The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-06-05
,allon. No license was taken out for
N.sI IL J... 1-no~o,e

RallUu. NO llCouoO u@o oesASu Wv Ava
making or selling it, and drunkenness
then was not greater than now. At
the militia musters, which were grand
holiday occasions, whiskey and mus
foreground gingerbread made the day
and night go quickly and merrily.
When held in summer, the people
would remain on the muster ground
all night drinking their homemade
whiskey. Those same men would have
turned up their noses at the Manhat-
tan or Martini cocktail, and pousse
cafe would probably have nauseated
them; but they had mixed drink, as
they called it-and it was the only
one bordering on fancy drink known
to them-that they never tired OF
talking about. This was the Christ
mas stew. On Christmas Day con-
genial crowd would assemble and put
into pot from two to ten gallons, &C.
cording to the size Of the crowd, Of
thick old whiskey, adding ground
spice, ginger, and sugar to suit the
taste. While it was stewing down to
the desired point the crowd would
swap yarns. As soon as the concoc-
tion was ready all would surround the
Dot with tin cups and long-handled
,gourds in hand and drink until they
gradually one by one fell by the pots
side. A person could drive from place
to place and in each one find crowd
either standing or reaching about q
Christmas stew pot. --~r
Virginia claims that mint julep
that is mint julep cannot be concoct-
ed outside of her boundaries, but old
Carolinians long ago dead, and a few
surviving, could never be convinced
Of the truth Of this assertion. The
man-who was up in the world would
send one pickaninny scampering to
the mint bed for mint while the dew
sparkled on the fresh, green leaves,
another to the spring for bucket OF
fresh water, and third to the cellar
for a Jug Of fye-year-old corn whiskey,
while fourth was detailed to bring
a bowl of sugar, glasses and spoons.
While the master was waiting for the
return Of his small but eager vassals
he would spend the time in alternate
ly entertaining his ever.present guest
and swearing at the delay. AS each
little darkey came up with his burden
he received cuff, for which he grin
ned heartily, knowing full well that q
nickel would fall to his lot next, and
was dismissed. The master then put
into the glasses little sugar, two or
three choice sprigs Of mint, just enough
spring water to dissolve the sugar,
and, finally, good deal Of the essence
Of corn. he and his guest would then
settle themselves, cooking their feet
on the piazza banisters, and there
they would stand sip, tanning them
selves with their palmetto hats and
talking about old times, until they
we're called to a delicious breakfast,
consisting principally Of fried chicken,
hot waffles and coffee.
AS late as 1850 a Baptist Church in
North Carolina arraigned several male
members; the charge against some OF
them was joining the Odd Fellows,
and against others making and selling
whiskey. None of them confessed to
wrong-doing, but the Odd Fellows were
excommunicatsd, while the whiskey
men were kept in.
One Of the old.time distillers who
was almost reared in a still-house, and
who courted his wife in her father 8
still house, both being Of excellent
family, says that no good corn whiskey
is made these days. The methods
used are two rapid, and too much
whiskey is made to the bushel OF
grain. He thinks the product ought
to kill those who drink 1t.