The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-18
Triples or QUA FATHERS.
Teddy Grog and Other Hhations Of Easiy
New fnrlardcr,--~c SiuO Doors

TO know the manner in winch our New
England grandfathers INDUCED in tho
"cup that cheers seventy or eighty
wears ago. In those days the Prohibi-
tory party and other temperance organi-
cations were unknown, even the famous
Washingtonian movement being hardly
dreamed Of OF that time. Nearly all
persons-at least of the male sex--wero
in the habit Of using spis1tuous liquors
whenever their taste or inclinatiN; 10
suggested
The favorite alcoholic drink Of this
part of the country was New England
rum. which has been favOrite upple
from a very early period in our history.
Perhaps tine earliest record Is when Gov
ernor Endicott. Of Massachusetts,. was
charged five shillngs for quantity at an
old tavern in Lynn in 1850. This rum was
also the basis Of several other popular
beverages. Its sale reached a compare
lively great magnitude, principally in thu
forty or fifty years that followed the
American revolution. 1t was nearly all
distilled in this section Of the country
and in towns in close proximity to Bos-
m.
was affixed TO the intoxicant
A hundred years ago there were sixty
distilleries ir full working order in New
England. the bulk of the product being
from Salem. Medford and Newport. r. /.
The 'old Me,lford' Of today originally
gained its distinction from the town
where il was made, and was not consid'
cred as good as that of Salem, which was
especially noted for its good quality, and
that town turned out a vast quantity also,
being at the head Of the list in regard to
number and capacity Of distilleries. Bos-
ton. too. had small share in the fame
Of producing tins liquid, but the Hub
dealers. like those of today. were not dis
tillers. but usually jobbe,s, who dealt IN
ihe suburban goods.
In those days il was not necessary for
a man TO enter any little side door,
nor was he ashamed 10 tell his wife thai
he was intoxicated and he must take
care Of him. Neither did he have To
give n wink to the seller. nor did he ever
call for Schicdam Schnapps, brandy
cocktail. pl,ia juice or even our every
dav lager for those drinks were unheard
Of then The sigh; Of tin pals and jugs
filled with liQu5, was no; at ell uncom-
mon on our streets Co-iials made from
snakeroot and anisc seed were sold large
Is. often peddicd about tine streets tho
same as lemonade vendors ply their trade
nowadays on the Boston streets.
The doctors OF the old school wero
more liberal in prescribing liquor for
persons in delicate health than az tho
present time. owing 10 the fact that
there was virtually 10 objection 20 10
use The cordial5 Of anise seed. etc,
were mostly gotten up az Mcdford, Salem
and Lynn
There was another decoction known "a
"blacl, strap. which was made of New
England rm aud molasses mixed IN
proportion 70 suit the taste Of the buyer.
This was. Of course, considerably cheaper
than the straight article and conse-
quently was the iavorite drink Of those
who could not afford anything better.
Another drink was composed Of rum and
sugar. then known as "a horn, and
rum dashed with hot water and called
"toddv." often drunk by the well to do
gentlemen on cold winter evenings along
with the eating Of apples which was a
iavOric custom hegeab0uts.
A drink composed Of rum and some
thing else was called "grog. " 1t origin
ally meant rum diluted with water, but
was more often with cordial or some.
thing Of that nature. The name Of
"grog" was derived i'm n singular way.
II is said that once Admiral Vernon, in
the British navy, and who Yves noted for
| his generous nature, was wont to deal
ont an allowance Of this drink to his
sailors. He wore what was called
"crogan1 cloak in severe weather. and
after a while the men jestingly desig-
mated him rs "old grog, hence the namo
Of the mixture.
Every event Of more than passing no
ticc called forth goodly supply of llpnor.
One important occasion was on day
that somebody's pig was 20 be killed.
| Such an occasion required the services OF
three or four men, who took an after
noon 10 do the work. while the town took
n half holiday Such an important &c.
casion as this would be an utter fizzlO
were not a large supply Of rum on hand
ready to use, and it sometimes cost the
owner more than the pig was worth To
furnish tn, drinks. Another occasion OF
note was election day, when every man
drank for the good luck Of his favorito
candidate, and after the event was over,
again drank on account Of success OK
hoping for better luck next year.-Bos'
| ton Globe.