text:  He had probably established some one super-eminent article of food as a high "ideal" to which to refer all other kinds of edibles--perhaps an ortolan pie; and the further removed from this imaginary point of perfection any dish appeared the more vulgar and commonplace it became; and taking it for granted that as far as human gradations are concerned the loftiest aristocracy corresponded with the ortolan pie it is evident that Mr Daggles's mode of assigning rank and precedence was founded on strictly philosophical principles; as much so perhaps as the labours of Debrett