Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-06-08

remotest Southern States. l canno,
tell what but the exigency Of my cir
cumstances prompted me to the
thought, but l straightway announced
myself as plain, fancy, and ornamen.
tai painter. l had, of course, served
no apprenticeship. Still, my Yankee
cheek and versatility helped me out,
and l did tolerably well till was taken
sick Of one Of their Southern fevers.
l lay helpless for six weeks. 1t was a
long struggle between life and death
but lived through it, and on my first
return to consciousness l was made
aware that all my money was exhaust
ed.
As | lay there on my bed in tedious
convalescence, l thought and thought
again how could earn the means to
get Immediately out of that deadly
climate. My weak stomach revolted
at the idea Of resuming my toilsome
attempts as a painter; and, If had
not long ago forsworn hard manual
labor, my feeble condition then would
have been enough to make that im-
possible. think a grand universal
fever-cure was. at this time, the princi-
pal burden of my thought, suggested,
as you will understand, by the malady
from which | was slowly recovering.
| am not sure that would not have
discovered something in that line
which would have been beneficial to
the world, or, at least, to my depleted
pocket, II the idea OF vinegar had not
in some way been suggested to me.
Vinegar was very dear in that country
just then,-iifty cents gallon,-and
good article could hardly be obtained
at that price. | determined forthwith
to get up some plausible receipt for
making vinegar at cheaper rate. As
INV plan took form gradually in my
mInd 1t seemed to communicate new
courage, and my body positively re-
covered n portion of its old strength
under the exi.ilarating pecuniary pros
pects neld out by my vinegar receipt.
IL even occurred to me, as an after
thought, to change the name of nv in-
vent'on to that of fever catholicon,
IN view Of its reviving effects upon my
self; but then | was anxious to get out
of that malarious climate that applied
my discovery only TO the object for
which II was first made.
As 1t was an invention to depend for
its success wholly upon its plausibility,
l did not need TO make any experi-
ments. AS soon, therefore, as was
able to leave INV bed, my receipts were
ready. 1t was as follows: Take five
gallons Of soft water, one gallon of
whiskey, two pounds of alum, one
pound of cream OF tartar. and one
gallon Of yeast. Let them work three
days. A prime article of vinegar, /,
was claimed, would be the fair result,
at the cost of from three to five cents
gallon. | borrowed or begged bot
tie of good ider-vinegar for a sample,
and commenced operations. Having
no money to get my receipts printed,
stated that they were copyrighted
whatever that meant in Charleston,
;. G.. and that | was expecting new
supply in few days. | would, how
ever, as n favor, write out limited
number o: them for any impatient
customer who was willing to pay the
regular prce, which was one dollar.
| called nv invention United States
Premium Vinegar; and by means of
hallanutnn ,Naanta 70 .t.co>xar H.,
difference between nv sample and the
best article made from the old explod-
Ell, conventional cider, | sold eight
receipts the first halliday. Going on
10 the next town, | had five hundred
receipts printed, purchased an addi-
tional bottle Of cider-vinegar, and
started on my travels North.
never waited long enough in place
TO learn the results of my amateur
chemistry but one day happened to
be overtaken at some village BY one
Of my recent customers, residing at a
town little way back in my route
gone over. He beckoned to me across
the street. professed not to see him.
He beckoned again, and had a sud-
den call around the first corner. Fol-
lowing, he overlook me and observed !:
Hello my friend, that vinegar
doesn't seem to work" my friend"
l answered, ''your yeast was probably
not good" He had never thought Of
it in that light, and would take my adj
vice to get some yeast that he was
sure to be fresh, and go home and try
it again. Escaping him, | lett that
town by the first conveyance.
| have said that ! purchased an ad-
ditional bottle Of cider-vinegar, and it
is strange what advantage this was to
me. would often come across some
village wiseacre, loafing about black
smith or shoe shop, who, tasting first
the sample, would elevate his eye.
brows, purse out his lips, and say that
didn't taste like cider-vinegar. He
knew something about that article him.
self. Then it was my custom to pro-
duce the other bottle; and this village
wiseacre, whether man or woman
would almost invariably pronounc,
that something like it, the origina
article" etc. being in reality the
same az the vinegar first presented
Some days l cleared by the sale OF IN,
valuable recipe as high as ten dollar.
above expenses. l would often Civ,
the printed secret of my vinegar il
payment for nights lodging an,
breakfast. Sometimes paid for IN,
dinner at a farmhouse in the sam
way, taking half-dollar in change
When ! found people doubtful abou
investing, | would agree to show tn
recipe on condition that they woul,
take it if they thought it would max
vinegar. This move, as strange as i
may seem, was almost infallibls
They could see at once that alur
alone, or cream Of tartar. or yeas,
would make something sour and which
united with whisksy, they were easil
convinced would make vinegar. B
the time reached the Western STATE
H. n.