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i66
DRINKS.
Dijon
for
its
Cassis,
Marseilles
for
Its
Absinthe,
Gre-
noble
for
its
Ratafias,
and
Paris
and
Lyons
are
each
noted
for
many
different
kinds.
The
English
have
attained
as
yet
no
high
rank
as
liqueur
manufacturers.
The
prosaic
nature
of
the
Trade
Returns
includes
all
liqueurs
of
foreign
origin
under
the
heading
of
''Sweetened
or
mixed
Spirits!'
It
makes
no
distinction
between
Eaux
and
Cremes
or
between
Ratafias
and
Elixirs.
We
have
been
told
that
elixirs
are
yellow
and
aromatized,
and
eaux
or
cremes
white,
while
ratafias
are
substantially
infusions
of
fruit.
Originally
this
may
have
been
so.
It
is
not
the
case
at
present.
Both
Elixir
and
Ratafia
are
interesting
from
an
etymological
standpoint.
The
latter
word
has
excited
considerable
discussion.
Menage,
writing
it
as
it
was
commonly
written
in
his
time,
ratafiat,
says
it
is
a
term
derived
from
the
East
Indies.
Leibnitz,
on
thei
contrary,
holds
it
to
be
a
corruption
of
rectifi^
applied,
to
alcohol.
Another
etymology
is
rata
fiat.
Parties
were
supposed
to
enter
into
a
contract,
and
after
drinking
the
liqueur
to
say,
"
Let
it
be
ratified."
Elixir
^
is
an
Arabic
word
derived
from
the
Greek,
by
which
the
alchemists
denoted
their
powder
of-
pro-
jection
or
philosopher's
stone.
the
niece
of
this
lady,
and
the
firm
is
now
known
under
their
joint
names.
They
manufacture
many
other
Hqueurs,
but
are
still
chiefly
famous
for
the old
medicinal
cordial.
^
wj^^iSij
cilacsir,
from
Gr.
^rfpov,
dry.