Thou soft, thou sober, sage, and venerable liquid!Thou innocent pretence for bringing the wicked of both sexes together in the morning!Thou female tongue-running, smile-soothing, heart-opening, wink-tipping cordial to whoseglorious insipidity I owe the happiest moments of my life.
       --COLLEY CIBBER.

INTRODUCING THE LITTLE TEA BOOK

After all, tea is the drink! Domestically and socially it is thebeverage of the world. There may be those who will come forward with theirfigures to prove that other fruits of the soil--agriculturally andcommercially--are more important. Perhaps they are right when quoting statistics.But what other product can compare with tea in the high regard in which it hasalways been held by writers whose standing in literature, and recognized goodtaste in other walks, cannot be questioned?

A glance through this book will show that the spirit of the tea beverage isone of peace, comfort, and refinement. As these qualities are allassociated with the ways of women, it is to them, therefore--the real rulers ofthe world--that tea owes its prestige and vogue.

Further peeps through these pages prove this to be true; for nearly all theallusions and references to the beverage, by male writers, reveal the womanlyinfluence that tea imparts. But this is not all. The side-lights of history,customs, manners, and modes of living which tea plays in the life of all nationswill be found entertaining and instructive. Linked with the fine feminineatmosphere which pervades the drinking of the beverage everywhere, a leaf whichcan combine so much deserves, at least, a little human hearing for itslong list of virtues; forits peaceful walks, talks, tales, tattle, frills, and fancies which go to makeup this tribute to "the cup that cheers but not inebriates."

THE ORIGIN OF TEA

Darma, third son of Koyuwo, King of India, a religions high priest from Siaka(the author of that Eastern paganism about a thousand years before the Christianera), coming to China, to teach the way of happiness, lived a most austere life,passing his days in continual mortification, and retiring by night to solitudes,in which he fed only upon the leaves of trees and other vegetable productions.After several years passed in this manner, in fasting and watching, it happenedthat, contrary to his vows, the pious Darma fell asleep! When he awoke, hewas so much enraged at himself, that, to prevent the offence to his vows for thefuture, he got rid of his eyelids and placed them on the ground. On thefollowing day, returning to his accustomed devotions, he beheld, with amazement,springing up from his eyelids, two small shrubs of an unusual appearance, suchas he had never before seen, and of whose qualities he was, of course, entir

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