The Portland daily press., 1881-01-28
The Oyster Famine.

Peck'S Sun.
The daily papers for week have been full
of stories about the oyster famine and inter-
views with dealers, who claim, that, owing to
the cold weather on the sea coast, which
makes it impossible for oyster boats to get out
to the beds, the supply is cut off, and the
chances are that in another week there will
not be oysters enough in Milwaukee for soci-
able. At first we were inclined to think there
was more talk than anything else about this
oyster-famine, but investigation shows that
there is too much truth in it, and we are re-
luctantly convinced that within few days
the suffering in the city will be intense. At
one house the reporter of the Sun visited, a
large family OF children were huddled round
stove crying for oysters. The apartment
showed evidences of wealth and refinement,
but on every face was picture of want that
touched the reporters heart The mother, in
piteous tones, asked the reporter if there was
nothing that could be done to relieve the dis
tress that was caused by the oyster famine.
With sigh he said he knew of nothing, and
she brushed q tear away from her eve with a
lace handkerchief, shook out the folds of her
satin dress, and clasped one of her starving
children to her alleged bosom. "We have on
ly six Blue Points in the house, and family
of SIX. What is one oys ter?" said she, as she
gathered her children to her knee and breathed
silent prayer. The reporter was touched, by
child with molasses candy on his hands, and
asked the woman If she had nothing in the
house to sustain life until the oysters came.
She said yes, there was plenty. There was
beef, pork, chickens, turkeys, canned meats,
-four, milk, everything, but oysters. The re-
porter told her he would advise her to try and
worry along on the few things she had until
the blockade was broke, but she said he little
knew what It was to suffer for the want of oys-
tiers. She said the habit Of eating oysters was
one of the most dangerous that could be ac-
CURED. Once they were free from the habit.
but in an unguarded moment, few years ago,
they attended church sociable, and got q
taste Of oysters. They did not think much OF
II at the time, but the fatal appetite became
fastened to them. They tried to shake it off bu
1t would not shake. From time to time they con-
tinued to indulge in oysters hoping that time
would destroy the appetite, but it became more
firmly fixed each year. Insiduously the oyster
sowed its seeds in their stomachs, until now
they were helpless, and if the supply of oysters
was cut off they would go crazy. "O", said
she, eff you have never formed an appetite for
oysters, mako up your mind that you will nev-
er touch the first drop of church stew. Look
at us. Surrounded by every luxury, and yet
starving for oysters. The appetite grows on
one, and before he knows it he is lost" The
reporter told her he would never look on the
oyster when it was slickery, when it giveth its
odor in the pint cup, but would stick to his
liver and corn meal. After trying to induce
her to try and brace up and eat vegetable oys-
ters, and promising to do all he could to pre-
vent an oyster famine by abstaining from eat
ing them himself, the reporter left the suffer
ing family with heavy heart. Something
must be done to alleviate the distress of the
rich people who have become addicted to oys-
ters, and in order to do as much as possible to
help, the Sun will receive donations from the
poor of shell oysters, and will see that they are
properly distributed. Poor people who have
plenty of shell oysters should remember theiI
rich neighbors who are suffering. This is sar-
kasm.