Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-11-24
LAND OF DRoUrHls cRoNles.
Cornwall Caicdonia's Curious inns and
Hotels and some Facts About Them.

Cornwall Caicdonia's Curious inns ana
Hotels and some Facts About Them.
Robert Kempt has gathered TO-.
gether manv interesting historical
items and quaint anecdotes about the
inns and hotels of Scotland, says the
Caterer 1t must be confessed the
historical side begins very late, for in
OIden dnys inns were practically un-
known over the border, travellers be-
ing received in private houses as
guests. Consequently there Is no
record Of such ancient London hos
tclrics as the Tabard, in Southwark:
the Mermaid, in Bread Street, or the
Blue Boar, in Eastcheap When De-
foe went to -cOtland he had difficulty
In HIDING an inn at Aberdeen, and
thus In spite OF a royal edict issued
by james l. In 1924, to the e. ect.
that In all borough towns where
there was considerable traffic, hostel
rics 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. drunkenness.
etc. The inns OF Aberdeen are ac-
corded a whole chapter, for there is
much 70 say about those Of the last
century, They practically formed
open clubs for the wits and learned
men OF the h0spitablc city. over
very modest repasts and pOtations,
grand sympOsia were held; the phil
0sophers lived low, but thought and
spoke high.
Dr. johnson seems to have appre-
ciatcd the Aberdeen ions; he found
them almost as cOngenial as his
haunts In Fleet Street, and certainly
far better than the scottish houses
OF entertainments Among other In
teresting items Of information Mr..
kempt points out that whisky Is o
comparatively modern beverage, and
that in oldcn days clarct was almost
as much drank as ale. The Regent
Albany Is supposed to have made
claret popular ln 1850 red Gas;Ony
wine sold In Aberdeen ut sixpence u
pint, and later on claret and 20 /
wine could be had at civhteenpence
u bottle. Indeed, claret and port In
those early days could he procured
cheaper In Scotland than In most.
parts Of England. In the cities aud
country side are many inns with his.
tOrical interests attached to them.
IL the lpver, aud Arms Hotel, Brae.
mar, Is the stone on which the
standard Of Mar was raised In HAS,
the beginning Of Prince Charles
wild escape. Other inns are associa.
ted with names vencrated In S OF.
tish history and literature. There
are many inns in the Highlands
closely connected with Burns, the 1T.
trick Shepherd, Sir Walter Scott, and 2
other kindred giants OF old. Scott.
mentions that 1t used to be the
fashion to eat oysters In the Covenant.
Close, Edingburgh, and Mr.. Kcmpt
has gathered together many details
rs to this once fashionable form OF
indulgence. During the eighteenth
century II seems that the best soci.
city In the Scottish capital, ladies'
aud gentlemen, used to make parties.
At one OF the taverns In "Auld.
Reekie," there to partake of oysters.
and porter. ending up with brandy
and rum punch, with songs and dane.
Ing. Some OF these old Aberdenian
aud Edinburgh inns were the ancient.
houses OF noble families, great ramb.
ling buildings with many rOOmA
some OF remarkably fine proportions.
Even few Of the country inns warc.
former mansions OF The lairds Of tho
soil.