, Tho average consumption for Australia, is 7.31bs per head ; _ in New Zealand the consumption is about 5.721b5, while in Western Australia, whore the miner boils the billy, the average is as high as 10.61b. The average for Great Britain is slightly over 51b per head; on the Continent it is inidq).' l|b. and in the United States 1,31b. Some Yankee doctors have diagnosed tho teapot, and find'the'following ." vertigo, insomnia,' palplta- " tioii of heart, mental confusion, " nightmare, nausea, hallucinations, " morbid depression of spirits, and " sometimes suicidal impulses,"-as the spectres that haunt the tea drunkard—and tea-tippling would appear to be a favourite amusement, for the New York doctors report that every tenth applicant for relief at the city dispensaries is a tea drunkard. If this is the average for America the Colonial average must be a tall one._ Gloriously drunk on tea, has no fascinating joys.There is uot the same scope for "measuring the width of a street," nor does it afford the opportunity of being ran.in for "Phrnnkanddisprdevly.". i)lip"jnf!pcei[t and iijyjtjng looking rich brown liquid, is,' by the dictum of t|ie doctors, a deadly peril to the fej), nerves, it corrodes his stomaoli' and undermines his phavac: ter, and tea-drinking is a vioe, It is impossible to deny that tea has been Hid is abased, especially by the English speaking people. We take tea i

at unreasonable hours, and pour the boiling liquor highly charged with tannin into our stomachs without the demand of a natural appetite, It is very questionable whether the art of making tea is thoroughly understood; the English fashion, it seems, is to boil it, stew it, brew it, distil it, do anything in fact but get an infusion, while the Australian fashion according to a home paper, is to" frankly boil it in the" kettle on tlio fire" and so obtain " a singularly rank and black liquid."

Notwithstanding the sittings of science and its dismal discoveries, tlie Queen of Beverages, refreshing tea, will continue to be dispensed by the colonial housewife. How could we do without it? How banish it from our social gatherings ? Science however having told us of its discoveries iu the teapot will no doubt be content with its work. Science lias informed us of many dreadful tilings and if we took the slightest heed of the many dangers we are liable to, that lmve been conjured up by modern science, wo should be afraid to oat or drink. The troubles of the teapot are many, but its triumphs uve greater, and for our own comfort we will continue to take tea.