The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-21
THE HISTORY OF A FAMILY
FRIEND.


when we are helped to one at the table,
we have no idea what interesting tales it
could relate of it's ancestors, if it but had
as many mouths as it has eyes. The po-
tato is native of South America, where
it grows wild in abundance, and was
cultivated and used long before Europe
dreamed there was such vegetable, des-
tined to feed her millions.
In the latter part of the sixteenth CEN
fury, Sir Francis Drake came across some
potatoes on one of his voyages, and sent
them to friend in England, requesting
him to plant them, and expressing the
conviction that the fruit might become
very useful in Europe, for he had found
it both palatable and nourishing. But
the potato came very near being discard
ed in disgust, for the gentleman to whom
the specimens were sent understood the
word "fruit" to mean the little green
seed balls, which follow the blossoms on
the plant In autumn when the balls had
become yellow, he invited some of his
friends in Parliament to grand dinner,
in the course of which mysterious COW
cred dish was brought on. The lord of
the feast rose before it and with evident
pride, made a we'll turned speech, In
which he told his guests that he had the
honor to present them a new fruit. the
seeds of which had been sent to him by
Sir Francis Drake, who thought it's Guilt
walton might be of great advantage to
England. The honored NJ. P's. tasted the
dish with mingled awe and curiosity.
The little balls had been fried in butter,
and afterward undergone plentiful
busting OF cinnamon and sugar. OF
course the flavor was nauseating. The
most lenient judgment which the guests
could pronounce in the presence OF their
crestfallen host was to say that the fruit
might perhaps be good in America, but
in England it evidently did not ripep.
Not long after, the gentleman had the
potato plants pulled up and thrown
away. But one morning, as he paused
in his garden to look at bonfire, kin.
died to burn the fall rubbish, he noticed in
the ashes some singular black bulbs. He
crushed one with his foot, and was greet
ed with the fresh appetizing odor Of
baked potato. He asked the gardener
where the odd looking tubers came from
and was Told that they were found hang
ing on the roots of the useless American
plant. A light dawned on the gentle
mans mind. He had the tubers collect
ed and properly baked, and invited his
friends to a second feast. We do moi
know the import of his speech on this oc
casion, but it may we'll have been to the
effect that he who judges by external ap
pearances, without digging deeper fol
real worth, must often find himself mis-
| taken.
From England the potato was sent t.
France, but was met by great prejudice
Louis XIV. offered to provide them fret
to all who would cultivate them, but al
most no one was willing to make fai
trial. The few who attempted the worh
at all were unwilling to grant the potatoes
any favorable place in field or garden
and the unsatisfactory products seemed
hardly fit for cattle, The peasants stout
| ly refused to eat OF the new fashioned
fruit.
NJ. Parmentier, noted French chem
list, became interested in the culture o
the potato, and spent the most of hi
fortune in furthering it. He saw tina
neither force nor commands could accom-
plish anything with the people, and re
solved to make use of the weak side O
his countrymen's character. He hired {
large piece of land near Paris and plant
ed it with potatoes. He then had pro
claimed with sound of trumpet that who
ever should be caught stealing this for
eign fruit should pay for the theft will
his life. He placed watchmen about til;
field by day, but withdrew them by night
The result was what he expected. Wher
the peasants heard the proclamation with
its severe penalty, and saw the care tax
en- to guard the despised vegetable, the,
began to think they had been mistaken
and that it might possibly be of value
So they stole it like ravens, and in a
short time the potato was spread far and
wide through France.
An attempt to introduce it into Ger.
many was met with the same prejudice
which was felt in France.
In 1745 Frederick the Great sent to the
city of Colberg a cart load Of the new es.
| culent. He sent herald with trumpet
about the town and suburbs, to summon
all owners OF gardens to assemble at the
court house, as his majesty had special
favor to bestow upon them. There was
no little excitement as the land owners
FASTENED from far and near, to gather at
the appointed place. One of the alder
men showed the kings gift, and explain
ed how it should be cultivated and cook
ed. But in the confusion Of the crowd,
few marked what was said. Astonished
at the strange gift, the people took the
potatoes, smelled and tasted them to see
if the royal estimate could be justified.
But the result was ouly dubious looks
and head-shaking. Some were thrown
to the dogs, but even they disdained to
taste them, and the crowd dispersed with
the noisy protest that "the things had