eatime Controversy

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

Usually the Baron liked to have input into affairs of state and the smaller issues were taken care of at a lower level of the Lilliland government.

The question that came to his attention was whether Lilliland had teatime mid-afternoon or not. If the question was raised by people from Great Britain, the answer was yes.

Since tourism was an important part of the Lilliland economy, it was good for business to encourage hospitality on all levels relating to tourism.

The Baron consulted his chief advisor, Professor Hamblin, and his fiancée, Lady Angela of Alpine Castle, to see whether the teatime question should be ignored and maybe it would go away.

The Professor said that there was a basic reason for most customs and once the basic reason was understood, one gained more insight into the matter and the proper resolution was developed.

In the teatime controversy it was helpful to understand the four-hour rule of thumb. Generally, people liked to have some nourishment and social interaction every four hours. If breakfast was served at 8 o’clock in the morning and four hours later lunch was served, then a teatime pause at 4 o’clock in the afternoon was normal. That is, if dinnertime was around 8 o’clock in the evening.

Whether it was called teatime and a cup of tea was served with light sandwiches to tide someone over until the 8 o’clock dinnertime, or whatever the 4 o’clock pause was called, most people would like some sort of light snack along with some pleasant conversation.

With the four-hour rule of thumb in mind, the Baron saw the controversy not as such, but as a pleasant means of satisfying the need of nourishment in a social setting.

Lady Angela often had a teatime reception to welcome guests to Alpine Castle. It was simply a pleasant, civilized custom she added. The Baron looked at his watch and it was exactly 4 o’clock in the afternoon. “Teatime,” he said and ordered coffee and biscuits. Professor Hamblin ordered coffee, too. Lady Angela ordered tea with her biscuits.

The Baron said that everything was now understood, if not resolved.