1903 The Flowing Bowl by Edward Spencer

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THE FLOWING BOWL

Cassisy owing to the ridiculously-high duty imposed upon its importation, is comparatively unknown in England, although it can be obtained at every little roadside cabaret in France, cheap enough. The cassis of Dijon has a great reputation as a cooling drink. There is an infinitesimal portion of alcohol in it, and it can, I should say, be easily made at home by anybody who possesses some nice ripe black-currants. Still the nearest the ordinary English householder gets to cassis is in the manufacture of so - called " black - currant tea" ; and you only get that when you have a sore throat. Chartreuse. One of the most severe sects of monks manu facture a liqueur which is the highest prized and priced of all, for the benefit of Sybarites who deny themselves no luxury in life. St. Bruno the founder of this order chose for his monastery the most desolate and barren spot he could find in the mountains of Dauphine, and forbade his followers to eat the flesh of bird or beast; the fruit of the vine and strong waters being likewise defended. But one of them discovered, never theless, that a most seductive liquid could be distilled from plants, chief amongst them being Angelica Archangelica—a plant which it is prob able did not receive its holy name until trial had been made of the distillation. The Carthusian monks have the sole right of selling this liqueur —a right which brings them in a very substan-