New-York tribune., 1908-07-31

Minister Of War. SIS commanding general and as
dignita-y of the Court of Stockholm namely
absent -rnindedness
On one occasion King Oscar summoned a Cabinet
council 81 the palace AT Stockholm and somewhat
behind time the general hurried on foot across the
so-calied Northern Bridge from the War Depart
ment 10 the royal abode He was. required by
the regulations in full uniform. and covered with
decorations but in his haste he had donued at the
last moment not his pumed chapeau but the tall
silk hat which is his ordinary headeear when in
civilian attire. AS he alone There was no
aade-de-cainp to call his attention the
srultF OF ms costume, and. moreover. though
hearted, he is so short tempered that none of the
strangers who met him the bridge which is one
OF the most crowded thoroushfares of Stockholm
Ventured to stop him. King Oscar, as well the
remainder OF the ministers happened to be a the
windows of the council chamber awaiting his
rival when he crossed the square in front OF the
palace. and after moment of profound silence.
due to stupefaction. they and all burst into
Mt Of loud laughter. which was only increased
when the general entered the room painting and
moving from the excess of his haste. After un-
neTcifully chatting him for his absence of mind,
King Oscar inflicted upon the general sentence OF
three days for disobedience Of that clause
Of the military regulations which prohibits civilian
attire TO be worn in conjunction with military uni
form. either duty.
SHAKESPEARE IGNORANT OF U-F5IsKEy
An indignant scotchman has written to challenge
my statement in these letters the other day that
whiskey- like the kilt. Of Irish rather than Of
Scotch origin When the English invaded Ireland
in the reign of King Henry II that is to saw in
llIZ they found that whiskey, to which they gave
the name Of aqua Vita but which the natives STYLED
usquebaugh. was the drink of the country. Up to
the time OF King Henry VIII the diEtilatfon was
almost entirely in the hands of the Irish clergy
who enjoyed in those days a virtual monopoly Of
RTIr <fer tIa of
the monasteries the secret of It's manufacture be-
came widely known and the distfllation so general
that Queen Mary of sanguinary memory first en-
acted law prohibiting ITS distillaton in ireland
except by license.
II was not until the end of the fifteenth century
that it became known in Scotland. and first
hoF1tatlVe mention Of IT in that country is to be
found in the accounts of the Lord High Treasurer
for the year 1894. where the Excheauer rolls show
delivery to Friar John Cor OF eight boIIs of
malt to make aqua, the King" That was
not largely manufactured in general at the
time Is shown by the rarity of its mention in those
days. And incidentally I may recall the fact that
when Shakespeare causes Lady Macbeth to drug
the grooms OF Duncan the night of the murder
their drink IS referred to in the tragedy pos
sets, which is mixture Of hot ale. milk, sugar
and spice, and not whiskey. In the sixteenth
century however, the latter seems to have become
more popular. for in 1879 law was enacted at
Edinburgh decreeing that should make or
sell aqua vitsz. whiskey, from December to Octo
Der next except earls lords. barons and gentle
men, save for their own use The great DR..
Samuel Johnson and his companion Boswell are
said to have been reduced silence by whiskey
during their tour OF the Highlands. which speaks
volumes for the potency of the liquor. But il is
astonishing how seldom whiskey is mentioned in
Scottish literature, and until comparatively recent
times French Bordeaux wines were the favorite
form Of liquid refreshnent among the upper classes
in Scotland. while If something stimulating
were needed recourse was had to brandy.
MARQUISE DE FONTENOY.