Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-12-16
EDUCATED OYSTERS.

EDUCATED OYSTERS.
Before the railroad days our oyster growers
used early n the fall to canvass the villages on
the Hudson river for oyster orders, to be filled
lust before the river should be closed with ice.
The meaning of this is that these men commit
ted themselves to supply oysters in the shell,
wi3h the guarantee that the bivalves thus sup
piled should not die before their time came.
The oysters were actually kept alive during
the greater part of the long winter. The fat
bivaves were handled with some care, and
were spread on the cellar, the round or lower
side down, so as not to allow the liquor to es-
cape. That such life required great change
OF capacity or habit in the bivalve is evident,
and it needed training yes, an education, ere
the oyster attained to such ability. And this
was the way it was done Beginning early in
the fall, the cultivator of the oyster took up
the fat bivalves from their bed where be had
planted them, and laid them a little higher up
on the shore, so that for short time each day
they were exposed out Of the water After a
few days of this exposure by the retreaattlng
tide, they we're moved little higher still on
the shore line, which gave them little longer
exposure to the air at each low tide. And
this process was continued, each remove result
ing 10 little longer exposure. And with what
results? Two very curious ones-lnurement
to exposure aud the incucation of provldent
habit Of making preparation for the same.
What providence 10 an oyster? Yes, when
he's educated. When accustomed to this treat
meut, ere the tide retires the oyster takes a
good full drink, and retains the same until the
tide returns. Once, while waiting Tor the stage
at a country hostelry, we overheard the follow
lug between two rustic practitioners at the bar !:
Come, Swil, let s take drluk. "Well, |
don't know. Amt dry, myself Hows' ever,
guess | will take drink for fear l might get
dry"
With better philosophy on their side, these
educated oysters, twice in every twenty tour
hours took their precautionary drink. The
French method Of oyster training is much more
laborious. The adult bivalves are carefully
spread out 10 the water, and periodical lessons
are given TO each one Individually. Each oys-
ter on this occasion receives tap, not with a
feruIe, but with small iron instrument. This
causes the bivalves to close tightly. Finally
the last day comes with its last premonitory
tap It's education thus finished, it takes pas
sage with it's fellow graduates for Paris. As a
result OF its education, it knows how to keep
its mouth shut when it enters society. i0pu-
hur Scieuce Monthly.
A DIsGUsrED BURGLAR city of Chi.
d
by the meanuess and false pretenses of the
statement before US, has been put in state OF
CONSERVATION by mysterious piunderer sup
dosed to be Jack of Plitsburg," who enters
houses while the inmates are at supper, rifles
the iewelry boxes and greenback boards and
silver kets, and when met by any OF those
whom he has pluudcrcd, bows himself out,
saving that he has mistaken the house. NO
one had any idea of the greeDbacks boarded
away, the costly Jewels that fond husbands aud
fathers and friends had bestowed as souvenirs
Of their affection the watches, brooches rings,
and neck -oces blaziog with diamonds aud
pearls, and built up with solid gold, that were
lust lying around loose 10 those Chicago houses
and that are now mourned by their dlScoosolats
owners. 1t seems however, that Jack" COD
sderS himself as much an Injured man as MS
victims, for be writes to the Tribune to say
that in most of the houses he entered he found
chiefly doliarstore jewelry, piDchbeck watches,
oroide and the like; that the whole amount OF
OF his pIunder will nos suffice to buy him a
first. class ticket to Pittsburg, and that the peo-
pie who are bewaing the loss Of their valuables
never owned anything more valuable thar
Cape May diamond, unless it was Cairngorm
pebble. We'll may the heart of conscientious
burglar be appalled, at such iolqulty.
Be CAREFUL How You EAT OYSTERS. "A
well known physician of this city has tor the
past two weeks been suffering from strange
bronchial affection, and his suferiugs hoally be-,
came so great that many of his professional
friends feared fatal result. He has Tor over
week beea troubled with painful cough, ana
his throat became so iDhamcd and swollen that
he could ouly breathe with the greatest dltlcul-
ty. Several of his professional friends examin-
ed his throat but we're ueable to determine
the nature of the disease. Yesterday morning
however, whilst suffering intense pain, be was
seized with fit ofcoughing, and inally cough
ed up thin piece OF oyster shell, about as thick
as wafer and an eighth ofan iuch in length,
saleh' .' 1t seems was the cause OF all tae
the expulsion Of the piece of shell. Baltimore
american, 9th.