The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-12-28
THE FRYING.PAN.
VIRGINIA MOUNTAINS, October, 1855

Dear on lHe ii1luS-Pdh Is the curse OF
this section of the ecountry-a curse far heavier
than the primal curse entaied on man, sin the
sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat thy bread"
Fry, fry, fry, fry, morning, noon and night;
there is no intermission, no relaxation, no
change. Every thing is fried. Fish, flesh,
towels, vegetables, all alike are fried. Even
the fruits that the hand of benefcent Crea-
tor has so profusely scattered over this favor
ed land, are fried. Apples are fried. Is this
fact not suggestive of the idea that the frying
pan was an insidious present made by Satan
to our good mother Eve, to fry the apple with
which he had excited her appetite, corrupted
her innocence, and caused the expulsion of
our first parents from Paradise? We know,
by the way, that tho ole gentleman is re-
markaby fond o. sried souls hence he must
have had frying pan, and assuredly, it ex-
hibits, his gastronomic taste in astrking point
of view, for if this diabolical utensil should
ever be used at all, it is for preparing for the
table this delicate dish.
o! for the want of magician, that could
convert every frying-pan in the land into
gridiron! What blessings would there not
alght on that mans head who, by efiecting
a change so important TO the health and the
wel-being of the inhabitants, would, ir this
splendid climate and bracing atmosphere,
eventually give rise to and produce a race
unequalled in vigor of frame 0he parent of
vigor of intelee) on the face of the globe
The Young America of this part of the coun-
try would soon be the envy and admiration
of the whole Union, and instead of turning
his attention to Know Nothing utilities, and
half fried notions, would direct his energies
to disseminating the doctrines Of n Brillat
Saverin, and operating radical reform in the
great department of The kitchen. But, alas
such Il miracle as this immediate conversion
is impossible time aud "mora suasion" alone
can effect such revolution in cookery, MS
would prove of durable benefit to the whole
human race.
1t is admitted by psychologists, that meats
or any other aliment, when flied, are more
indigestible, more deleterious and destructive
to the human stomach, than when prepared
in any other way. What wonder then that
these mountains, where the air, so pure and
redolent of health, are yearly resorted TO, and
not in vain, for the cobbling and patching up
of broken down constitutions, should, 10 the
surprise, to the astonishment of all who visit
them, produce, not unfrequcntly, too many of
race, who, instead of the rudy glow of
John Bull, exhibits sallowness Of counte-
nance, and debility Of frame, but rarely seen
in the swampy morasscs Of louisiana What
wonder that darrbea and dysentery, that ty-
phoid and other feveIs, should prevail to nh
extent! What wonder that doctors
(ns thick rs black berries, known to all by
their portable apothecary shops carried in
their saddle bags) should be met with travers-
ing every mountain path and diving into
every nook, dell and valley! The cause is
but too plain, too palpablc; The frying pan is
here.
A race so cursed with frying pans cannot
be healthy; and rs direct consequence of
want of health cannot be endowed with Wig
orous minds and energy of purpose. They
must degenerate. Hence, We find their all
important work, the Railroad, intended to
connect tho Atlantic with the Ohio, languishes
md is crippled. Hence, too, The great Kama.
waha, that ought to boar continually on her
beauteous bosom the salt and coal, with
which her banks so prolilically teen, is inca.
pable of transporting the heavy burden, un.
less thoTindows of Heaven be opened, and
The channel of this picturesque stream is filed
10 nearly its utmost capacity. Are there no
means by which the Directors of these com.
panes can be stimulated to activity and life !
Instead of holding sleepy conventions and
passing idle and inefficient resolutions, let
them begin by breaking oil their frying pans.
But it is not alone these companies that
should bo stimulated to action. The whole
State must be regenerntcd. How is this to
be accomplished | respectfully suggest
that the Temperance and Bible societies, CO.
operating with the Tract Society, give their
best aid in the good cause, for all Of them are
deeply interested in the result. How can
temperance exist permanently in n country
where large portion of the inhabitants SUBJ
sists almost exclusively on fried salt bacon!
Where is the stomach that can long resist,
such fare without the potent aid
of alcoholic No, whiskey aids digestion, and
The wretched stomach must either resort TO it
at the risk of contracting the habit of inc.
briefly, or SnIer the torments Of gastric COM
plants induced by indigestible food. How,
loo, can the sublime truths of the gospel
penetrate deeply into the enfecbled minds Of
those whose bodies are worn down and ex-
hausted by fryDg-pan cookery.
The remedy is TO be found, at leas; COM
in the right direction, in "mornl
suasion," which the temperance men in New
York are beginning to find out is the first step
in tho right path, and which, as before stat
ed, can alone change the time-formed hearts
of any people or nation. Lot the tract society
distribute throughout the length and breadth
of the land, cheap cookery books, in which
The art Of dressing salt and smoked pork in
the best and whoesomest way, shall be more
avnloined and ;l,,.,.o,ol T.,