Show MINT JULEP AND THE COCKTAIL ARE STILL THE LEADERS I i Of Ot all American alcoholic drinks the tho mint julep and the cocktail take first rank rankIn rankIn In In public favor l have met signal failures In all aU their efforts to compound compound compound com com- pound beverages that will rival these in popularity The genesis of ot the mint Julep has been the subject of ot discussion in n papers pa- pa pers and on many occasions and ana some writers have ha stoutly maintained that the Julep is a product of ot the past century ItIs It Itis Itis is not difficult to trace its history back to the the middle of ot the sixteenth h century In Inthe Inthe Inthe the memoirs of ot Jeremy Lane Salem 1649 reference is made to a drink compounded of mint herb and heating spirits which I is grateful to the palate when cooled in ina ina ina a stone jug at th the spring while the Boston Boston Boston Bos Bos- ton Gazette of August 17 1697 contains a local Item In which occurs the statement that the drowned man was known to have drunk several goblets of ot a mixture composed of Holland gin gill flavored with mint before he fell off the tho wharf which should be bo an example to those who have lately formed the habit of imbibing with too much frequency what the publicans and tavern k keepers call mint McMaster the historian In one of ot his books quotes from the diary dian of ot an Englishman En En- f in i the eighteenth ht who ngac traveled century in and Virginia r who g a aak makes early ak mention of ot a drink flavored by bruising mint How sv long prior to fo this the VirginIans Virgin Virginians ians tans had enjoyed the mint Julep will perhaps perhaps perhaps per per- haps never be recorded but the present day daj imbibers In inthe the good old State stick to to the mint Julep with great tenacity Virginians Virginians Virginians Vir Vir- were drinking the seductive concoction con con- long before Daniel Boone penetrated penetrated penetrated pene- pene pene pene- into the Interminable forests of Kentucky in which State some writers have endeavored to fix the birthplace of the the mint mint Julep If It history must decide the mint julep was born in Boston The convivial compound known as as the cocktail was ushered into this thirsty world during the days of ot the American Revolution and the origin of ot the peculiar pecullar appellation given giyen this essentially American Ameri Amen can drink which has go gong goi the length and breadth of ot th the civilized world makes in interesting interesting jn- jn reading During the period of the the American American revolution revo revo- lution one Patrick Flanagan a jolly and very popular Irishman enlisted as a soldier soldier soldier sol sol- sol sol- dier in a company of of Virginia cavalry He had recently married an Irish girl who was intensely American In her sentiments her sentiments and who was determined to go with her herr Patrick wherever she could The officers officers' of Ot th the troops were informed of her Intentions Intentions in intentions In- In and rather encouraged her her moren more In n the spirit of ot fun than tRan anything else but they soon found that she made herself useful in n so many ways waIS that she became recognized as a necessary adjunct to the company In a short time Patrick died and the officers and soldiers expressed ed great sympathy for the young widow The Colonel of the company asked her what she would do now that her husband was gone and she stoutly declared that n n n h hing li ling h- h ing ng would part her from her beloved company company company com com- pany If It they would allow her to remain This so pleased the ot officers cers that they promised to see what they could do for forler her ler lerIn In a few days clays she Rho was Informed th that t tun un she i might act as u to dt the company tm J but Orders had been e received I fi would take the company to New York Tork and If it she shedid shedid shedid did not wish to go so far away from home they would endeavor to get her a similar position in another company which would remain in hi the South But Betsy Flanagan's heart was true to Patricks Patrick's s company and nothing would induce her to transfer her har allegiance So the question was settled and in 1770 the company wintered win at a place In Westchester county count near New York called Four Corners between between be be- tween White Plains and Tarrytown At this point Betsy set up a tavern which she kept very neatly with sanded floors and convenient little stalls and rooms where whee e the American and French officers met frequently and played cards and en enjoyed en- en joyed oj ed a new kind of drink drink compounded compounded by bys Betsy s and d which hJ became very popular and ind which hl Sh she called a bracer ac acher Indeed her ler tavern became famous for this bracer bracer bracer bra and Betsy was tempted by many a good offer from other tavern-keepers tavern forthe for the he secret of this delightful drink But she was beyond the reach of all such seductive se seductive seductive se- se Influences and gave the secret to but one soldier who was a great friend of Patricks Patrick's with a pledge that he would not reveal It until after her death That pledge ledge was sacredly kept |