The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-03-20
Hash.

q
prove unnteresting to the readers of The
MIRROR.
The name of the inventor of Hash will
probably never be discOvered-unless it is
found in the Hash, which is not improbable,
as about everything else has been found in
it, The first place we meet with Hash in
history is where Esau trades his birthright
for some Hash and cigarette. The Bible,
as is we'll known, says it was for a mess of
pottage and does not mention the cigarette;
but as the Rev. Sam Jones would say, 1--WE
must not take the Bible literally, but inter-
pref it's meaning according to circumstances,
or as we wish. Now if, as generally sup
posed, Jacobs mess of pOttage had con-
young goat. would there have been any
thing to have prevented Esau from prepar-
ing such a simple dish? But he, not being
acquainted with Hash. and not a chemist,
therefore not being able to analyze it and
compound a similar decOctiOn, was at the
mercy of Jacob who had the Hash market
''cornered" Here is point for the de-
Tenders of mOnOpOlies). Now for the cigar
cite: ESau is supposed to have eaten the
Hash; it is known that he lived afterwards;
and as one poison cOunteractS another, it is
unreasonable to believe that Jacob. who
was not aware of the counteractng bust
ness. was prompted by brotherly feelings to
throw in cigarette?
Hash was understood by the English at
the time of Richard the Third. and a great
hiCfI,r ionS hpli oSh H..
ard had reference to when he made the
famous offer of his Kingdom. Why"
they ask, ''ShOuld he have wished for a
hOrse?" At the time he made the offer if
he had had dozen horses he could not
have escaped. or have changed the tide OF
battle. and all he desired was a quick and
instantaneous death; therefore, what more
probable than that he should eXclaim. MY
kingdom for some Hash!' and the newspa-
per reporter. in the excitement of the mo-
ment and the similarity of the names,
should get it. MY kingdom for horse"?'
In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
the candidates for ''hari kari" in Japan,
had the choice of three routes: poison, the
dagger, and Hash; but in the beginning of
the eighteenth the Society for the Preven-
ton of Extreme Cruelty' succeeded in hav-
ing the last mentioned route abolished.
1t is not improbable that. in the near fut-
ure. it will be proved that Hash played all
important part in the development and civ
ilizatOn of America. The student of Amer
lean history is much surprised at the rapid
decrease that took place among the Indians
even in times of peace, and the popular
belief that this mortality was caused by the
introduction of whisky among them, is eX-
plOded by the testimony OF gentleman who
has lived among them for a number of
years. The only mortality" he states,
"caused by the introduction of whisky
among the Indians at the present time,
takes place among his chickens which gen.
orally suffer upon these occasions. And
the only bad effect it seems to have on the In
dians is to develop their acquistiveneSs which
manifests itself by an inordinate desire to
possess his or his neighbOrs' live stock or
other property" And the theory that the
whisky of the last century was more inju-
rIous than the whisky of the present is re-
futed by the following pOstscripian extract
from charming ballet girls letter: AL
though, then as now, l never indulge in
anything but 'Mumm's Extra Dry or Pom
cry Sec when out to supper with Charley
Dudelets-and Milwaukee Champagne at
all other timeS-sO cannot speak from per-
SOnal experience OF whisky, still my impress
sion is that it is more adulterated now, con-
sequently more Injurious" Might not an
explanation of the Quaker's peaceful con-
query of the Indians be found in the fact
that they learned them how to make Hash?
The subject now descends from historical
to police cOurtorial. About seventy or eighty
years ago the grandmother of Mrs. Bender
of Kansas fame. opened a boarding house
in Boston, and furnished six healthy young
men with free board and pin money for the
privilege of insurng ,ther lives These
young men did not long enjoy their Sinecure,
as they died very suddenly. The insurance
company had the landlady arrested. and
upon her trial proved she had given her
boarders Hash every morning for breakfast
it is superfluous to add she was convicted.