The Washington herald., 1913-07-27
Mint JULEP LOSING POPULARITY

that q few leaves OF It will keep them
at a distance.
Peppermint IL . powerful diffusible
stimulent. and. as such. anti-spasmodic
and stomachic, and is employed in the
treatment of gastrodynia and hatulent
collie. It Is also extensively used in mix
lures for covering the taste of drugs.
Pennyroyal and spearmint are similar in
their action. but inferior for all purposes
to peppermint.
The most celebrated of all mint drinks
is the mint julep, which seems to have
played a prominent part in the history OF
Kentucky. The following Is the orthodox
definition Of a Juulep:
"a sweet drink prepared In different
ways; often simply a liquid sweetened
with sirup or sugar, and used as a We
hicle for medicine; sometimes a medicated
drink used as a demulcent. comforting or
gently stimulating mixture
Wouldn't that definition Of q julep give
Marse Henry Watterson and the other
Kentucky colonels a great pain? Surely
IL was not mint for them-that may
give them another pain. 1t appears to
lack the two chief ingredients-the mint
and the spike. Here is a better definition
Of the juelp-that is, the mint julep: A
handful Of ice, a shot OF whisky, a dash
Of syrup or sugar, crushed mint leaves,
and any decorative effects that the artis-
tic sense of the mixologist may suggest.
Doesn't that smack better than the first?
Poets may always be relied upon to
furnish the first clue to the good things
Of life. Whether based on actual ex-
perience or weaved of fancy's fabric.
their lines generally Indicate what is
julep was Milton's:
And first, behold this cordial julep here.
That flames and dances in his crystal
bounds
With spirits of balm and fragrant syrups
mix'd.''
Al ther reference to the juelp appeared
in the English Magazine in the year 1904
An English valet Is quoted: THE first
thing he did on getting out of bed was to
call for a julep: and I date my
love of whisky from mixing and tasting
my young masters juleps."
Oaicial Julep faster.
That must have been pleasurable job
Official faster Of juleps. One can readily
conceive Of q taste Of such proportions
that It would be necessary to begin the
task all over again-and overland over,
No State in the South was so unfortu-
nate as to be deprived of the mint julep
in its early history, although wwe are ac-
customed to associate the drink with Ken
tuckians. In his Letters From the
South" published by James Kirk Pauld-
ing in 1877. the author refers to an ac-
quaintance as "the best compounder Of
mint juleps Of any man in Virginia"
What q popular host that man must
Of friends who journeyed to his home as
one might make q pilgrimage to the
shrine of a saint.
There Is an old saying Of the japanese:
"A man takes a-drink. then the drink
takes q drink, and the next drink takes
the man." The same idea was expressed
by Guthrie, who said: ''whisky is a good
thing in its place. There Ii nothing like
1t for preserving a man when he is dead.
II you want to keep q dead MAI, put him
In whisky; II you want to kill live man.
put whisky In him.
This Is no brief for temp .ance, for
the mint julep inebriate might consider
II q pleasant way to die. Tere is the story
Of Louisville (Ky) man who had the
misfortune to be in Nebraska. He had
friend who was about to set out for
another part OF the State. When you get
to Hornvilie." he said to his friend at
parting. De sure to visit Jimmy Hicks.
Jimmy knows how to make q good julep,
for taught him myself"
Hicks Had Drank Them.
At Hornville the wayfarer inquired Of
the depot master the way to I-icks' home.
After meandering by circuitous ways
through the town he finally arrived at hisl
destination. Out in front he found al
young man desolately raking leaves.
rs Mr.. Jimmy Hicks within?" inquired
the visitor.