The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1877-12-29
LONGFELLOW AND THE MEDTART
ALE.

year ago or more, as stated by the Baltimore
correspondent (W.) of the Frederick, Nd, Union,
in his letter of December 10th, 1877, "the poet
Longfellow, of Boston, was in Baltimore and dined
at Rennert's celebrated hotel. OF course he had
oysters, and to give them relish, called for ale.
After the repast he inquired of friend-praising
the qualities thereof-'whose makeY etc. and be-
ing told it was the Medtart manufacture, brewed
at the Maryland Brewery, Holiday street, Balti-
more, now, and during several years past, owned
and conducted by Mr.. Thomas M. Dukehart, re-
marked: We'll l must say it is remarkably fine
The friend to whom this conversation was addressed
being himself prejudced in favor of the same bev-
erage, keptitin remembrance, and on last Thanks
giving day sent cask to the renowned poet. 1t
went by the steamer Johns Hopkins, Capt. VIM
Hallett, of the Merchants and Miners line, arriv-
ing safely. No great length of time elapsed be-
fore tapping tasting and enjoying by the recipi-
ent. Becoming inspired thereby the following
stanzas are said to have been subsequently found
in manuscript within the poets studio:
THE MEDTART ALE.
Thrice thankful am for that Medtart ale
A cask of which just sent-the very best
As gift thanksgiving waited ON the gale;
A boon which makes me feel like one full blessed
It's delicate of taste, pure, clear and choice,
More mellow cen than is the "English Bass"
Of which "JOhn BulP' sings praises in loud voice,
But tasting this, write him down an ass.
We like it best, perhaps, with froth and foam,
But matters nOt-'tis good on 'soid draft
There's nothing like cask of this at home,
To drink at dinner-be in evening quaffed.
Of one thing do 1 most emphatic speak,
When stopping at Bob Rennert's famed hotel,
And VISTA from, fnaG 10
This Medtart ale became a coyish spell.
If Holmes and Bryant, SAKE, Bret Harte too,
And poet friends of mine, alive or dead,
Could realize the virtue of this brew,
They'd learn full well what tits to have "a head"
Lord Byron, Bulwer, Irving, Tom Moore, Burns,
They each INDUCED in porter, ale or wine,
And inspiration came to them in turns,
Of genius rare, and wit surprising mine.
But had they drank of Medtart as I've done,
With oysters roast, or broiled or fried or stewed,
They'd say, there's nothing now beneath the sun
To match the Medtart ale by Dukehart brewed.
I've seen where tasteful travellers from abroad
Have warmly praised its qualities most rare,
And rightly, too, I'm sure, they did applaud,
By saying what is truthful, just and fair.
OF all that is delicious doth it SAVIOR;
IT'S aromatic cen in gentlest sips,
Or larger draughts-and then the "nutty flavor"
With tastes so fine, will make smack his lips.
Had "Enoch's" author been full well supplied
With such-if temperate, ask his pardon
I'm sure the breach had not have been wide
Betwixt the lawful wife and EnOch Arden.
Another sip and feeling somewhat mellow
From such indulgence-still I'm proud to say
That this rare gift has warmly touched Longfellow,
Making him thankful for Thanksgiving Day.
Now let me thank the friend who sent that cask
So finely brewed-to him, long life be given
And furthermore, earnestly do ask
His happiness on earth and joy in heaven.
81 may confidently say, of my own knowledge
regarding what is alleged to have inspired Long
fellow, that his musings are by no means extrav-
agant. The article has attained a deservedly
widespread popularitY."