And the writing said that Shipton's tea was the best.

Tea that afternoon was that strangest of phenomena, a formal ceremony of civilized life performed in the abashing and disconcerting presence of naked emotion.

In China not only is tea the national beverage, but a large part of the agricultural and laboring interest of the country is engaged in its cultivation.

"Tea, my dear Evadne," he said, as he passed her cup to be refilled, "is an infusion of poison which is slowly but surely destroying the coatings of the gastronomical organ of the female portion of society.

Tea, coffee, cakes, and lemonade became the concern of the moment.

Hay-tea and linseed-jelly are also highly nutritious substances, and may be used either as adjuncts or substitutes.

So those who spend their days and nights under heavy shell fire and heavy rain write to tell you that "tea is the dominating factor of war," or that "the mushrooming and ratting in their latest quarters" are satisfactory.

Tea was her abomination, coffee her adoration; but she explained: "Tea, you know, is so detestable that the very worst is hardly worse than the very best; while coffee is so perfect that the smallest shade of impurity is not to be tolerated.

"Green tea, when made strong, even by infusion, is an emetick; nay, I am told, it is used as such in China; a decoction of it certainly performs this operation; yet, by long use, it is drunk by many without such an effect.

"This tea," he says, "would be four-and-sixpence a pound to any one else, but to you it is only four-and-threepence."

But before the tea was the new game.

Of all things tea is the most refreshing after a day of fatigue; there is nothing that so soon renovates the strength, and cheers the spirits; and on this occasion especially, we experienced a due portion of its invigorating effects.

I have no desire to appear captious, and shall, therefore, readily admit, that tea is a liquor not proper for the lower classes of the people, as it supplies no strength to labour, or relief to disease, but gratifies the taste, without nourishing the body.

Hot sweet tea was the one thing we all craved.

Beef-tea is wine, love, Champagne is beer, Wet days are fine, love, When thou art near.

We do not mention how often tea and a hot bath have been our substitute for a night's sleep.'

Thus, Tea, which was wont to be the merriest meal of the day, was but the pale ghost of what it should have been, despite Small Porges' flow of conversation, (when not impeded by bread and jam), and Bellew's tactful efforts.

Tea, pepper, salt, short-cake, all floating togetherit was a hopeless case.

MISS NIGHTINGALE says, one of the most common errors among nurses, with respect to sick diet, is the belief that beef tea is the most nutritive of all article.

Tea is the chief import from China into this country.

But afternoon tea was her privileged hourthe time at which she wore her prettiest frock, and forgot to regret her inferiority to Lesbia in all the graces of womanhood.

" In the Art Journal, July, 1874, I read: "'The Five-o'Clock Tea' is the largest and most important design we have seen from Mrs. Jopling's hand, and in the disposition of the various figures and the management of color it certainly exhibits very remarkable technical gifts.

Thus, Tea, which was wont to be the merriest meal of the day, was but the pale ghost of what it should have been, despite Small Porges' flow of conversation, (when not impeded by bread and jam), and Bellew's tactful efforts.

Beef-tea is the least nourishing food administered to the sick; and tea and coffee, she thinks, are both too much excluded from the sick-room.

The tea is salt!"