Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-01-16
Clippings and Comments.

Several weeks ago We stated that acornS were a good substitute for coffee and since gave the substance of letters from friend who had tried it. The Gazette le-pubisle5 this and commenting upon it, says:
 Ii the writer be not mistaken. and we hope he is not. the oak mast will De of additional jui- pouance We have beard of persons having sLeet-iton stomacus. which we always dJubtca: but t does seem 10 Us that the continued u-e oi acorn coffee would have tAe f+ct of tanning lie stomach. and maAilg it as tough as leatier. Let some one try he experiment and see what Is in il.
 1be tannin or rtanning properties ofthe oak is strongly exh6i,e ed in the bark but by TO means follows that the acorns contain t in any con siderable quantity. The bark Of the chinqpa> pin tree Is fully as astrngent and contains as much tannin, but the chnquapin uu. does not have the effect of tanning the soma ,. Le, The Captain taste the bark of an apple tree or ot a peach tree, and see how widely they doer 'u taste and other properties from the apple or peach which grew on them.
 Some fifteen years ago we were acquainted with wealthy man who drank acorn coffee in preference to any other kind. Several oI the planters in the up country of Carolina uoed it altogether IL was often a subject ol c0nyer- sation, and a scientific man who married in the family of one of Carolina's most disting nished sons, made an analysis of lhe acorn and coffee berry. His capabilities for the task will be ad mitted, when 1t is known that he was regarded in the schools of Paris as one of the best andy ticai chemists there, and upon his return to this country was engaged in several scientific enter prises of great importance. We have not the formula now fhis analysis, and 1t would be, per- haps, too technical for the general reader We remember that the acorn and the coffee berry had certain constituents in common, and upon these depended the effects produced by coffee, such as walefuness, gentle stimulation and others. This also gave a similarity in flavor. Tn fact. the acorn from the whte oak, afforded a softer beverage than the coffee and those who used 1t greatly preferred 1t. The black oak, red oak and other different varieties of the qnercus, have acorns that make stronger or more astringent coffee, but not SD strong as the com mon kinds of coffee often sold.
 We find the following in late number of the Memphis Avalanche, and re produce t to show that we are not alone in our estimate Of acorn coffee.
 A correspondent, writing to the Picayune, gives the following interesting account of a substitute for coffee witch is so different from any we have vet heard of, that we give it for the benefit of those who wish to experiment i'll supplying what has been an ,rcle of necessity with us in the South, and which is now placed beyond our reach for time. lie says
 At Medco- B B5tanica society of London, in 1897, the President introduced to the notice of the members new beverage which very much resem- bled the real coffee. It was made from acOrns Deeled, chopped and roasted The acorn, which rives out this fragrant drink, is well known to be the fruit of the oak of our forests, of which there are a grelt variety and abundance in almost all the States Whether the white, the black, or the red species of querous acorn is used for this puv- pose, is not stated. The experiment. however, is simple and easy, and ought to be tried. There are reasons why it should prove to be better subSti tute than any yet offered for the real berry. The chincapn tree. I think, belongs to the same genus though of much smaller growth, produces a sinll- lar but smaller acorn, and from it's peculiar flavor. am much inclined to think the chincdpn, proper lv prepared, will make first rate cup of coffee.
 We suppose it is too late to try is this season but let any of our readers make the experiment. We have seen old coffee drinkers, who professed to be connoissieurs and gourmands, tried with cup of it without knowing it was made from acorns, who smacked their lips over it and pro- nounced 1t excellent.
 Col. Wheeler, of the 20th Alabama regiment, stationed near Mobile, is a graduate of West Point and resigned officer of the old federal army. A correspondent of the Mobile Adver- tiser describes him as Q man of few and pithy words, and says be brought his claims before the President in the following laconic style: To Me Hon. [. P Walker Secretary of Tar;
 SRI have the honor to ask for increased, rank in the army.
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully.
 Your obt. servant, JOS. WHEELER.
 The result was c0lonel's commission.