1903 The Flowing Bowl by Edward Spencer

176 THE FLOWING BOWL words; but since that, that wines have been imported from foreign parts in great quantities, the English have been forced to make use of the old British name Seider, or Cider^ for distinction sake, although the name vinum may be as proper for the juice of the apple as the grape, if it be derived either from Vi or Vincendo^ or quasi Divinum^ as one would have it. Also the vulgar tradition of the scarcity of foreign wines in England, viz. that Sack, which was then imported for the most part but from Spain, was sold in the apothecaries' shops as a cordial medicine ; and the vast increase in vineyards in France (Ale and Beer being usual drinks in Spain andFrance in Pliny's time)isan argument sufficient that the name of Wine might be attributed to our British Cider, and of vineyards to the places separated for the propagating the fruit that yields it." As a matter of fact the best cider in the world is made in Normandy. And for what purpose do the Normans make it? To send to the Champagne country to be sold to the unsuspecting tourist as the sparkling wine of that district. This is solid truth. Hundreds of millions of gallons are made in Normandy with the most scrupulous care, under the supervision of experienced chemists, and the bulk is eventu ally sold as champagne. And not only cham pagne, but claret, white wines, and even honest, manly, beautiful, unsophisticated, good old Portuguese port, owe their being in some in stances to Normandy apples ; the rich colour of the port being added by log-wood, beet-juice.