THACKERAY AND THE OYSTER

When Thackeray, the great English novelist, visited this country, his literary friends in Boston gave a banquet in his honor. The committee of arrangements, learning that Mr. Thackeray had made some comments on the general tendency of Americans to magnify things, thought they would give their distinguished guest a demonstration of the greatness of the American oyster, at least, the more so as the oyster does not attain a great size in the British Isles. They accordingly ransacked the market for the very largest bivalves that could be found, and a half dozen of these were placed at Thackeray’s plate. The gentleman next to him apologized for the small size of the oysters, but Thackeray looked at them in amazement, and asked, “What am I to do with them?” “Swallow them, of course,” was the answer. “Well,” said he, taking a huge one on his fork, “here goes.” He gave a gulp and down it went. “How do you feel on it?” asked his friend. “Feel?” said he—“I feel as if I had swallowed a baby!”