The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-16
WEBsTER's POTATO TALK.
His off-Hand Lecture to Party of Trav-
cling Companions.

One can always spend an Interesting
hour with that fine old gentleman, E. d.
Grafton, the well-known water colorist.
Sitting athis easel he INDUCED in the fol-
lowing personal recollection of Daniel
Webster and his "potato talk"
SIT was in the year 1S49. the year of
the gold fever, that ] was on train re-
turning to Philadelphia from Harris
burg, Pa, and Daniel Webster was ia
the same car. Every one on board not
only felt the influence of Webster's over
towering personality, but the majesty
OF his thoughtful look and speech, as
we'll as that grandeur of simplicity in
the familiar ease shown toward some
plain, but intelligent farmers whom
he was entertaining, while they atten-
lively listened to his simple and unam-
bilious potato. Others upon the train,
hearing OF Mr.. Webster's presence on
board, before his talk was over he had
an audience of nearly car full OF peo-
ple Said one of the farmers from Lam
caster; Have you noticed how the
Meshanocks and the MERGERS are losing
their foothold and becoming shocklngly
and mealy as they were few seasons
ago. I believe they are running out.
Then some one remarked that it was al
most time for new varieties to appear.
Mr.. Webster at this point took modest
hand in the talk. Alphabetically excus-
ing himself, he told his listener how he
had worked upon his fathers farm IN his
youth, and also upon his own at Frank
lin. N. H., and he had had some expert
ence with the potato knew something
about it, although perhaps not enough
to hurt, but he considered himself the
better from having had some agricul-
tural experience. Having gained their
attention, he now launched into pleas
ant little potato history, and held their
interest in the subject until the end. Mr..
Webtser went back to the remote times
Of the close of the fifteenth century,
when the potato was scrub plant and
| the crew of the Pinta, with mbus,
had landed upon the Western continent
| and found comfort in it as an article
of food. How it was afterward carried
to Europe by the Spaniards and cultivat-
ed with the tomato, merely as garden
curiosity; how Sir Francis Drake, Haw-
kins and Raleigh in 1923 transplanted it
in Ireland and England, all the time
undertaking it's merit, and how long a
while it took to awaken within the
.'public" mind knowledge Of its worth
how finally confession was extorted
from European high authority that the
potato and Indian corn were the two
greatest blessings America ever gave to
the world; how, Notwithstanding all
this. they were still used as food for cat.
tie and horses, though in pinch it was
thoua hit they might help bridge over a
starving people who had. met with failure
in the crop of cereals.
Mr.. Webster related that even IN Wash
ington's day the Father of his CouGtry
had proclaimed loudly against the evil
ands vulgar horse food" as be called it,
known then and now as corn meal, and
which was not considered coed enough
for the soldier. Mr.. Webster spoke of
the German and French people who
Wouldn't eat neither of these articles of
food; that when Antoine Parment a
philant hropist, had helped on and i'm
proved their cultivation and urged their
daily use, Johnny Crapaud Wouldn't
listen to him. Finally the government
felt the need of aiding this business and
the gendarmes were placed around the
potato field, plentifully planted with
them, as if to guard highly precious
commodity, and Louis XIV. ordered the
potato blossom to be worn by the court
ladies'. This done, the tide turned in
favor of the poor, prosecuted potato. and
under the loftier name of pomme de terre
it came out of the fire of opposition
cooked, as it is now said to be by the
French cuisine, in some 300 different
ways. By this compulsory recognition
it now holds an honored place upon the
table, an Indispensable adjunct. Inter-
rupted occasionally, but respectfully, how
ever, by some questions his hearers now
and then put to him, Mr.. Webster cheer
fully continued his potato talk for near
ly an hour, and it was an admirable help
to lesseEing the monotony OF the trip,
can assure you"-- Cincinnati Times-Star.