The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-14

Some furious Facts About the Inns and
Ilotels Of Scotland

some curious Facts About the Inns an.
Hotels NJ scotland.
Mr.. Robert Kempt has gathered
together many interesting historical
items and quaint anecdotes about the
inns and hotels Of Scotland. 1t must
be confessed the historical side be
gins very late, for in olden days inns
were practically unknown over the
border, travellers being received in
private houses as guests. Conse-
quently there is no record Of such
ancient hostelries as the Tabard in
Southwark. the Mermaid in Bread
street or the Blue Boar in Eastcheap
When Defoe went to Scotland, he
had difficulty in finding an inn at
Aberdeen. and this in spite of royal
edict issued by James l in l424, to
the effect that in all borough towns
where there was considerable traffic
hostelries should be established. but
these institutions did not flourish till
very much later. Mr.. Kempt gives
some amusing information as to the
pains and penalties enacted in the
fifteenth and seventeenth centuries
regarding the hours of closing, drunk
enness, etc. The inns of Aberdeen
are accorded a whole chapter. fol
there is much to say about those OF
the last century. They practically
formed open clubs for the wits and
men of the hospitable city.
Over very modest repasts and pota.
tons grand symposia were held. The
philosophers lived low, but thought
and spoke high.
DIR. johnson seems to have appre
ciated the Aberdeen inns He found
them almost as congenial as his
haunts in Fleet street and certainly
Tar better than the Scottish houses
If entertainment. Among other in
eresting items Of information. Mr..
Aempt points out that whisky is a
modern beverage. and
hat in olien days claret was almost
Is much drank as ale. The Regent
Albany IS supposed to have made
'laret popular. In 1850 red Gascony
vine sold Ill Aberdeen at sixpence !
lint and later on claret and port
vine could be had at eighteen pence
bottle. Indeed claret and port in
hose early days could be procured
heaper Ill Scotland than in most
arts Of England.
In the cities and countryside are
lany inns with historical interests
ttached to them. In the Invercauld
rms hotel. Braemar, is the stone on
'hich the standard of Mar was raised
! 1745, the beginning of Prince Char
e's wild escapade. Other inns are
with names venerated in
cottish history ard literature. There
re many inns in the highlands
osely connected with Burns, the r
trick Shepherd, Sir Walter Scott +,
I'd other kindred giants of old
,ott mentions that it used to be the
shion to eat oysters in the Covenant
lose, Edinburgh, and Mr.. Kempt
as gathered together many details
to this once fashionable form of
diligence.
During the eighteenth century it
ems that the best society in the
'ottish capital, ladies and gentle
en-, used to make parties at one of
e taverns in Aud Reekie, there to A
rtake Of oysters and porter, end
3 up with brandy and rum punch, -
til songs and dancing. Some of =
csc old Aberdeenian and Edinburgh 81
rs were the ancient houses Of noble Al
miles, great rambling buildings, =
tn many rooms. some Of remarka-
fine proportions. Even a few Of
2 country inns were former man
ms Of the lairds Of the soil.-Ca- =
'er.