Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-04-23
Tall Corn.

world is beginning to find it out. Every
year brings the fact more and more
home to the perceptive and digestive
faculties Of all civilized humanity. Like
all great truths, it did not gain credit at
once. True, everybody sees it here
with his own eyes, but not so on the
other side Of the water. The first &C
counts of the productiveness of our
Western prairies were read by our Buck
inghamshire farmers with about as much
respect As the fish stories of the sailor
Sinbad. 1t took even the highest digui-
taries Of the land long while to get
fairly up to level with the actual fact.
Even at this day there is an ear of corn
in the British Museum which enjoys a
very distinguished consideration as Gu
riosity. 1t divides attention, we do
not say equally, but certainly fraction
ally, with the Ninevah Bull and the
Kohinoor. 1t il a perfect marvel to our
good cousin John Bull; and yet it has
but very simple history, and it is not a
very extraordinary ear of corn, after all.
1t reached its present distinction some
thing in this wise:
In the month of January, 1s47, at a
certain dinner party in London, at
which Lord John Russell, Lord Nor
phet, and many other distinguished per-
sons were present, the conversation
turned upon the Irish famine; and the
remark was made by Lord John that he
rejoiced that so good substitute for the
native breadstuf had been found in In
dian corn. Turning to Mr.. Bates, the
American partner in the house Of Barring
Brothers, his Lordship went on to say !:
"Why, Bates, some of the cobs have
twelve to fourteen. rows of grain on
them"
To which Mr.. Bates cody replied:
Yes, my Lord, I have seeu from
twenty to twenty-four rows on q cob"
".That is rare Yankeeism," was the
pleasant retort of the Premier; and
the whole company shouted in appro-
val.
The burst OF merriment over Mr..
Bates, brought his peace by wager Of
a dinner for the company all round that
he could produce such an ear.
"Donsv exclaimed Lord John, and
the bet was clinched.
The dinner passed off. Mr.. Bates
returned homo, but not entirely at ease.
de had done q strange thing; for the
tlrst time in his life he had made an en-
gagement he was not absolutely certain
OF his ability to fulfil. He had mis-
givlngs that he had rashly pledged the
honor of his country. 1t had been long
since he looked upon an American crib !:
and however, patiently he winnowed the
corn-ucopia of his memory, he found
that the cobs of his early days had gone
glimmeriug, through the lapse of time,
among the things that were, and were
not 90 far off that he couldn't count the
rows. He was, Platus would say, re-
dactas ad invitas-in Yankee parlance,
hard up" But fortune favors the
brave. 1t happened that friend of ours
dropped in the next day, at the count
ing house of the Barings. Mr.. Bates
with q Frightening face, hailed him, and
made known his difficulty.
you are safe," was the response; eli
l live to get home, you shall have even
= bigger ear than you have promised ,,
Our friend G. soon returned, and
straightway wrote to Messrs. Rogers and
Reynolds, Of Lafayette, Ind, telling
them the story, and begging them, fol
the honor Of the country, to come to
the rescue, and turn the tables on Lord
John, showing them what Yankees
could do.
In the July following, Mr.. G. received,
By express, from Lafayette, = nicely q.
ranged box, containing six ears Of hors,