1872 Cooling Cups and Dainty Drinks (Mixellany)

132 Temperate Beverages. overtaken by sleep, so that bis eyelids closed, in holy wrath against the weakness of the flesh cut them off, and threw them on the ground. But a god caused a tea shrub to spring out of them; the leaves, which exhibit the form of an eyelid, bordered with lashes, possess the gift of hindering sleep. Chinese writers tell us, that tea is of a cooling na- ture ; if indulged too freely, it will produce exhaus- tion and lassitude ; if too strong, it acts on the nerves injuriously. The Chinese themselves rarely consume any other than black tea. The Eussians seldom use any but green. They are partial to a squeeze of a lemon in their tea, instead of milk or sugar. By some, the use of tea is condemned in un- qualified terms; by others, it has ascribed to it ex- traordinary virtues. The middle view will perhaps •be the most just. " Tea in general does more harm, from the quantity of unnecessary liquid which it introduces into the stomach/' says Dr. Maya, " than by its specific qualities. Unnecessary liquid weakens the stomach, and turns to wind." Green tea is more apt to affect the nerves of the stomach than black tea, especially when drunk without milk, or without eating something. Tea, drunk at a late hour, or in large quantities, is apt to provoke