Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1915-05-15
coLLKRps AND poTLIcKER.

Collards and potlicker, two OF the
choicest and most delectable viands
known to the people OF the South
since Tong before the war" are just
beginning to excite interest In the
effete East and the press and people
are beginning TO talk about them, ask
about them-what they are, what
they look like, what they taste like,
etc. The New York Herald editor.
we opine, is Of the South, or has at
some time sojourned in the South,
and for that reason Is thoroughly
posted and has indited the following
apostrophe to these two great and
pre-eminent viands:
Zone may know all the mysteries
OF the picturesque, and correspond
regularly with Rudyard Kipling, and
lecture on the art OF Racine and Cor
nellie, but what boots IL II he knew
not what 'potlicker' is. and naturally,
Of course, is ignorant of collards?
1T is hard to record that a man
who has attained pre-eminence In so
many walks OF life and is an authority
on the drama of all time, is devoid
Of knowledge on what really touches
so closely upon human existence and
human problems. Without 'potlicker'
and without collards many a proud
scion of the South would have never
increased in stature and in girth.
What the rill, embowered in mint and
ready to be mingled with the juice
Of the golden corn, is to one who
knows the flavor of delectable juleps
of the Sunny South, so 'potlicker,' Of
which the base may be collards, is
the ambrosia of the gods of Dixie.
And you will remember how for
the last two weeks the Herald with
all the erudition in its power has
sought 10 illuminate 'potlicker' The
Montgomery Advertiser, whose editor
is robust, corn fed and a judge of
English. ETC., had scoffed and said
that there we're things that even the
Herald did not know and that II had
better HE to Prof. Brander Matthews,
of Columbia University, who was
born in the South, and ask him to de-
fine potlicker.' The well known
authority on parts OF speech and dra-
matte literature eyed me askance.
Potlicker,' he said, I'm sure
don't know what II is at all
There are some advantages in be-
ing a college professor. Among them
Is that one can admit occasionally
there are some things which one does
not know.
"As well he might have said that
'potlicker was some fiery liquor from
q pot still, but he forebore.
"Of course, Prof. Matthews is q
Southerner and was born in Virginia,
but evidently far north OF the pot
Ticker belt. 'Potlicker' is a rare and
savory soup compounded of turnip
greens and glorified by 'mixin's.'
Mixin's' are rashers of salt pork ba-
con which slowly drop into succulent
rhapsodies under the genial glow OF
cracking wood Mingle some corn
pone with your 'potlicker.'
"And here comes me who inquiries
what in the name IF Satan Sander
son is collards. A correspondent Of !
the Herald the other day suggested
that there could be no real potlicker
without collards. Collards are the
leaves Of that variety of cabbage akin
to the razorback masFfed hog Of the
romantic Southlands. Collards are
derived from the openwork kale
which grows on the stem with the
leaves standing out and Haunting in
the breeze and not huddled together
as in the uninspired cabbage head Of
commerce. There are some who speak
of the collard as turnip greens. For
those who wish to adopt this method
Of proclaiming the choicest of viands
Of the whole earth perhaps this inter.
probation may do very well, but col.
ard is, after all, cabbage which let's
he pure air of the land of sun circu-
ate around II and recks not the wind
,r weather.
"Well has It been said by that font
" wisdom z. L. NJ. in the Herald
hat collards contain valuable salts
which make pickaninnies fat They
lso stir the soul with mighty ambi.
ions and stimulate the noblest aspi-
ations of the human breast. Where
ore here's to you, collards, mixin's
nd, above all, golden elixir of the
oys Of life, 'potlicker.'