The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-08-20
BOTTLED BEER.
The First Authenticated Instance of its
Use,

Theology is dry subject and theolo.
glans are dry class of men, but the
''driest' theologian that ever preached
sermon or ever wrote commentary was
Alexander Novel, once dean of st.
PauPs. His name will bring 10 many
| a schoolboy's mind "reminiscences oil
aching heads bent over dog-eared
pages, for DR.. Novel wrote certain
Latin catechiSm which is still a text
book in some of our public schools,
and which for pure dullness has held
Its own for three long centuries.
In the year 154S Alexander Novel
was second master of Westminster
school and held prebendary's stall in
the abbey. But besides these appoint
ments he possessed in his own right a
charming country residence called
Readhall, near Clitheroe, in Lanca-
shire, which afforded pleasant retreat
during his holidays. 1t might have
been well said that DR.. Novels lines
had fallen into pleasant places. But a
change was at hand. In 1868 Edward
VI died, and Queen Mary came to the
throne. Her ascent was Immediately
followed by the arrest of those leaders
OF the Protestant party who had not
taken time by the forelock and fed in
to the country or across the channel.
Prebendary Novel had for years, both
with voice and pen, opposed the Ro-
mish church; so, having no ambition
to adorn stake in Smithtield market,
he left the shady cloisters of West
minister and retired to his country
seat.
Now, through the Park of Readhall
there flows little trout stream, where
in swirling pool and sunlit shallow lies
a many speckled darling. One fine
May morning then. good DR.. Novel
thought he would take his rod and 90
a-fshing. He got his tackle ready,
and, also, as it promised to be hot
day, he filled stone bottle with good
ale, and started on his way. Whether
his creel became gradually heavier is
unknown; but there is authority for be-
lieving that the stone bottle he carried
in his hand became greater and
greater ncumbrance. The sun came
out, and Dr. Novel got warm; and so
he determined 10 leave his stone bottle
in safe place until he felt inclined for
luncheon. So he rammed the cork
well in, and placed the bottle in the
hollow root of an old pollard tree
which oyerhung the brook, where the
stream, gently swirling round the base
of the bottle, would keep the contents
fresh and cool This done, he contin-
ued his course up stream; and, having
tished for an hour, he began to retrace
his steps to the pollard tree when he
suddenly heard Il voice calling him,
and looking round he saw his page
boy running up, red in the face and
We come, sirI' he cried. "Who have
Gomez" asked the amazed divine
The soldiers of Bloody Mary" re-
piled the orthodox youth; ''they're
looking everywhere for you; and one
-,n'let --.! has piece of paper with a great
Has hep" grimly replied the preben-
dairy; and without further ado-forget-
full of his fish, forgetful of his stone
bottle. forgetful of everything but his
own skin-he fled across the meadows
speedily and crafty.
Alter some days he got to Chester in
safety; and, getting passage in a
sailing-boat, he reached the continent.
For the next five years he lived in Ger
many, principally at Strasburg and
Frankfort, and played a prominent
part IN the great Frankfort conference.
In 155o, however, queen Mary died;
ard the accession of good Queen Bess
saw Alexander Novel once more in his
stall at Westminster, no longer as a
mere prebendary but as archdeacon of
Westminster. In the spring of 1869
he returned to his beloved Readhall;
I'd once again on bright May morn
llg, he went forth to fish.
1t was once again very hot day,
but Dr. Novel had this time forgotten
totill bottle with ale And, higher
asthe sun rose, the archdeacon be-
cane very tired, and very, very thirsty.
H put down his rod and lay on the
bank; and, as he watched the stream
ladly flowing past, his thoughts drifted
bak through the dim mist of time to
cetaln May morning SIX years before,
am then, strange to say, to a certain
stne bottle he had left in the hollow
ofa pollard tree. With an instructive
feling of hope, he leaped up and walk
edbriskly down stream till he came to
a ollard with large hole in the root.
With parched palate and expectant
hart he thrust his arm down Yes!
thre was the stone bottle which had |
Ian unheeded for six eventful years, |
wished by the little stream. The cork
WIS swollen with damp and age; and |
vile DR.. Novel was extracting it he |
wndered if the ale would be drinkablc |
AFR such lapse of time. Being es-
setially man of caution, he took at |
tirt little sip The result apparently |
We satisfactory, for he at once put the
bdle to his lips and-drank. Oh, the
ddght of that draught, Us the amber
al mellowed by time and cooled to
pdection, trickled down the parch-
&c throat of the good archdeacon.
Wat were the wines Of Rhineland-
wat were the boasted vintages OF
Brgundy and Loire nay, indeed,
wat even was the archiepiscopal port
aLambeth, as compared with this
dectable fluid? We all know the &c
stcy felt by Bobo, the son OF Hotl,
wen he first tasted roast pork. Null
thy that ecstacy by twelve, and you
my form some idea of what Archdea-
ca Novel felt when he took that
nightly pull.
'choolboys of England who have
gDaned over DR.. Novels catechlsm,
wose brains have weariedly plodded
though the Incompatible dulness OF
tht awful book, remember this: that
stne bottle of Dean Novels Is the tlrst
authenticated instance of bottled beer.
Chat afternoon the archdeacon sum-
mined his household in solemn con-
Give. Every empty pitcher, jar, and
bottle that could be found was hlled
with honest English ale; and this most
deectable of drinks became as much
recognized institution as the British
jury or the throne itself. Long may
al three remain intact!
Such is the story of Dean Novel and
hi stone bottle; and yet there are some
people who consider deans an lncum-
bnnce!-St. Janes's Gazette.