The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-06
The New England Clam.

Boston has overcome her horrible
visions Of Spanish fleets in the offinc,
only to awaken to a dread realization,
Which is something more than a mere
nightmare or the figure Of unwhole-
some imaginings resulting from indi-
gestion. The Boston Globe is the first
voice to announce the woeful possibili-
ties in store for New England-and
they are woeful and far-reaching if the
facts are as stated; and the famous
clam bake, which, next to the cod
fish, has made that section of our coun-
try conspicuous above all others in
particular line, will soon become only a
tradition.
The New England clam Is fast be-
coming extinct, and it's relationship 70
the North Atlantic coast is liable to b.
severed at an early day. "This is no
small matter, either financially or SEN
timentally," exclaims the Globe. "Our
sturdy ancestors could not have got q
foOthOld on these shores but for the
plentiful supply Of CLAIMS and other
shellish''
Now this is the first time the an
nOuncement has been authenticaiIv
ers from abroad, who penetrated New
England's "rock-bound coast" nearly
900 years ago, walked up out of the sea.
after their long and somewhat stormy
voyage, on the crusts Of these innocent
but sluggish members Of the rnollusk
family. The statement has been made.
and on account of the accepted relia-
bllity Of the source has been credited
IN some quarters, that the shore lines
between the ship standing hard-a-port
some distance out and the beach We're
established by the advancement nf
some Of these pioneers astride of the
American Goldfish. The beautiful senti-
ment which has so long envaloped that
savory dweller of the deem is Tins
relegated beyond the pale Of thought
tul consideration, in favor Of the clam.
Ihe clam in itself-and in the salt
Water-is possessed of many virtues
But its real worth cannot be measured
In its entirety until one stands in TIA
presence Of that bank Of steanincr sna
grass, of which it forms a chief com
ponent part, with the lobster and tho
corn in the ear as its associates in What
is known as the New England clam
bake. Unless q mans nostrils and his
eplgiottis have been tickled by the pan-
etratlng and appetizing odor Of a New
England clam bake, he has sacrificed
the joys Of a lifetime, not to saw Of
salvation itself.
The G l o b Q wakes warm on Tho
subject when it further cries out. de-
spail1ngiy, perhaps, but eloquently
Notwithstanding: Never must the no-
bic clam be allowed to become extinct
Not until recreant people FORGET the
sacred Goldfish viii the New England
sea waves ever be compelled to MIR
muir sad requiem over the grave Of
the last lingering clam"
This is not only beautiful; it is tear
full. But how is the future clam family
to be prop2gated? If they could only
be hatched cut under setting hens. or
by the operation of incubators, there
might be some hope, because there -
not setting hen belonging to a. hui
man family which appreciates, in
proper manner, the value Of the clam
that would not be made, to set for a.
lifetime to bring forth a brood.
Ihe fact OF the matter Is the sands
OF the ocean have simply usurped the
oeds on which the CLAIMS of the past
nave been born and nursed. Aims,
they are likewise the sands Of Time
which. siVen due latitude, must bring
an end to all things and the clam has
no privileges. despite its virtues, which
the OLD man is bound to respect.