The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-07
TACTICIANS' MOURN
LOSS OF ABSINTHE
DebaterS Of Paris Boulevard
Cafes Miss "Grern Hour"
Of Days Gone BY.
NEW LAW UNPOPULAR


PARIS. Feb. lS.-Witn the enactment
a few days ago Of the law prohibiting
the sale OF absinthe the doom Of an
other Paris institution was sealed. Soon
the green hour Will he only u mem
DRY. Men will meet late each afternoon
for their aperit'fs as heretofore. but
the meetings VIII lack TIA. color and
flavor which always hitherto have con-
tfibuted to their charm.
Each day for as long ~ me memory
Df the oldest iuhabitant reaches hum
areds OF parlianeuis have me, on bOule-
ward TERRACES AMI in boulevard and
corner cafes and over their absinthe-
settled the destines of France The
cafe parliament was. IN "A seuse, The
French equivalent OF the American VII
lage grocery gathering. but with the
journal ODtcicI substituted Tor the con-.
gressionai Record as the source ~
topics OF discussion and with the de-
baters slipping aperItifs instead OF NIB
bling prunes OF whiting on cracker
boxes.
Each cafe had its own parliament or
series Of parliamruts. FOR any table
where Two or three OF four men might
meet ami talk and drink without fear
of interruption was inviting The mem
beers We're enrolled for lifr, or believed
they Were, until this war moved The
nations Legislators TO step Ia with pro-.
hibitory legislation. The parliamentari-
ans occupied the same chairs at the
same tables during the same period OF
each day year In and year ont.
There was just a hint of the subjects
60 he discussed while the lump OF sugar.
e~tudiously poised on the drip spoon
above the glass. was being dissolved
Into the green stuff" Arguments be-
gan when the green coloring which gave
the hour its name started to assume a
smoky tint and grew in intensity as
glasses were lifted. Adjournment came
when the last man had drained his glass
and the men separated to 20 to their
several homes for dinner-to meet again
al the corresponding hour the follow
ing day.
The routine was invariably the same.
No true bouleva rider ever drank more
than one absinthe at a sitting there
was never any treating. any invitation
10 have just one more" The prelude
was itself "A solemn ceremony, not to be
approached in a spirit of leviiy. and
above all not to be hurried. Roughly.
IL consumed half an hour and the drink
ing itself another hour. for the French
man did not gulp his Pernod he slipped
II.
Next to her wines absinthe was re-
earded as the national drink OF France.
The green coloring was impaired by
VI nv lthN tS OF NOTNl NOpl
with hyssop ard mint. 1t was the
Wormwood which gave the drink its
peculiar aroma. which sometimes re-
minded Americans OF childhood days
and ~paregoric. Among its other in
gradients We're angelica root. sweet nag.
dittany leaves. star anise fruit. fennsl
and elecampane. and 10 this combina-
ton was added 40 10 so per cent. OF
alcohol.
The campaign against absinthe was
begun many years ago. Henri Bourette,
q newspaper poet, once combined "A pro-
test against its use with n description
In verse of the process of preparing the
drink for consumption. Here Is a free
translation. without the rhyme:
Pour not more than two fingers OF
the absinthe into the glass slowly.
Take a bottle of fresh water with ono
hand. lift II and. very deliberately, pour.
As little by little the drops OF water
transform the green coioring pour a
little faster. ceasing only when YOU
consider the liquor sufficiently clear.
Permit the glass TO remain untouched
on the table Vet "A Et,le while. Re
gard il admiringly and longingly. AZ
one regards a treasure. Inhale its
aroma. which gives satisfaction to the
soul. Finally" hut here the boul.-
vardiers We're destined to rebel the
concluding directions were never fol
lowed. '~Finally." said ". Bourette,
ITO crown SO much unheard OF care IN
preparation lift the glass, delicately at
first. then grasp 1t firmly. and without
hesitation. pitch the whole thing out OF
The window"
Scientists produced figures to prove
that as the consumption Of absinthe
grew crime and insanity also in
creased. They warned the nation that
inpbeciles in future lions woul
be certain 10 show taint OF hereditary
alcoholism. But it remained for the
war to bring about the reform which
physicians and hygienists could not ac-
cOmplish-the same war which ef.
fected the Punishment VI the Russians
vodka.
And it was just in war time tina
the green hour" the daily period oil
social Intercourse with %congenia. spirits
meant more to the old boulevardier'
fhan any other. over their glasses they
accounted with pride the deeds OF valoi
which sons had performed on the firms
hne or exchanged words of sympathy II
tidings had come that those sons could
never return. Every tactical
every strategic move which the censor
permitted to be reported was repeated
at the cafe tables and cOInmanding
generals We're criticised and lauded
AZ the abslnthe was consumed courage
was stimulated, confidence increased
the whole atmosphere cleared.
So. drip by drip, sip by sip the bou'
levard parliamentarians fought the wal