The Portland daily press., 1879-04-28
The "BOss" Blvalve,
Something Relative TO Oysters and Those
who Eat Them.
Correspondence Troy Times.

Correspondence Troy Times.
On several occasions oysters of an enormous
size have been found upon our coast, bat rare
ly, If ever, one that rivals In dimensions one
found in 1910 at Mobile. It was taken in April
Of that year by Xavier Francois, while oy ster-
ing at his accustomed beds. 1t measured three
feet and one inch in length. and twsnty-one
aud one-half inches in breadth across its widest
part. 1t was opened and served up 10 savory
stew. In 1866 Jefferson market oyster deal
er found among his stocx OF E ist River oysters
one which contained dead fish six inches long
Of the spotted gummel or butterfish species,
having dorsal fin extending from the head to
the tail, filed with sharp spines. Whether the
oyster was also dead tradition does not inform
us.
In all countries there are records OF the ex-
cessive fondness of great men for oysters. For
q creature of such lowly rank in the scale OF
animated beiugs, 1t is wonderful what litera-
ture attaches to il. Through the roll Of the
ages 1t has been factor Of prime lmportanss
in the convivial instincts, the morsltles and
the industries of men. Il has honorable mem
tion in classic song and story. When imperial
Rome had her many million populace aod her
fabulous wealth, the oyster figured prominent
ly in that extravsgapt city. Nearly z, 400 years
ago Sergius Orata turned Lake Avernns into an
oyster bed; and through his culture Of this BIZ
valve the Lucrn oysters, as they were called,
became in reputation the "saddle-rocks' OF
Rome. The oyster beds Of Britannia, in the
time Of Cssar supplied the wants Of her inhab-
itants. Messslinus Catts, son of the orator
Messala, on special OCCASIONS, on days which
he wished to mark with singular honor, added
to his usual dinner oysters. Among imperial
ad nirers of this bivalve was the celebrated
Charlemagne, who, oy his fondness for them
as . dish at his table, contributed to give them
an additional vogue among his subjects. Ger
yantes, the author Of ''Don Qaixote" aud sbs
greatest name in Spanish literature, was an
oyster lover, and he satirized the oyster dealers
of Spain. Louis XI, careful lest scholarship
should become de eficlent 10 France, feasted the
learned doctors of the Sorbonne once month
on oysters; and another Louis invested his cook
with an order of nobility as q reward for his
oyster cooking Napoleon also was an oyster
lover; so was Rousseau; and Targ0t used to eat
q hundred or two j0st TO whet his appetite for
breakfast. Invitations to q dish of oysters
were common in the literary aud artistic circles
of Paris at the latter end of the last century.
Tue encyclopedias were particularly fond OF
oysters. Helvetius, Diderot, the Able Rsynal,
Voltaire aud others were confirmed oyster men.
Before the revolution the violent politicians
were in the hsbit of constantly frequentink the
Partisan oyster shops; aud Danton, Robe.pierre
aud others were fond Of the oyster ip their days
Oh lnnOCruCr. NhpOl6Oup Ou Tue 6Fc VI uat-
| ties, used to psrtske of the bivalve, .nd Cam
baceres was famous for bfs shell fish banquets.
Tue consumption of oysters 10 PARIS Is anor-
nous. According to recent statistics the qusp-
tity eatSn there Is ], 900, 600 day.
Among Eogish celeorities, Alexander Pope
was an oyster-eater Of taste, and so was Dean
Swift. Thompson of THE Seasons" who
knew all good things, knew how good a thing
an oyster was. The learned DIR. Richard
Beptly could never pass an oyster shop with
ont baving dozen on the half-seell. Alfred
Tenny 500, when writing the most popular OF
all his lsbors, "Eooch ArdeD," used to feast on
oysters plenteously The Scottish philosophers
of the last century Cullen. Stewart, ETC.,
, used frequently TO indulge in the "whis-
kered pandores' of the day and generation.
"Oys plays" as they were called, were fire.
! quentiy held 10 the quaint aud dingy tavern of
| the old town Of Edinburgh. These Edinburgh
| oyster taverDs of the old time were usually
under ground, on the cellar floor; and in the
| course Of the long winter evenings, the car
riages of the quality would be found rafting
up and setting down fashionable ladies 20 par
take Of oysters and porter, copiously bot rudely
| served.
George Washington, franklin, Jefferson and
| other celebrated Americans were particularly
fond of oysters. The oyster, when eaten raw,
is easy of digestion and remarkably nutri-
tious its digestibility and nutritive properties,
however, are materially impaired by cooking,
and though very tempting when cuoked In the
form of soups, sauces, patties, etc 1t should
be carefully Stunned by the invalid. In cases
of weak digestion and lsoguid appetite few
oysters taken half hour before dinner will
! ofteu be found TO act both as a stomschc aud
provocative to appetite. 10 conclusion We
would say emphatlcaly to the readers OF the
Tlmes-est your oysters rawi