The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-17
CURlOSHIES OF ALE AND BEER
Five Ago Hops

lar distich and supposed that hops
were not used in this country until the
reign of bluff King Hail." but, as a
matter of fact, they were in use long
previously. We gather from ancient
records that their use was known in
Anglo-Saxon times. But it was in the
reign Of Henry VIII. that the culture
Of the plant was introduced from
Flanders.
Before hops were grown to any ex-
tent in England, their cultivation met
with much opposition. In the year
1923, petition was presented to Hen
ry VI. against the use Of "the wicked
weed called hops" and 1t Is said that
the king prohibited their cultivation.
Henry VIII. allowed his subjects to
plant hops, yet he personally would not
have the "pernicious weed" in his beer.
He imperatively forbade his brewer to
use hops. Six years before papal
supremacy was abolished in England
the parliament was, in 1928, petitioned
against the use Of hops, Sin regard
they would spoyl the taste of drinke.
and endanger the people" Twenty
four years later their use became pop
lar, for in 1852 an act was passed ex-
tending certain privileges to the lands
where hops were cultivated.
Bacon wrote some years later: "The
planting of hopyards is profitable for
the planters, and consequently for the
kingdom, and bill was brought into
parliament to promote planting and
setting"
Bards on Brasenose Ale.
Brasenose college, Oxford, down to
1885 brewed its own beer, but in that
year the brewhouse was pulled down
to make room for new buildings. 1t
was customary on every Shrove Tues
day for the butler to present copy
of English verse on Brasenose ale to
the principal of the college, and in re-
turn receive a sum of money. An I'M
dergraduate composed the poem, which
usually commented in flowing strains
upon the achievements of college ath-
Ietes and scholars, successes on the
river and in the cricket field, and other
local themes of passing interest.
Popular poets were parodied, often
with considerable poetic power, Moore,
Byron, Tennyson and Swinburne
among the number. Not few of the
rhymers afterwards won distinction In
the world of letters and in other di
rections. Many of the "ale verses"
have been brought together In a
couple of small volumes, and today are
the sole reminders of vanished GUS
tom. In 1878 Robert Roberts, of Bos
ton, Lincolnshire, printed for private
circulation a volume entitled "Brase-
nose Ale; A Collection of Verses An
nually Presented on Shrove Tuesday
by the Butler of Brasenose College,
Oxford" 1t includes poems dating
back to 100, and a poem dated 1906 by
Reginald Heber, afterwards bishop Of
Calcutta. Mr.. T. Humphrey Ward was
the author of poems in 1857, 1858 and
1869. We are permitted to quote the
last verses of the one for 1869. which
is written in the true spirit of ballad
of Thackeray's. The lines are as fol-
lows:
With laughter loud and trickling tears,
My memory brings before me
The frantic hopes, the foolish fears,
The odd adventures of the years
Which time has waited DER me.
Oh. Brasenose Ale. I shrewdly guess,
You, If you have a conscience,
To many plumbers must confess,
To many hours of idleness.
And failures in Responsions.
But. then again, no doubt, could you
Tell us a cheerful story
OF cricket triumphs won by few.
OF bumps achieved by gallant crew,
And gowns put on with glory.
What gleeful evenings you inspired
What festive little dinners.
How often was your aid required
To celebrate the speed untired
Of fleet-foot Brasenose winners.
How oft you helped US at the boat
For which we have to thank you!
How many high and tuneful notes
Did you elicit from the threats
OF gentlemen who drank you!
To make an old quotation new
Beer is than water thicker
Yet must say goodbye to you.
Goodbye, my friend. SO tried and true,
Incompatible liquori
A fellow of the college in 1889 pub
lshed a Latin requiem over the death
l,r,- oil .,-f4r, !. !