OfthefruitsoftheyearIgivemyvotetotheorange.Inthefirstplaceitisaperennial--ifnotinactualfact,atleastinthegreengrocer’sshop.Onthedayswhendessertisanamegiventoahandfulofchocolatesandalittlepreservedginger,whenmacédoinedefruitsisthetitlebestowedonsomeraisinsandtwoprunes,thentheorange,howeversour,comesnoblytotherescue;andonthoseotherdaysofplentywhencherriesandstrawberriesandkiwi-fruitsriottogetheruponthetable,theorange,sweeterthanever,isstilltheretoholditsown.Breadandrice,beefandmutton,eggsandmilk,arenotmorenecessarytoanorderedexistencethantheorange.
Itiswellthatthecommonestfruitshouldbealsothebest.OfthevirtuesoftheorangeIhavenotroomfullytospeak.Ithaspropertiesofhealthgiving,asitcuresinfluenzaandestablishesthecomplexion.Itisclean,forwhoeverhandlesitonitswaytoyourtablebuthandlesitsoutercovering,itstopcoat,whichisleftinthehall.Itisround,andformsanexcellentsubstitutewiththeyoungforatinyfootball.Thepipscanbeflickedatyourenemies,andquiteasmallpieceofpeelmakesaslideforanoldgentleman.
