Achilles
named the godlike, a wonderful grill-cook.
The most famous of the poets made an epic of his wrath, and describes how he cooked a steak. Achilles is more than an individual he is a type. He is the type of a great chief unbending from the cares of state to luxuriate in art. It is a matter of history that Abraham, the father of the faithful, could cook a veal cutlet. Louis XVIII. (Louis le Désiré) has the credit of a great discovery in cookery-a dish of truffles to be eaten with a purée of ortolans. He not only invented this dish, but kept it a secret of his cabinet, and invariably prepared it with his own hands. It is fair to add that all great chiefs have not shown such discernment. A statue of Achilles is raised in Hyde Park to the honour of the Duke of Wellington, who was indifferent to the triumphs of the table. His cook, Félix, could not stay with him, and came with tears in his eyes to Lord Seaford, begging that he would engage him at reduced wages or no wages at all, for he was determined not to remain at Apsley House. "Has the Duke been finding fault?" asked Lord Seaford. "Oh no," said poor Félix; "I would stay if he had: he is the kindest and most liberal of masters; but I serve him a dinner that would make Ude or Francatelli burst with envy, and he say nutting; I go out, and leave him to dine on a dinner badly dressed by the kitchen-maid, and he say nutting. Dat hurt my feelings."