1903 The Flowing Bowl by Edward Spencer

CHAPTER X

PUNCH

Derivationof the word questioned—Not anAsiatic drink—" Pale- punts"—No relation to pale punters—Properties of rum— Toddy as a tonic—Irish punch—Glasgie ditto—O'er muckle cauld watter—One to seven—Hech sirs !—Classical sherbet —Virtues of the feet of calves—West India dry gripes— Make your own punch—No deputy allowed—Attraction of capillaire— Gin punch—Eight recipes for milk punch— University heart-cheerers.

When e'en a bowl of punch we make, Four striking opposites we take : The strong, the small, the sharp, the sweet. Together mix'd, most kindly meet. And when they happily unite The bowl is pregnant with delight.

In Cakes and Ale, grave doubts are expressed as to whether the usually-accepted derivation of punch is the correct one. Why Asia should be raked to find a name for a purely European con coction, is beyond my powers of argument; and, as observed in another place, in the concoction of this seductive brew it is by no means necessary to limit oneselfto Jive ingredients. It may be news to the adopters of the panch (five) theory to read that punch was at one time