1903 The Flowing Bowl by Edward Spencer

ALL ALE

71

I confess that the above directions are some what vague to my untutored mind, which is quite a blank upon the subject of " blinckt and boyled " ale. Nor do I imagine for one moment that the "English Housewife" of the year 1899 will cumber herself with brewing or bottling, any sort of malt-liquor, as long as there be bonnets to be chosen, bicycles to be ridden, or golf to be played. Wholesome as may be the beer in itself, its surroundings are not always hygienic. The system of pumping up the glorious fluid from the cellar through leaden pipes neither improves the flavour nor renders it more valuable as a morning "livener." And there is a story— which I believe to be strictly true—told of a night cabman in London who used to call at the nearest tavern to his stand, the first thing in the morning, and swallow the first glass of beer drawn for the day. His end was lead-poisoning. But tliere ! John Barleycorn has probably done far more good than harm in his day ; so let us toast the " Egyptian drink " in itself, the while we sing, in the words of the old song :—

Dang his eyes, If ever he tries To rob a poor man of his beer!