Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-01-29
GINGER BEER.
Now q Drugglst's Boy Stumbled on Rich
Secret.

Secret.
DR.. J. Hameral, editor OF Les Deu1
Monde. Buffalo. N. Y, has been In the
city during the past week, and furnishes
tho following interesting account of the
accidental origin of ginger beer and
the results which made its inventor a
wealthy man. >~
"Everybody.7 sad DR.. Hameral,
"knows the ginger beer, the popular
drink Of the middle and lower classes
in England the yearly sales of which
(at one penny per bottse) reaches mil
lions and millions Of battles. But tho
origin Of this pleasant, cheap and truly
temperance drink. is not known, and
| doubt whether. even in England, thero
are many men who could say how and
by whom it was invented. The story
savors little Of romance, and I can
vouch for its truth, having heard it
many time from the lips OF the m-
ventor, who was rather proud of his
achievement, and not without reason.
Some eighty years ago, Louis Carcz.
q boy of sxtoen, the son of very
poor country physician in France was
sent by his father to a school in Lon.
don In which he got board,
lodging and instruction in English in
exchange for lessons in French to the
younger pupils. Eight months lator
the schoolmastcr died. the school was
closed. and Louis Carez found himself
alone in the big city without friend
and with very scanty resources. While
looking out for another school, he took
room in the hoase of druggist. in
one Of the low parts Of the city, and
managed to live with five dollars
month. all that his father could send
him. 1t was almost starvation. But
the poor boy had not seen the end of
his troubles. One day the monthly re-
mittanco failed-the father was dead!
The boy would have died of want il it
had not been for the kind charity of the
old druggist and his wife. They had
become attached to the pretty. we'll be-
haved boy, they pitied his forlorn po.
sition, they gave him his room and his
board until he could obtain situation.
Anxious to make himself useful, Louis
Care1 swept and cleaned the lttie store,
and was soon able to help the old man
In preparing simple prescriptions.
'One day. as he was alone in the
store, a woman called for some ginger
powder. Louis served her. and, after
she left, tasted the powder. He liked
it, but finding i burnt his tongue, he
mixed il with water. Then an idea
struck him. He put some ginger pow
der in one glass and in another little
sugar and the contents of the white
paper OF seidlitz powder, added water
to both, poured the contents of one
glass into the other and drank with de-
light the pleasant, elfervescing draught.
The ginger beer, although in a crude
state. was discovered! For several
days, whenever he had chance, the
young inventor experimental in the
small laboratory, and having at length
perfected his new beverage, he calcu-
lated that he wanted two guineas to
manufacture his liquid, buy one hum
dred bottles, as many corks, and some
twine. One fine morning he made up
his mind to speak to the druggist, ex-
plain his idea, and beg for the loan Of
two guineas, But the old man did not
see the matter in the same light ss
the enthusiastic young boy and refused
tho loan. However. it was written in
the book of fate that ginger beer was
not to be withheld from the appreeiating
palates Of Englshmen, The wifc OF
the druggist had heard tho explanations
Of the boy. and whether she had faith
in his invention. or whether she was
more tender-hearted than her husband,
the same evening she slipped two gold
| pieces in the hand of Louis out Of her
scanty savings. A few days later she
could be seen on the streets Of London,
carrying a basketful of bottles in ono
hand and glass in the other. calling:
Ginger beer, the drink of the period;
| ginger beer, three pence bottle!'
"A few months afterward Louis
Carez manufactured and sold daily
one thousand bottles, but one wear
later he formed partnership with q
Captain Dubbers, and established large
works which could scarcely meet the
demands, and had to be enlarged more
than once. Ginger beer sold retail al
two pence a bottle. After four years
of partnership, being then twenty.
one years Of age, Louis Care2
sold his share in the concern
to his partner for f10,00O and
went to Paris, He invested his
capital In the silk house Of Vacossin, at
that time (abOut the year 18l5) already
a very important one. But Louis Carez
was born merchant, and in 1924 the
firm Of Carer, Vacossin & Co. had be.
come the largest and richest Of the silk
trade In France. He was elected Presi.
dent of the Board of Trade In Paris,
President of the Chamber of Commerce,
was a member Of the Legion Of Honor,
and many times a millionaire. His son,
Alfred Carez, was my ohum at college.
I was often guest In the house, and
many time lhave heard the old gentle
man. when he had taken some friend
through his art and picture gallery. one
Of the finest private collections in Paris,
say with smile: Sec what can be gul
out Of bottle of ginger beer.-Louis-