Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-06

IS KEPT SACRED
BY CONNOISSEUR
ConnoiSseur of Drinks Sees Mix
OIogist Work Twelve Minutes
on Connection.

WASHINGTON, June 2s.-A Prov
idence, r. l., man, who is a con-
noisseur in things good to eat and
drink, to wear, to read and to Look
at, was in Washington recently when
feeling came over him that he
would like to have what he had not
enjoyed for several years-a real
Southern mint julep, the kind that
he and others read about and that
are dispensed in the private CLUB
rooms of Southern cities by leading
citizens, accompanied by the tradi-
tional manifestations Of Southern
hospitality and courtesy.
At the cash register of an ornate
bar an elderly gentleman was doing,
and there was no evidence whatever
Of life in the gilded and glass be-
decked room. The old gentleman said,
however, in reply to a query, that he
thought a mint julep could be mixed
there and he rang a bell. He was an
old man, somewhere on the shady
side Of 20, and had all the earmarks
Of a Southern brigadier Of the type
that up to a few years ago was u
typical Congressman.
Disappearing for several minutes
the Colonel, as the visitor afterward
designated him. returned with two
punches of mint, the delicious aroma
Of which showed that It was fresh
and crisp. Placing two glasses on the
bar, he dissolved a lump of hard
sugar in each by means of a table
spoonful of water.
Then, selecting shreds Of the mint
as carefully as if he We're selecting
pearls for a brides necklace, he
placed bunch in each glass, folding
the bottom ends into the dissolved
and now thoroughly stirred sugar
and pushing the tops back from the
rim Of the glass.
Whisky Aged as Mixer.
Then ne added cracked ice. cracking
It as carefully as he selected the
mint until the glasses were two
thirds full. After this the dignified
barkeeper strolled deliberately to the
other end of the long bar and ra-
turned with a bottle of whisky that
bore popular label and date show
ing that it was only slightly younger
than the man who carried it.
Putting a large jigger of this into
each glass, the Confederate brigadiar
next, by the same process Of selec-
ton, collected two more lunches Of
mint, which he inserted, piece ~
piece, into the concoction and added
little more cracked ice. Up to this
time exactly eleven minutes had been
consumed since the glasses were
PLACID on the bar to receive the sugar
and water and the thirsty patrons
thought the beverage was ready for
them.
Mysterious Bottle Used.
But not yet. Going Off to the oppO-
site end of the bar. the cOurtly mint
tulep mixer returned with a little bot
tie the label of which he carefully
concealed by covering II with his
hand. Squirt, squirt, he put a dash
of something into each glass, went
away back to the shelf whence he
got the bottle, placed it thereon, and
returning, indicated by a nod Of the
head that the juleps were ready to oe
disposed of. Twelve minutes had nov
been occupied in the labor of love and
not a word had been spoken by any
Of the three persons present at the
performance.
The glasses were picked up, the
gentleman from Providence and his
friend rejected the straws placed
handy by, each stuck his nose into
the mint and proceeded TO drink AS
they did 80 they looked at each other
with an expression that spoke vol
umes The Providence man, after his
friend had returned from the other
end of the room where he had gone 70
pay the check, found the cookies 81
his heart opening up and he said to
the silent and GOurtly barkeeper, MY
dear sir, that was the finest-I may
say the only-mint julep / ever
drank, and ! have Travelled far and
wide"
But may I ask" said the Provi-
dence man, with his most seductive
smile, what was the little dash of
stuff that you added al the last mo-
ment? 1t must be that that was what
gave this mint julep the insinuating
flavor that will long last in my mem
ory."
"Oh. that" war the reply, accom-
panied by a slight facial movement,
falsely indicating that the julep artist
was about to open up. Why that,
you must excuse me, sir, is my Sc
cret."