Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1895 — Canned Goods Legend. [ARTICLE]

Canned Goods Legend.

For many years the English looked with deep suspicion at American canned goods, believing them to be a purely Yankee notion; a longing pardonable enough in the millionaire who had hot houses, but dark error on the part of his poor neighbor. They did not know, nor, indeed, is it generally known, that canning really began 2,000 years and more ago, but is none the less a Yankee discovery or rediscovery; for it was a party of Cincinnatians who, visiting Pompeii when the excavations were just beginning many years ago, found in the pantry of a house just uncovered many jars of preserved figs. One was opened, and they were found to be perfectly fresh and good. Careful examination showed that the figshad been put into the jars while hot, an aperture left for the steam to escape, and the hole sealed with wax. A wise man took the hint, and the next year canning was introduced into the JL’nitod Statesand has grown into the enormous industry it now represents.