Many have been the Opinions expressed about the relation of the soup to the rest of the meal, some considering it a meal in itself and others looking upon it as ?avored water, only fit for children and invalids. Most of us coincide with the French authority who calls soup the preface to the feast, and which is, in fact, a stimulant for the more or less elaborate menu to follow. As a rule, for a large dinner of many courses, the soup should be as light as possible, whereas for a plain dinner it may be much richer and more satisfying. In the making of soups there is a difference of taste as to which portion of the beef is best for the purpose. The Shinbone contains the marrow which adds strength and thickness to the soup, while the neck makes a more nutritious soup. A piece of beef liver imparts a pleasant ?avor to many soups.