The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-07-15
MINT JULEPS
AT THE CAPITAL
Southern congressman Don't Know
Anything About How They
Are Made.
by Burton X. standish, written for
the United Press.

~. j
WASHINGTON July 15.-Dropping
for the nonce the colossal affairs Of
state that occupy the major portion
OF his time, the United Press cor
respondent the other day poked around
the capitol building trying to find out
whether the kind of mint juleps Col
Honel Roosevelt said he occasionally
imbibed while president were properly
mixed. Henry Pinckney, the negro
factotum. who used to mix en-, using
green's from the white house mint
bed, left behind his recipe. and it
called for crushing of the mint.
Now the United Press corresponds
ent used to live in the south years
back, and he knew by reputation
purely by reputation that the true
julep isn't made by crushing the mint
leaves. He bethought himself that it
would be a fine thing to get some
southern congressman to stand, for
an interview roasting the late Henry
Pinckney for committing the crime OF
crushing the fragrant leaves.
But distinct shock awaited said
correspondent for he discovered nary
southern congressman who knew a
darn thing about the mixing OF juleps.
A lot of them admitted drinking one
occasionally, but there wasn't one
who knew exactly how to prepare the
drink Finally, in desperation, the
correspondent found out that Cum
shoe Bill Stone of Missouri, had some
Ideas on the subject, and he came
the nearest to giving what the cor
respondent remembered was the
recipe Of a famous darkey in Bowling
Green, KY, whom tradition says first
invented the mint julep
Where has the glory Of Kentucky
gone? None of the Blue Grass states
men knew anything about the con-
coction Of that alcoholic divinity, the
julep. Moreover, the few who had
tasted 'em declared they preferred
their liquor straight. Only an eleva-
tor man, a "southerner" from South
Dakota, went into OBSTACLES and re-
peated some poetry about mint juleps
and as poetry goes in South Dakota
it was pretty fair.
Half of the congressman looked
frightened when the julep was men
toned. Most Of them carefully looked
around in the corridor before they
replied, and made answer in whis
lpered undertone. For heavens sake
don't mention my name in connection
with that julep story. Such and such
counties in my district are dry; such
and such others are wet and I'm
having the devils own time trying to
keep in with both camps
II haven't had drink In whole
year" one Kentuckian confided with
tears In his voice Representative
Thomas, of the blue grass state, adj
#mitted he had once-just once, mark
you gentle reader, and he from Ken
tucky-tasted mint julep. Repre-
sentative Crisp, Of Georgia, said he
had tried the drink. Both declared
they didn't like EN-.
II had mine at banquet in Louis
ville,'' explained Thomas. Really |
didn't like It," my wife mixes the
few juleps take" remarked another
southerner, who wanted his name
kept secret. Il don't know how she
makes EN-" I've got niger boy at
home who knows howl don't ques-
ton his recipe said another.
To sum up. Ninety per cent Of the
southern congressman don't know
what julep is, six per cent have new
err tasted one, and four per cent have
vague idea that it contains sugar,
whiskey and mint. An old slave bar
tender at famous Pennsylvania ave-
nue. emporium, over frosted glass
gave the following recipe:
One lump of sugar. wetted with wat
ter so that it just begins to crumble,
is placed In silver cup. 1t must be
a silver cup. Over this is poured a
good slug" of whiskey. Half a dozen
tender mint leaves are placed in the
liquid and the mixture is stirred thor
oughly, great care being taken not
to bruise the mint leaves. Then this
mixture is poured into tall glass
tumbler, and handful of fine chop
ped Ice added. The whole mixture is
again stirred thoroughly. Then dash
of brandy is added, and the drink is
stirred again. Finally some more Ice
is added, and the top garnished with
sprigs of mint. If desired, some pine
apple, maraschino cherries, or other
fruit may also be put on the top. A
straw is stuck through the ice, and he
who drinks the julep must bury his
nose in the mint as he sucks the bev-
erage through the straw.
Nav Lose 100000 Gift