The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-10-28

subsided, but seems to be increasing
in volume if not in Importance.
From I4o2, westward the course of
empire took its way and so also, did
the course of trade and commerce.
1t would be mere rehearsal of dry
statistics to state to you the number
Of square miles of arabic and habta-
BILE land the discoveries of Columbus
opened up to the use of the human
race-to estimate the value of gold
and silver and Of the baser metals, and
Of the precious Jewels and stones
which have been yielded to the uses,
arts and luxuries of mankind
Of some of these things the Old
World had supply sufficient for its
needs, though not perhaps for its wants,
and the abundance made things easier
for peasant and prince.
Let us consider what America gave
to the older continents, which they did
not have: In point of variety and of
number we got more than we gave,
but notwithstanding that, the Old
World is our debtor in many ways
and with large balance in our favor.
Let us begin with a bird, hundreds
of thousands of which will be slaugh-
tered within the next 90 days-a bird
beautiful and brave, and affording for
the table two kinds of delicious meats I:
The suculent, the glorious, indispen-
sable Thanksgiving Turkey: No
where on the globe is there any thing
to match him. And on account of
his being native here he was named
by DIR. Franklin as the emblem on
our national flag, instead of the eagle,
which was then and had been in such
use among the Romans and other
nations ancient and modern.
We gave to the Old World, Tobacco:
good or bad it is our contribution
Is ,oomd,t the last best gift to man
1t may be so-but surely tobacco
comes next. A woman may be an
trritdnt, but tobacco is a seddtiue.
The Prince and the Peasant, the
Scholar and the Student, the Philoso-
pher and the Soldier, the Editor and
the News Boy all worship at the shrine
OF sour Lady Nicotine" 1t seems to
have created its own want but never.
theless, although an acquired taste, the
use of it, in one form or another, now
seems indispensable to the human
family. 1t is charged with all the vices
and credited with all the virtues that
flesh is heir to. "No contribution, says
a learned writer and observer, from
newly discovered land has ever been
SO welcomed as this so.called noxious
weed. No new faith has ever travell-
ed so fast and far among men as the
habit OF smoking. In scarce a century
from the first introduction of the plan,
IN Europe, its use had spread to nearly
half the people in the Old World"
We furnished Maize, or Indian corn
to the people Of Europe, Asia and
Africa: Hundreds of millions OF
bushels are grown annually. Its range
is almost universal. 1t produces more
food for the care, labor and time ex-
pended than any other food product
whatever. 1t is sweet, nutritious, de-
licious. Whether in the milk or in
the ripened grain it is an article of
food and commerce, and ninety days
after it Is put into the ground 1t is
available. 1t is easily harvested and
easily kept, and if there is any more
beautiful sight than hundred acres
of growing corn with its golden tassel
and rich silk and green leaves and
sturdy stalks loaded with swelling ears,
1t has never been my lot to meet it.
And not only the grain but the leaf
and the stalk properly cut and cured
are second to no other winter food for
cattle, whether for milk or for beef. 1t
is grown more successfully here than
elsewhere, but its introduction into
the agriculture and food products of
the world IS of an importance to the
domestic animals, horses, cattle and
sheep, beyond estimate.
The world is indebted to America
for tie Potato In what region is it
not cultivated, and in what one is it
not held to be an indispensable article
Of food. Millions Of lives have been
saved by it. Its varieties are almost
infinite, and like Indian corn in two
or three months from the planting it
is on the table at nearly every meal,
Roasted, or boiled with various veg
tables or with sundry meats, it is al
ways welcome, To man and beast
this underground product is chosen
article OF diet Its cousin and con
gener, the Tomato, is also the gift of
America to the world. Almost as
largely used as the other, but of less
value as a food product, it enters into
a variety of dishes, soups and relishes
that are increasing in their number
year by year. To our credit also are
to be placed all the varieties of cocoa
| and chocolate, vanilla and nine an