A SERBIAN TEA-TOTAL FEAST

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 174, 22 July 1916, Page 13

A SERBIAN TEA-TOTAL FEAST

(By GEORGE GLASGOW.) Drago, a Serbian friend of mine, was giving , a Serbian dinner on hie birthday. Among the guests was Robinson, who has followed the King's example with a determination that nothing can shake. . "No, thank you," eaid Robinson, when claret was brought round. Drago apologised, and offered him champagne, which he had intended to reserve to the end. "No, thank you," repeated Robinson. Tβ teetotal." "Tea what?" asked Drago, doubtfully. "I mean I don't drink chvret or champagne,, or anything like that," explained Robinson. "Oh, very well," eaid Drago. "There is some white wine which yon will like. . . ." "But I don't drink any wine." "Whisky then?" "Nothing alcoholic," protested Robineon. "Then what will you drink!" asked Drago, mystified. "Water, please-' Drago started with wide-open, honest eyes, like a child. He knew that the English were very odd people. They drank tea, for instance, instead of wbiaky and soda, in the afternoon; tea, moreover, with milk in it. But water i for dinner wae a, new idea—almost uncanny. It made him very unhappy. He wondered if Robinson would have a liqueur after dinner, to cave his digestion from the. inevitable consequences of w> extraordinary a meal. He brooded over it, and came -to the conclusion that Koirinson must have a liqfueur. So be implofad him to have one, naively describing & as a Serbian digestive tonic. Robinson, in refusing it, tried to nassure Drago that he really would to quite all right. But Drago pined in thought. Ten oclock came, the Serbian tea-time. "YauH have some tea, won't yooi" asked Drago, in an uncertain tone, wtfch expressed both irony and despair. Robineon eaid yes, he would lore to have some tea. Drago was beside himself with joy. The cloud had lifted, and now at last, with a. clear conscience and a light heart, he conld enter into the spirit of hw birthday celebration. He insisted on all the toaets being drunk again, in tea. and for the rest of the evening gaiety reigned supreme. More tea wae made, and still more, and' more again. Robinson, who now became really merry, eaid he likejd Serbian tea. Ha drank it in the Serbian way, without milk, cup after cup. He was not surprised, he eaid, that the Serbs regularly drank a dozen cups of it. Serbian tea i» niada TBtb. mm.