Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-05-17
Pure Switched.

| Bright and easy readin' as was his
ldisquisition on ''Switehel and a Disin-
genuous Editor" the editorial writer
of the New York Sun must back UP
before the deep and classical grasp OF
the subject on the part of Deacon
IWormwood of the Biddeford journal
| Up here under the shadow of spruce
gum stub we opine that the Sun Is
licked. AS proof we offer the Bidde-
ford Journals reply
Knowing that truth is mighty and that
| II will prevail in the end, 1t Is more III
sorrow than in anger that the journal
| feels it duty to assure the sun that II
is mistaken in its assumption ana wrong
| in its conclusion. The editor of tne, Jour
| nal Is set down as .disinsenaoaIs w De
ster In putting a period instead OF a
comma after "ginger'' In the Websterjan
recipe for the making of switched. IL
would be trite way of putting it for the
Journal to say that it denies the allega-
ton and deties the alligator. but that
about the size of II: The Journals au-
of Webster's Unabridged. and in this edl-
ton, and in previous editions of the
same book so far back that the memory
of living man runneth not to the con-
the journal printed it, and the words
land sometimes rum do not appear,
either in text or context If the suns !.
it sustains rather than disproves the
Journals statement that genuine
switched contains no rum for II shows
that under the eXigencies of iattef-day
conditions men have sought out many
Inventions; that they have, indeed, I'M
dertaken to gild refined gold and paint
the lily.
tor of the Journal claims to know some
thing of switched, save phfio-logieaiis,
and he knows that any beverage with a
trace. of rum in it is not like that which
mother used to make. That was the
real thing, made according to the APP
proved recipe of the pioneers, pleasant
void of offense. and that's the beverage
for the making of which directions are
given in Noah Webster's justly popular
compendium OF words iane ana phrases up . 10
edition contains land sometimes rum. 1t
simply proves that Noah's inheritors, in
their eagerness to keep up, with the
times. have strayed from the narrow
path. and amended the original definition
as they will. in their next edition, un-
doubtedly amend Noah,s original denim
ton of punch by the addition that 1t is
sometimes made of unfermented grape
juice.
| The SUMS reference to Noah Webster's
| Christian name as reminder OF tolerant
views of drink is mere perSiflage, serving
| only to becloud the issue. The diluvian
| Noah had more experience with water
| than the most of us, but, so fan, as there
| is any record, sacred or profane, he
knew nothing of rum. either New Eng
| land or Jamaica, and he drank what he
could get and took the consequences
| without outward regard to pathological
| consequences Finally. there's no real
| need to wait until the Journals editor
| gifts In his hay" All seasons are har-
vest time with him, and whether the
| crop is hay. grass or stubbie. the
| switched is always switched and there's
| we can but hope that the sun knows rum
/ only as 1t knows switched. namely philo-
| logically, and that Philip Hale or his
| friend Herkimer Johnson. may see fit to
| illuminate the subject with the light of a
| knowledge as complete as it is curious