The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-10-02
PEOPLE WHO EAT CLAY.
PECULiARITIES OF THE SANDHILL-
Frs OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

lA1oIin as an Article OF FOOD, with
Yellow Mari for Dcsscrt-A Diet
which Prevents Dyspepsia and Lung
Troubles.
1t Is not generally known, but is true, that
there exists not far from this city a race OF
white people called "Sandhillers," who are
veritable clay eaters. This morning, in COM
pcny with young physician OF this city,
You: correspondent was enjoying jaunt into
pine groves which skirt the eastern confines
OF Columbia, and we were proceeding toward
the sandhills when We were accosted by an
aged nendicant, who, thrusting an old
greasy piece Of paper into my unwilling
hand, exclaimed piteously: sFor Gods sake,
read it, gentlemen" My friend, who was
prejudiced against beggars in general and
'sSandhillers' in particular, was for sternly
rebuking the old man, when something pc
culiarly touching in the applicants look ar
rested that uncharitable purpose and im-
PEELED him to heed the whispering of his
nobler nature and to relieve the distress of
the poor wretch /, too, could not restrain
a Christian impulse, and bestowing what
aims l could afford I glanced at the paper
which had been forced into my hand This
was what il contained:
To ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: This GER
titles that the bearer, who is both worthy end
needy, is over one hundred years old. Assist him,
all who can
2 1 handed the centenarian his document
and he shambled Off, chucklinS over his good
fortune and jingling the coins in his bony
hand. Here, then, was a genuine centena-
rian, and we did not begrudge what we had
given him.
AN UNEARTHLY vIsAGE.
But what a strange looking being he was,
How unearthly his visage, how yellow his
complexion, how shrunken his cheeks, what
f.IaaHper vef lucfprlaSS and yVifhal what
a miserably emaciated and drawn-up body!
Such type Of a man is not to be met with
every day. had, it is true, encountered in
the streets of Columbia men and women not
unlike him, but never before had gazed
upon his identical counterpart.
do you know that he is real clay-eaterl"
asked my companion
"A whatl" exclaimed /.
why, man that lives on clay-one whose
principal diet is 'kaolin,' or a sort of smooth,
critics., moist, white clay which abounds
hereabouts"
"But you don't think I'm so credulous as to
believe that this man, who is over 100 years
of age, has achieved this remarkable longev-
ity by subsisting ON tasteless clayp
at is strange, but nevertheless true. have
made long study of the subject, and have
ascertained some curious facts concerning the
clay eating habit Now, to begin with, 1
have seen the 'sandhillers' Of North and
South Carolina, some of them not ten miles
from Columbia, while taking their meals,
and have observed them consume considera-
bic quantities OF clay such as I described. In
deed, have myself partalSen Of their frugal
repast."
We'll, what does it taste like, and how does
it affect ones" queried.
1T is almost tasteless, but some of the cpl
cures profess to enjoy it because of the deli
cate favor it possesses. 1t is perfectly white
and wholly devoid of grit. In fact, it is
nothing more nor less than the 'kaolin' of
which plates, cups and saucers are made.
There is nothing disagreeable about it, and it
may be with impunity taken into the stom-
ach. As an aliment it is not hurtful 1t is
contended that it is productive of longevity,
and that it wards off several diseases. There
are well authenticated instances Of surprising
longevity among clay eaters, and it is well
understood by such of the faculty as have
studied the subject that they are exempt from
dyspepsia, never suffer with indigestion and
one has never been known to die OF consump-
ton or to be troubled with lung complaints.
ALLAYs HUNGER's PANGs.
'Of course, there is nothing succulent or
nutritious in clay, but it allays the pangs of
hunger. This it does by distending the walls
of the stomach 1t is not to be supposed that
clay can take the place of bread and meat as
al article OF food, but it docs in a measure
supply their place"
The doctor paused while expressed aston
ishment ut what he told me. Continuing, he
said:
In my country practice, which occasion
ally carries me out into the sand hills (occa-
sionally, say, for although the 'Sandhill-
ers' are the sickliest looking, most cadaverous
and woebegone beings in the world, they are
the healthiest). have good opportunity to
study their peculiar life and habits. They
can subsist on the most limited quantities of
meat-a poor quality of bacon about twice a
week. They are lazy and thriftless. They
are not happy. Discomfort is their normal
state OF feeling. But they are troubled with
very few wants, and these are supplied
easily"
do they eat only the white clay!, inter-
rupted.
AS a general thing" was the answer, "but
sometimes they vary their menu and garnish
their board by the addition Of q yellowish
sort of mari, which is said to be scarce, and
which, it is claimed, possesses sweet taste
This serves them dessert. They, how
ever, draw the line at red clay. This not
even their iron-clad stomachs could digest
L asked a gawky old 'Sandhiller' if he ever
ate the red clay, and this was his response:
No, surree. / hev occasionally he'd a brick
in my hat, but I'll DO blamed if banker
after turning my bowels into brickyard.' ~
During our jaunt we met several .Sand-
hillers' who verified much of what the
young physician had said on the subject of
clay eating.-Chicago Herald.
The Reporter as an Interviewer.
\ reporter, in the course of his diurnal and
nocturnal perambulations, runs up against n