Smyrna times., 1874-07-01
" Straw Ber- eeze !"

II twas John Evelyn, we think, who made
the pomo. theological observation that God,
doubtless, might have made better fruit
than the strawberry, but it is certain that he
never did" What would the philosopher
have said if he could have seen some of our
large and luscious varieties, the like of which,
for size and sweetness, he certainly did not
have in his own carfully tended garden Now,
when it has become cheap and common, and
just before its decadence and di,appearance,
seems to be the time for any M Il reflections
of which the subject is suggestive. The career
of the strawberry is lesslon of the mutability
of all mundane glores. This fine fruit starts
in q very aristocratc and subsidies into very
democratic state. The first corners bring fab
ulous prices individuals among these pioneers
may have been sold not many weeks ago for
sixpense individually, and gratified nothing
meaner than millionaire palates unless they
completed the financial ruin Of reckless cpl
cures. Now, when we are getting into the
June twenties, strawberries arc cheaper than
bread. There are none so poor as not to have
mouthful of them-their refreshing, thirst
quenching, deicately acidulous juices are for
all. Happy those who cannot afford to add to
them the absurdity of sugar smothering and
changing their delicate sharpness. And he
must be pauper indeed who now can hear them
cried with feeling that his purse fOrbids their
consumption. When the evening shades pre-
| vail many vender of the fruit finds an over
stock of this perishable commodity on hand,
and then fills the evening air with the wild
despairing wall off, Straw ber- eeze six cents a
quart Alas! great many Of us who hold
ourselves at great price will como down to
| this degenerate six penny quotation before we
die; we who start fresh and lusty only to exit
in musty and sour condition. How many
politicians have fallen to this state, offering
themselves for almost nothing in the vote
market, and with the dispirting self-knowledge
that they will not keep till the next election
day, which is their tomorrow morning But
we beg pardon for coupling them with the
| strawberry, for that respectable fruit may be
selling for a song, like Milton's Paradise Lost,
without having parted with any original merit
save that of rarity; and better is it to be sold
and eaten for very little money by very coarse
mouths, before becoming utterly stale and
musty and "mushy." We may miss the
short cake apotheosis of early June, but it is a
satisfaction to know that we may have been OF
some little use, though good deal cheapened,
before we disappear forever. STRAW. ber-
eeze ~ The cry has unique novelty and pi
quaint tone as it comes to US in the cool of the
evening. The same voice last Fall rendered
the neighborhood4 resonant with its slogan oil
Aus teersl" These delicacy- -mongers make
wild havoc of DIR. Websters recommendations
but great many of the transactions of thi:
world 90 on in defiance Of grammar and die
tionary.
, In bidding the strawberry farewell as soor
we must, there is a mythical virtue which it il
said to possess which isn'nt mentioned il
Brownies Vulgar Errors, but which may b.
interesting to the Lady Crusaders of our owl
: day. A strawberry placed in the bottom of ,
glass enables the drinker to drink therefrom
I it is sad, dd-tibitunI, without inebriety. Ou
opinion is that nobody should try the experi
e ment. Very potent men have been overthrow
Y by the investigation. To the sherry cobbIer
e the strawberry is considered wholesome ad
: ditiOn, but too many sherry cobbers will pro
g duce the old result all the same, in spite of tn
strawberries. The whole excellent race of ber
t ries should be taken out Of this bad comnanv
; During the blisterng and broiling lays, the
! are much better refrigeratOrs than the best G
It beer, much better than even mineral water
g sophisticated with thick and coying sirup.
h better than a heavy meat diet, keeping OF
/ heshy furnace fires at full blast when they ar
D. not needed. For good deal of work in tn
'r world it would be vain to train upon fruit food
ID beef, for instance, may be the properest diet
of your military characters, and frogs may be
uourish French dancing masters. We mu
y still be indebted to the oxen and tho sheep
s. December, and keep up combustion by colloI
D. dHu SlfIOthSb Dut IL 10 I'D the OumIneF CDat
er feel least our animal nature, and may put
$, little refinement into the selection OF what v
ID call our I" daily bread" pa phrase which mea
y great deal, whether we dine at Demonico
n or in coffee and cake sto2. Somehow v
Is cannot but feel, without worshiping the shaC
Of Sylvester Graham that there is somethir
of more Of nicely and purity in vegetable res
IN men. Probably our original ancestors did b
an small kitchen work, though the ancient lady
be- passion for fruit has cost US not little. Al
As of fruits, berries-whether straw or rasp,
ed humble whortle or the shining black-a
Of among the peasantest to the eye and mout
Ilv And so when VIC must bid the reigning de
as cacy farewell, we will welcome its successor
.o and as we swallow the comming, bid the pa
TO- ing guest good bye, thanking it for the good
,es has done in rescuing insolvent Sunday
ds from debt, and hoping that its successor "
TO do like Christian service.-N Y. Tribune.
IN -""----