Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-06-16
The liquors we Drink.


this country, who sip their brandes and wines
under the impression that they are drinking
the very best imported liquors Ifitwere in.
tiinated to one@ Of, these gentlemen that he
might be deceived, and that he really could
not tell the difference between genuine i'm
ported article and an imitation, it would be
taken in "high dudgcon," and yet such seems
to be the case if we are to believe those who
profess to be posted on such subjects. A tri-
al in liquor case recently took place at AL
bany, N. Y, in the course of which some
strange facts were elected. 1t seems that
number of casks of brandy, having all the ap
pcarancc Of the imported article, were seized
by the United States authorities, on tho
ground that it had been smugglcd into the
country The owner contendcd chat it was not
an imported article, but was manufactured in
the United States. On the trial, an attempt was
made to prove that the liquor, cask of which
was produced, was genuine French brandy, and
hotel keeper and druggist, both after tast-
such as they had often paid sl2 to SIS per
gallon for. Several small bottles were then m
produced by tho defendants counsel, contain.
ing liquor looking very much like the mpor-
ted article, and the witnesses were asked to
taste these. They declared them to be mise
rablo stuff, not Gt to be drank, except one
bottle, which they considered every poor
brandy"
TWAS then proved that the poor liquor, "not
lit to be drank, was all taken from The linden
tical cask in court, and that it was common
Bourbon whiskcy, manufactured in Albany
The cooper who made the casks was called
and testified that they were manufactured in
brooklyn willows around the hoops be-
ing mportcd-that they, were intended to be
perfect imitation of the French casks; that
to give them the appearance of sea voyage
they were washed in q solution Of coppcrns.
which rustcd tho hoops and discolorcd the
wood that there were several such manuGlcto
ries in Brooklyn and New York, and thousands
of casks made cvcryyear One extensive deal
er sworc to the Manufacture of the article,
which was neutral spirits, favored with an
article known to the trade as coil of cologne"
and colorcd with burnt sugar; the imported
coil of cologne" costing one hundred dollars
and upwards per pound; that mandatory
of this oil existed in Cincinnati; that he did
not know the value of imported brandy, as he
had neither bought nor sold gallon in, ten
years; that thousands of gallons Of this spu-
rious article were sold yearly by his house,
aud that many similar establishments were in
New Iork-that many experts were so de-
ceived that frequently they declared the spu-
rious superior to the genuine article; that gin
was also manufactured to large extent rs
well rs other liquors; that, in short, very lit
tic genuine liquor was sold in this country
Other witnesses were Called who tasted and
testified that the article seized was very good
imitation, but without a drop of real brandy
in it.
This is about the coolest case of confessed
humbuggcry aud rascality VIC have heard OF,
The idea Of man going into court of JUS
ticc, and not only swearing that he is Il rascal,
but bringing forward witnesses to prove it, is
quite refreshing. NDe !" h"mbuy!
LET HIM Down E.lsY.-Thc manner in
which our military heroes are let down to their
original level, on their return home, is some
times more amusing to the lookcrs.on than
llattcriny to the subject. A case in point
Cen Sam. ii went out in regiment from
the badger State as Captain. Before he left
the rendezvous he was promoted to Colonel !;
aud for gallant conduct in the field was brc-
vettcd Brigadicr. General. On his retirement
to civil life, he told friend =" they let him
down easy" At Washington it was Gen II. !;
"' So'' 10 aG tIie to"H "!lcre he on.
ganzcd the company it was, How are you
Captain I? and when he got TO s., whore he
resides, every hoy with frccklcd nose was shout
ing Halo, Sam!'
A KEEN REToRr.-The post Office in our
village, writes Vermont lady, was kept in the
bar-room of the tavorn--a great resort for
loungers. An old chap more remarkable for
his eoarscness and infidriity than his GOOD man
ners was sitting there one day with lot of
boon companions, when the Methodist preach
er, new conner in the village, entered and
asked for his letters.
Old. Swipcs asked bluntly, care you the
Methodist parson just come hero to preach ?"
"l am" pleasantly replied the minister.
"Well," said old Swipes, "will you tell me
how old the devil is z"
Keep your own family record" quickly
returned the preacher, and left tho room
nOi1ct bo ny, 20 of t1o oon,,>,,,,