The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-23
SODA WATER IN 1857.
Blended With Whisky It Displaced
Arraok Punch in Clubland.

Twenty-Five and a half guineas for a
half pint bottle of soda water, which is
at the rate of E321 6 shillings per dozen,
must surely be a record price Tt was
given recently in Stevens auction
rooms. Covent Garden. after spirited
bidding.
There was some little skepticism dis
played at the outset as to the genuine
ness OF the bottle, which the vender de-
clared to be a well authenticated relic
of the Royal George. 1t had been in
museum for some time, and. with a
part OF the beam of the i'll fated war
ship, recovered by Colonel G. W. Paisley
in 1889 after having been sunk for
hfty-seven years. originally formed part
OF the Hope collection. A gentleman
who declared that soda water was un-
known in 1882, when the Royal George
went down with 100 guns and nearly all
hands, at Spithead. was referred to the
Daily Telegraph for evidence that soda
water was invented in 1851
Soda water undoubtedly acquired
commercial Importance before the end
of the eighteenth century and its man
ufactufe preceded that of settler.
Schweppe was making settler as early
as 1898, and probably eight years before
that date That soda water should
have been supplied to the royal navy 10
years after its invention is a proof of
the rapid popularity it had gained, for,
as it happened the auction rooms con-
tanned evidence in a file of old news
papers that the lords of the admiralty
were, when the Royal George was COM
missioned, asking for tenders for West
Indian rum as the betting liquor for
the fleet.
The public sales of the period show
that soda water was not wanted for
whisky dilution in 1892 the spirits then
in vogue being, next to rum, cognac, or
ange shrub and Geneva. while the wines
of Portugal and Spain held sway. Re
searches into the records of Whites
Club Ito take an example, show that
the Canary sack which Falstaff drank
at the Bears Head had been replaced
according to Sir Edward Barry. writ
! ing in 1775-by sparkling frothy cham
paign," and at all the principal taverns
the finest vintages of claret were to be
obtained pure.
Aduiteration proved the ruin of claret
4 and port was brought into fashion More
/ Madeira was drank in England than the
whole island produced. Hook was sun
pure and sherry OF the right sort could be
had At Whites the wings drank burgun-
DIV or champagne, but young guardSruan
regularly got drunk on small beer Al
CrockfOrd' s. which fOurished in 1871. a
member of Whites recalled that he ard
his fellows used to stand outside in the
porch drinking champagne and settler
Whisky and soda d comparatively mod
ern partnership, has displaced in clubland
the arrack punch which used 10 accom-
pany the beefsteaks of the society bearing
that pame to which Garrick belonged
That club also possesses sturdy port
wine" and men in those days could take
half a dozen bOttles-at all events. VII
liam Pitt Fox. Sheridan and 1ldon are
credited with that number Ihere was ar
other club. the Everlasting which traced
its origin to the civil wars, and prided It
self upon having drunk huge quantities or
kin Of small beer Soda is not mentioned
London Telegraph.