The keepers of the gin-shops testified their feelings by a parade of mock ceremonies for “Madame Geneva lying-in-state,” which created a mob about their shops, and the justices thought proper to commit some of the chief mourners to prison. On this occasion, the signs of the punch-houses were put in mourning; and lest others should express the bitterness of their hearts by committing violences, the horse and foot-guards and trained bands were ordered to be properly stationed. Many of the distillers, instead of spending their time in empty lamentations, betook themselves to other branches of industry. Some to the brewing trade, which raised the price of barley and hops; some took taverns in the universities, which nobody could do before the “Gin Act,” without leave of the vice-chancellor; others set up apothecaries’ shops. The only persons who took out fifty pound licenses were one Gordon, Mr. Ashley of the London punch-house, and one more. Gordon, a punch-seller in the Strand, devised a new punch made of strong Madeira wine, and called Sangre.[358]
County Customs.
It may be hoped that our readers who live in the apple districts will communicate the usages of their neighbourhoods to the Every-Day Book. For the present we must thank “an old correspondent.”
Griggling.
To the Editor of the Every-Day Book.
Dear Sir,—The more I read of your Every-Day Book, the stronger my recollection returns to my boyhood days. There is not a season wherein I felt greater delight than during the gathering in of the orchards’ produce. The cider barrels cleaned and aired from the cellar—the cider-mill ready—the baskets and press, the vats, the horse-hair cloths, and the loft, fitted for the process and completion of making cider—the busy people according to Philips, seek—
The pippin, burnish’d o’er with gold,
Of sweetest honey’d taste, the fair permain,
Temper’d like comeliest nymph, with white and red.
*****
Let every tree in every garden own,
The redstreak as supreme, whose pulpous fruit,
With gold irradiate, and vermillion shines.
Hail Herefordian plant! that dost disdain
All other fields.