Bad Eggs and Things

[thea_447]

Republican Vindicator, September 9, 1864


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Bad Eggs and Things



(Column 7)

Summary: Rather than complain about the lack of steak or about poor crop output, people in the South can turn to other food sources that are readily available. This article notes the availability of mushrooms, rats, frogs, and snails, items that are commonly consumed in other parts of the world and that would alleviate the danger of people going hungry in the South.



Full Text of Article: Bad Eggs and Things.

A great many people are unhappy if they can't have beefsteak for dinner, or lament the failure of the vegetables this season. We pity the helplessness of such poor creatures. The earth, the air, the waters abound in materials for food. Almost anything that you can crack is good to eat. Since the refreshing rains, with an ingenious friend of ours, we have been gathering mushrooms. He is a person of exceedingly active appetite, and is ever ready to lend us his experience in the preparation of a breakfast. With prejudices against what we had vulgally [sic] associated with the agaric muscarius, or devil's snuff box, and which we ascertained from our friend was a fungus putting up from decayed vegetables, or decomposing animal matter--we have found the champignon a most delightful article of food--a rare and notable delicacy. Care only must be taken in the selection, the rules for which may be found in Miss Leslie's familiar Cookery Book. The Agaric Campestri, or common mushroom, is found out on the commons, in grassy lanes, in meadows, &c. It is cooked with milk, butter and crackers--seasoned with salt and pepper. Care is to be taken in the distinguishing between the good and the bad, as we have remarked, as the calling of the toad stool has the effect of killing you.

Among the most difficult articles of food to procure now are bread and salt; that these are not absolutely necessary, is proven by the fact that the Laplanders never taste either; they substitute animal oil and exercise.

Rats are another well known, but neglected source of commissary supplies. The Chinese have them in their markets, just as we have hares and partridges.

Frogs are said to be of exquisite flavor, and are numerous, almost any evening on Main street. An excellent article, akin to this, is fried snails. They are greatly relished in l'aria. Almost any well is full of them." (not fried.)

The young rook is eaten in England, and as we know of no difference between the rook, and the crow, we do not see why young crows may not be eaten, or, indeed, in war times, old crows.

For consumptive people, snakes are excellent: the receipt for making viper-broth may be found in the pharmacopoea.

This month of August is the season for locusts, and numbers may be gathered in any yard. Locusts and wild honey it may be remembered, were the food of a celebrated character, whose example we recall to our Baptist friends.

In China, the common earth worm is always in good dinners. They are, we believe, eaten either cooked or raw. Birds' nests would probably answer, though, of course, less delicate. The head of the *** is also greatly fancied by the chinese, as well as cats and dogs, (the latter already known to be numerous here from statistics already published.

The old Romans stuffed their pheasants with assafoetida, but this, we take it, is hard to get now. In his feast, in the manner of the ancients, Dr. Smollett speaks of a very pleasant dessert, which was a sort of jelly composed of a mixture of vinegar, pickle and honey, boiled to a proper consistence, and candied assafortida, called among the ancients the laser Syriucum, and esteemed so precious as to be sold to the weight of a silver penny.

The article commonly known as "bad eggs" is eaten with avidity in Cochin China, but we have as unconquerable aversion to it.

"A word to the wise is sufficient," we merely throw out these hints. Talk about starving the South.--Charlottesville Chronicle.


Origin of Article: Charlottesville Chronicle

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