1892 Drinks of the world

DRINKS.

263

in the time of Good Queen Anne than our own.^ " Thus they take a sip of Tea, then for a draught or two of Scandal to digest it, next let it be Ratifia, or any other Favourite Liquor, Scandal must be the after draught to make it sit easie on their • Stomach, till the half hour's past, and they have disburthen'd

themselves of their Secrets, and take Coach for some other place, to collect new matter for Defamation." An anonymous poet of that time sings thus of the tea table : " Here we see Scandal, (for our sex too base), Seat in dread Empire in the Female Race, 'Mong Beaus and Women, Fans and Mechlin Lace,

* The Works of Thomas Brown, ed. 1708, vol. iii., p. 86.