Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-11-26


shine after an absence of num-
ber of years, the first person 1 ran into
was Bill Jones.
After disposing Of the subjects Of gray
hair, bald spots, portliness of paunch and
similar evidences of the encroachments Of
age l happened to glance at Bills nose
"How long you been wearing glasses,
Bh?' I asked.
GLASSES? What do you mean, glasses?
/ don't wear specks. ] can still pick off
squirrel as far as a rifle can shoot You
don't see any goggles perched on my nose,
do you?"
mo, don't see any glasses, but see
little red ridge across the bridge of your
nose that looks suspiciously like the place
where glasses fit"
"Oh, that bump? Glasses didn't do that
That's a fruit jar bump!"
What kind of bump?'
"A fruit jar bump"
Bill then explains, thereby introducing
a severe jolt to the sense of the eternal
fitness of things to any person who may
have had casual observation of the man
ner in which moonshine corn liquor was
originally intended to be consumed.
There always has been some argument
about how a mint julep ought to be drunk
whether to crush the mint or leave the
sprg, crisp cool and green, sticking over
the frosted rim of the glass, On occa-
sons, the sacrilege Of removing the mint
altogether and drinking the julep through
a straw has been heard of. Some of the
5,,Ia Of bn o11
school, however held stoutly to the GUS
tom of leaving the mint uncrushed thus
flavoring the liquid only so slightly that
plungng ones face into its midst set up
the delightful suspense Of determining
whether ones olfactory sense or his palate
were discovering the presence of the ce-
lestial herb.
There were also in days gone divergent
schools regarding concoction and service.
Mr. Volstead, among other things, has pro-
hibited the publication of numerous en-
gaging formulate, which precludes discus
sion of the manufacture of jueps.
AS for service however, a connolsseur
usually held that the custom of pouring
mint julep from a pitcher was an abomina-
tion, adhering rather to the individual
grass, ldl anu SulIlCleHlly CulHIlOuIOuo
not TO require instant refilling, frosted to
a delicious whiteness on the outside and
having stood long enough for the crushed
ice on top to have CONCEALED slightly.
Down around New Orleans there were
similar contenders regarding the gin fizz,
which also is a noble topic. Drinking a
mint julep or a gin fiz7 bordered upon an
unctuous ceremony. Many worthy ex-
ponents had perfectly justifiable differences
regarding how 1t should be celebrated.
But drinking moOnshine corn liquor was
something else. There was no argument
there In the days when hardy noun
taineers distilled their dew with one hand
the other being guardian of muzzle load
ing long barrel-therc was but one ap-
proved method of drinking that beverage
and that was not out of a glass fruit Jar!
NV, do not understand, please. that
this is a reflection upon the modern Gus
tom. The writer is informed that in these
days one takes his liquor when and how he
can. So be it. Nor is this to say that
more liquor is being taken in Dixie now
than erstwhile, nor more there than else
where.
lon Jar in general use for moonshine pur-
poses to-day has a mouth about four inches
in diameter. Aside from the inconvenience
of having the upper rim of such an OPEN
ing callous the bridge of ones nose, 1t is
readily observable that drinking from such
a container is greatly bereft of that lusty
manliness with which it was intended
moonshine should be disposed Of
Moonshine is "he" stuff. 1t was bred
and reared to be consumed in "he" fashion.
Grasping fruit jar around its middle with
both hands and hoisting it thus to posi-
ton of utility is virtually devoid of the
robusticity of the historical gesture of the
ancient method. Furthermore, the contents
released from so commodious an outlet
flow forth with disappointing limpness, be-
reft of any gurgle or virile leap. SO SEEM
ingly anaemic Is its greeting that when
it's reaction sets in one almost has the
feeling of having been basely tricked.
The way moonshine corn liquor was
made to be imbibed originally was from
the neck of two gallon stone jug, with a
single ear handle and a corncob stopper.
The vessel itself had character and crude
nobility to it.
Removing the cob stopper. one hooked
his forefnger firmly through the handle
and lifted, The first motion set up within
the vessel a musical whispering Of the
liquid tapping against the sides and one
felt the eager throb Of the swaying con-
tents The pleasure of anticipation thus
was enhanced.
The jug was then swung outward and
upward with backward turn Of the wrist
and when the arm with crooked elbow at
tanned horizontal position the jug fell
naturally and snugly upon biceps This
rhythmic and eXhilarating motion brought
the neck Of the jug within easy access Of
ones mouth The rest was accomplished
by elevating the elbow sufficiently to allow
its contents to flow out, which it did with
joyous leaps and genial glug- -glug- -glug-
ging After generously reasonable dura-
ton the jug was Lowered again and one