62            SOCIETY AS I HAVE  FOUND  IT.

the aconite plant grew, showing nature had
provided there a remedy for the disease
which the severity of the climate developed
in man. My Irish friend, living far from
the sea, had a passion for all fish but pike,
which he detested, and which was daily
served to us wherever we went; finally,
reaching Berlin, he insisted on having sea
fish. It was promised us, but, lo and be¬
hold! when dinner was served, in came the
pike, with the apology that no other fish
could then be had in the city. After din¬
ner we went to the opera, and there, in the
ballet (superbly done as it was), were at
least one hundred pike dancing on the
stage, which so upset my friend that he
seized his hat in a rage and left the house.