DESIRABLE CHARACTERS IN A VARIETY 187 



that he will be remembered longest for this bit of wisdom, 

 enshrined in the discourse of the fisherman-philosopher. 

 His discerning estimate of the strawberry is received with 

 as much approbation today as Walton gave it. The 

 chemist tells us that the strawberry has but little fuel 

 value ; that it is mostly sweetened water. How futile to 

 measure the worth of this fruit in calories ! As well value 

 the sunbeam only for its heat, or the cloud only for its 

 water. The rich color, enticing fragrance and racy flavor 

 of the strawberry make an appeal to the senses that can- 

 not be expressed in terms of food value. Opinions differ 

 as to the palatability of the strawberry, but the remarks 

 of "Josh Billings" express the convictions of most people : 

 "Cherrys is good, but they are tew much like suck- 

 ing a marbel with a handle tew it. Peaches is good if you 

 don't get any of the pin feathers intew your lips. Watter- 

 melons will sute anyboddy who is satisfied with half sweet- 

 ened drinks ; but the man who kan eat strawberrys, be- 

 sprinkled with kream (at someboddy's else's expense) and 

 not lay his hand on his stummuck and thank the Author 

 of strawberries and stummucks, iz a man with a worn-out 

 conscience — a man w^hose mouth tastes like a hole in the 

 ground, and don't care what gose down it." 



