1903 The Flowing Bowl by Edward Spencer

OTHER SPIRITS 85 Stationed by the tub, to see that each sailor drank his allowance. Still there was intoxication amongst the troops, and it was discovered that many of the sailors' pannikins had false bottoms, and that in this way the rum was concealed. After that the ship's ofHcer was enjoined to see that each sailor partook of his tot; but even this precaution failed ; for the rum would be ejected from the men's mouths into a bucket in the fo'c'sle, and then sold —a disgusting practice which merited severe punishment, and frequently obtained it. We English donot make nearly as much useof rum in cookery as do our lively neighbours. One of the most approved of entremets is an omelette au rhutn, a truly grateful dish, if the omelette be properlymade, although rum be speltwith an "h." But it is a mistake to use rum-sauce with plum- pudding, as do the French ; for brandy is a far better digestive of the cloying materials of which the pudding is composed. As mentioned in Cakes and Ale^ rum-and-milk is said, by the chief English authority on dietetics, to be the most powerful restorative known to man. This may, or may not, be true ; I am prepared to back a judicious dose of "the Boy"—not limited to a " split pint," either. But of all horrible mixtures, defend me from rum-and-ale, which used to be a potion much in favour with the dangerous classes of our metropolis, in the days when I went " slumming " in search of plain unvarnished facts. A steaming tumbler of rum and hot water, with a piece of butter melted therein, was, in my younger days, in vogue as an infallible