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ALL ALE
71
I confess that the above directions are some
what vague to my untutored mind, which is
quite a blank upon the subject of " blinckt and
boyled " ale. Nor do I imagine for one moment
that the "English Housewife" of the year 1899
will cumber herself with brewing or bottling,
any sort of malt-liquor, as long as there be
bonnets to be chosen, bicycles to be ridden, or
golf to be played.
Wholesome as may be the beer in itself, its
surroundings are not always hygienic.
The
system of pumping up the glorious fluid from
the cellar through leaden pipes neither improves
the flavour nor renders it more valuable as a
morning "livener." And there is a story—
which I believe to be strictly true—told of a
night cabman in London who used to call at the
nearest tavern to his stand, the first thing in the
morning, and swallow the first glass of beer
drawn for the day. His end was lead-poisoning.
But tliere ! John Barleycorn has probably
done far more good than harm in his day ; so
let us toast the " Egyptian drink " in itself, the
while we sing, in the words of the old song :—
Dang his eyes,
If ever he tries
To rob a poor man of his beer!