The Washington herald., 1907-12-31
Fnsel Oil in New orleans2

That sprlghtly journalistic youngster.
the New Orleans World. in a vigorous
editorial containing even more para
graphs TO the inch than any Arthur Bris-
bane ever wrote. makes this emphatic
and unequivocal declaration:
We should send a saloon vendor who sells
fusel oil for whisky TO the penitentary for the rest
OF his life"
II would interest a great many people
to know the identity of the piratical
villain who has been passing spurious
goods on unsuspecting Editor Leveque and
Unsophisticated Associate Editor Rightor.
Unquestionably It is a heinous offense to
substitute fusel oil for real red likker." as
they call IT down South but we find II diff
cult to believe that any such horrid deed
could be committed in New Orleans. II so
and the inference TO be drawn from the
Worlds straight-from-the-sh pro-
nunciamento seems plain-what becomes
of all the beautiful traditions that have
clustered around the Crescent City for so
many years? II so, New Orleans has. in
deed, fallen from her high estate. Time
was when so plebeian a beverage as
whisky was not even spoken Of there.
much less consumed-unless. possibly. in
the corner groceries of the city's purlieus
or the barrel houses along the Ievees.
The thirsty native and the pro-irrigation-
ist from abroad refreshed themselves, 90
be sure. but not on any liquid capable
of being mistaken for fusel oil. If they
possessed wisdom and their good taste
was in keeping with their mental equip
ment, they fingered awhile in helpful con-
verse with a certain dissipator Of gloom
named Ramos. absorbing meanwhile. one
or twO-or possibly three-of his incom-
parable, nonintoxicating gin fzzes. the
like of which are TO be found nowhere
else on earth. or under the earth. or on
the waters that encompass the earth.
Or. II they desired something with a
I trifie more of backbone in it, they lodged
the cars on Canal street. crossed into
that part OF the city where all thorough
fares bear quaint old French names. and
got outside of a Sazerac cocktail. which
! is to the ordinary cocktail as Wonderful
Washington is to water-tank town on
a desert plain.
II neither nectar-like gin fizz nor am
brosial cocktail appealed to them. they
passed on to the Old Absinthe House and
rested awhile in the shade of its trees.
There was double treat here, for after
the green liquid had trickled twice or
thrice through the tiny hole In the bot
tom Of the glass cup. and the thirsty ones
had as often imbibed the concoction. fit
for the gods of Olympus, that resulted
from that operation. the swashbuckling
gallants who had dueleG and died in the
courtyard a century before came forth
and fought again. Another cupful. and.
as like as not the swish and clash of the
rapiers gave way to the tinkle of guitars.
and out of the thin air fioated maidens as
beautiful as houris. with eyes and hair
of midnight b!ackness. and cream-and-
peaches cheeks, who laughed and nocked
and sang at the thirsty ones, now hardly
as thirsty as before.
II. perchance, this Old Absinthe House
was too medieval, or causes and effects
seemed not properly correlated there.
one had only to heed the piercing whistle
of dear old Pere Begue Under his ancient
roof there was cognac almost as old. or
good red wine. served with a crusty loaf.
If one was detected. and felt the need of
an incentive to climb telegraph poles.
break plate-glass windows. or stand in
the street and yell, there was always the
macaroni place in Little Italy. where a
thoroughly reliable species OF red chained