The Republican journal., 1872-10-24
Written for the journal.
Everyday Essays.
ON FISH BALLS

The fate OF great men pertains to him who in
vented this noble contribution to the mornjno
repa>t His name is lost in ohScuritv: but we
never see platter OF these ediblcS come upon
the table, piled up like cannon Shot in the navy
yard. without thrill of admiration for the
achievements of him who though lost to sight
i TO memory dear. We say he not without
some fear OF doing injustice TO woman. who has
invented so many things, from tig-caf aprons
10 ehignon> and newspaper hustles. But the
coar>tr nature of man doubtless conceived and
executed the whcrewifn to satisfy the animal
demand for clam chowders, stewcd gblets and
fish balls.
We think the careful searcher into colonial
history will lind that fish balls were first made
in this country At the suggestion of Capt Miles
~tandi~h, who ilourished several wears before
Bunker Hill Monument was begun. Miles was
accustomed 10 go a-gunning after The Peuuods
with 4 musketoon that carried 4 bullet half as
hj& a mans fist. While this valiant man tar.
riod At the house of friend. waiting for his
breakfast, the Indians came down on them. like
the wolf ON the ioIt. they banged away at the
heather, until their bullets were all gone, and
Scalpng knives seemed very near. In this
STRAIT, says Miles TO Sally Ann, the hostess
"t'oodWlie. il You can make into bouscs tie
li~h bash thou hast prepared for our refresh
ment, VIII even administer it to the SHlylees.
That heroic woman made the compound into
spheres and fried en- brown and hard. Load
ing his trnsty piece, Standi-h SAW the over con-
ilent Scalp-hnntcrS approaching the house in
singlt-iilc. Taking deadly aim he fired. The
| missile struci, the leading savage ust where hr
rut his dinner when he had any 10 put. II was
The first ii~bal that ever entered mans
stomach And such was the temper OF that
good Woman> Wm-kc weapon. that it went
through seven OF the heather. SO many inli-
ViduHl- were never before satisfied With one
lish-hal. Thus far the conduct Of Miles had
been iuStifabe hnt when he came 10 place be-
Side each dead pequod 4 % cent Parker House
check face down, il wasn't according to the
laws of civilized warfare. They hadn't received
but one among them AL, and that they didn't
order. However, they all passed in their checks,
without finding any fault, which should be set
down TO the credit of the noble red man.
From that hour the dish has been dear to the
New Englander's heart. He partakes Of il
with mingled feelings of patriotic fervor, tooth
some emo mcnt and gratitude II Providence.
as well rs Nantucket and All along shore where
Goldfish are to he had. A man who GET along
without education, honesty or religion has been
heard TO say that without his regular iish-has
life would be intorralc Other balls 0htrudc
themselves into the family circle, however.
The y0un@4ter wants his baseball. the Girl
wants her evening ball where music is entranc-
ing and The waltz-hueeing delicious. and some
times madame has her hawl, when the curtain
lecture isn't well received. But these are inter
lopcr~. The real, genuine, DEMONSTRATING
sphere is compounded of fish and potato, with
seasoning TO match, and Drowned in butter.
Children cry for 'em A regular down-ea Nler
wouldn't think much of heaven if he couldn't
get his fiSh-l,as. He might even prefer the
| other place. where he could he sure Of having
| them hot. We know a good deal more about
this subject, which we may tell Of hereafter.
We have only timc now 10 remark that we are
proprietor Of a patent mcdcated iiSl-blll. which
will heat 10 death all the other patent remedies
! eyer adyeri-ed Six of them, three times a
| day, have cured the worst eases Of consumption
/ they are excellent for summer complaint; for
dyspepsia a peculiar kind is made, with the
| bones left in; they have restored the hair to
baldhealcd men, and reeoneiled couples about
! 10 get divorced. Beware of countercits.