National Republican., 1883-09-01
THE OYSTER.
lie Will Make His Appearance for the Fall
and Winter Season To-Day.
Some or thc PcculiarItles OF the succulcnt
BEValvc-How Best 10 Eat Him.

To-day begins the first of the months with
an "Rn-the months of the harvest moon and
the oyster. With this month, after tho
lenten season of the summer, begins the car
nival of the oyster. Perhaps no single arti-
Gle of food has had the good time Of the
oyster. Its name, to begin with, is sonorous
and rotund. II combines the long 90" and
the full "r" sound in the measure stated by
Poe to be the most rotund and impressive of
vowel sounds. IL has. besides, an educational
record. 1t has played most important part
at church fairs, school festivals, art loan
exhibitions, college alumni dinners,
commencement suppers "et id omno genus,
for tho past two hundred years 1t supports
thousands of families. IL controls some OF
the largest manufacturing firms in the coun-
try. 1t owns and directs aeet of thousands
of vessels. it is the only fish that has ar
rived at the dignity of war, as witness the
oyster battles in the Chesapeake. Cities are
built upon its shells, like CrisRcld, Md. And
fl nally il is the greatest conservator of domes-
tic peace and happiness known for half
dozen fried in box" is tho magic open
sesame" with which millions of beated hus.
bands have opened the cave of their justly
indignant wives good nature. The smell of
the fried oyster is warranted to arrest the
terrible question, "My dear, where have you
been2"
The oyster hasa literature as well as feet,
family history as well as a record. 1t is an
arstocrat with democratic sympathies. IL
sits upon its throne under the salt sea waves,
aud countless millions of the microscopic in
habitants of the deep minister TO its needs.
Its food is brought to II. 1t takes everything
that Is brought to it, proving its democratic
sympathies. IL never takes thought OF the
morrow as to what it shall eat and -tS2t 1t
shall drink. 1t has no fear of the wolf
at the door, For brief brilliant season in
its early youth, when the flush upon its sky
is rosy hued so TO speak, it is gay and fest
i've wauderer. II swims around in all the rapt
and reckless enjoyment of youthful existence.
Ere ii has time to repent its waywdrdness or
to say with its ardent admirers, the wander
ing poets of humanity,
Youth was my friend,
But youth Is fled,
it quietly ceases its wanderings and settles
down to n long and quiet enjoyment of life,
undisturbed by single care. Its swim
ming days are only few hours
long. 1t has house built for it
without money and without price; yea, with
out effort or dealings with the real estate
men, nature Is kind to the oyster. 1t builds
it house and provides its food and drink
As it never goes abroad and receives no visi-
tors it needs and wears no clothes. The
oyster never bothers its brain about the
fastest style in bonnets or noCkties.
IuC oyster Has gwen luOTb ClCOuIuStulbhb
and moro pleasure to greater variety of men
than any other product of the vastly deep. 1t
has inspired the poet, frightened the eyes of
the belle, brought joy to the statesman, and
solaco to tho warrior. 1t furnishes COM
mon bond of union for the most discord-
dant elements, and untes contrarities with
the all absorbing power of electric currents
However widely may differ the theologian
and the scientist upon total depravity or
the origin of the species they clasp hands and
are unit upon the subject of the oyster.
Hacckel 4 Moody might differ about every
thing else, but let them sit around a steam
ing stew or a savory fry or peck of steamed,
or better still, couple of dozen on the
half SHE'LL and the Dutch philosopher would
say, "Dhs ist gut" while the American evan
golist would cordially respond, "GoodP You
bet YOUR sweet life it isw No difference of
opinion there. Behold how good and pleas
ant it is for brethren to dwell together in
unity. a.;,. ,-..
All this to the oyster, The oyster ia eaten
in q variety Of styles. He will be eaten to-
day fried, broilcd, stewed, steamed, scalloped,
and raw. Some people in Chicago eat them
picked No matter, Chicago is young yet,
and will learn better after awhile. So
wealthy and enterprising a city cannot re-
main forever uncivilized. The best way to
eat oysters is in the old fashioned Maryland
stew. Shuck your oysters, and on pain of
death lot not drop of water or milk
touch them. Let them repose for a
few moments in their own liquid
while you cut up. very smal!
quantity of fat new bacon, with a shred
here and there of lean with it. About an
ounce of bacon to quart of oysters. Ham is
not the best, neither is middlingi good new
shoulder ID tho article. Put the bacon in a
frying pan and heat rapidly over vigorously
burning fire. When the bacon is done to O
crisp pour in tho oysters. Stew for two min
utes and a half or three, no longer. Pepper
to suit taste while stewing. If the oysters
are good salt water bivalves they need NJ
salt. Then pour out and eat, thanking Goo
you live in a land where the art of cooking
oysters properly is not wholly lost. If .yor
cot oysters cooked in this style you will never
cat them in any other If you can help it.
The great oyster depot of the world ii
Baltimore, which consumes annually abou
100000 of bushels. Norfolk is the mex
great oyster emporium with about one-sixtl
the outlay and extent of Baltimore.
In the state OF Maryland alone there are
1000 vessels, manned by li,000 men, VIII,
earn annually over $2,500,0O0 in the oyste
business. The Chesapeake bay is the grea