The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-10
Origin of Bottled Beer.

A good deal Of controversy ha. been
going on OF late regarding the origin of
bottled beer. and the following piece OF
hrue history will. therefore, be interest
ing as IL is little known.
In the middle of the sixteenth century
kAlexander Novel; d. D.. was head mas
Aer of Westminster school a prebendary
pf the abbey. and the possessor OF a
Gharming country residence. named Red
water. situated near Clithero. Lancashire,
Svhither he went to resire during the holi-
Mays. Now. DIR. Powell was q stanch
protestant: so. when Edward vi. died
land Queen Mary succeeded to the throne
me- thought Il prudent to forsake the
3rioisters of Westminster for Redhall
Inark, having very shrewd suspicion
fhat II he did not trouble might befall.
4Ths doctor was enthusiastic and ex-
part angler. and, thanks TO the we'll
jBtocked trout streams running through
his Lancashire dsmesne. he had every
opportunity for indulsing In his favorite
One fine May morning. then, saw Now
ben preparing his rod and tackle, and as
1t promised TO be a scorohing, hot day,
he before starting out took the precaution
1of nllng large stone bottle with home
&brewed ale. The sun rose higher and
higher in the heavens, the fisherman got
kwarmer and warmer. and the stone bottle
NbecAme more OF an incumbrance. He,
Wherefore. determined to leave the bottle
IN u safe place until he felt ready to en-
poy it's -efreshment, and what could be
1Tnore suitable for the purpose than the
hollow OF an old pollard tree, overhanging
the water. ensconced In which the stream
would gently lave the bottom OF the jar
and keep the contents fresh and cool.
Hardly had this been done when he heard
- voice calling his name, and. looking
taround. saw one of his servants, his fea-
hures agitated with terror:
hAae % ed efNrA ,naf
fhe man cried
'who has Gomez" asked the amazed
Soctor.
'.The soldiers Of Bloody Mary. sir They
are searching high and low for you. They
are ransacking your chests, and one var
Jet has paper bearing great seal and
TIE queens name on It,"
HAS he?" grimly replied Novel; And
without further ado. forgetful OF his fish,
forgetful OF his stone bottle. he tucked
up his cassock and fed across the mead
ows. After some days of perilous wan
dering NOVEL; reached Chester safely,
where an old Westminster boy, named
Francis Bowyer, merchant OF the city,
received him into his house and event
ually smugRled him to the continent in
cne OF his own trading vessels.
Six years had elapsed, Queen Mary wa.
dead. Queen Elizabeth was on the throne
and Newell was back In Lancashire. Once
again 4 hot Nav morning saw him setting
forth 10 FISH. but this time. fortunately
neglecting 70 take with him a bottle OF
aie- AS the daN Wdttu notlef NOWfI
became both tired and thirsty. He
dropped his rods and his thoughts drift
ed back 10 that eventful May morning
elk years ago. and then to the stone bot
tle, which he had so carefully slowed
away I'm the hollow on the pollard tree
Was this bottle still there he wondered
He wandered down the stream until he
picked ont that particular hoot, and
kneeling dOwr. thrust In an arm. out
came the bottle apparently none the
worse for its sojourn. Nowsn was very
thirsty: tho icv GOODNESS OF the stone was
WIRE undrinN5hle. thought he still ne
was very thirsty-just one cautious sip
The cork. swollen ard damn with age
was extracted. and the bottle lifted e
the Iins. Ye gods and little ashes, Wha'
was this heavenly nectar he was tasting
Novel; threw hacl, his head and took
long. deep draught
Could envfhing be more delicious thar
this amber ne. mellowed by time and
cooled 10 q nicety7 What were The vines
of Rhineland which he had thought 3,
excellent during his exile IN Germany al
COMPARED with this del"ctahle nuid?
That same night DR. Novel; sImmone,
his whole household In solemn conclave
Every empty pitcher. iar and bottle tina
could be found was filled with honos
English ale. corked and then consiRne,
10 the cellars The doctor had "discOv
cred bottled beer. but for some wears
was stili-room mystery ~ RcdheN Parl
until a. last the discovery was given q
She world. and the popularity of the ncy
1io1id speedily established Itself .--Londoi
Globe.