RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume C, Issue 29624, 21 September 1961, Page 22

RANDOM REMINDER

PERPETUAL MOTION

There must have been some derisive laughter' here and there at the announcement that Jean Aupetit. a 17-year-old pastryman. had won the eating championship of France by consumirtg. in 21 minutes, a sausage 18 inches long, two pounds of tripe, a pound of cheese and a pound of bread, as well as two bottles of wine. This looks like kid stuff to the average thirdformer in an average secondary school. Perhaps in the matter of speed, M. Aupetit might have a alight advantage

over the schoolboy. The mere mechanics of gullet growth and so forth must come into the reckoning. But for dogged perserverance, for sheer courage in the face of adversity. there is not a pastrycook in the whole of Europe who could compete with some of the more advanced examples of gastronomic virtuosity to be found in almost every New Zealand home. Even at a tender age. boys are capable of rising early for a snack of considerable proportions. eating for breakfast a steak stretching from side to side of a large plate—as well as

a few sundries—then coming home at midday for a decent meal because they have eaten their cut lunches at the morning break. By the time they reach home after school, they are of course simply starving, and have to be fed to allay the pangs until they sit down to a dinner which would feed four ordinary adult*. After their homework is done, it is olearly time for a substantial supper. And when, in the middle of the night, stealthy footsteps are heard about the house, there is no need to telephone the police. Boys love midnight feasts.