How to Mix

Alfred A. Knopf does not sell intoxicating beverages. His doing so might cause him to be clapped into jail. But Alfred A. Knopf tells people how to mix the finest intoxicating beverages that can be mixed. He charges them $3.00 for this information. They can obtain it direct from him or any bookstore. Publisher Knopf's business address is No. 730 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan.

The information which Mr. Knopf sells is done up in a book form and is called The Bon Viant's Companion, or How to Mix Drinks. It is the work of the late Professor Jerry Thomas, onetime bartender at the Metropolitan Hotel, Manhattan, and the Planters' House, St. Louis. Professor Thomas (whose parents wanted him to be a preacher) first published How to Mix Drinks in 1862. It quickly went through six large printings; Professor Thomas became a world-figure; it was said that President Grant, having quaffed the Professor's BLUE BLAZER after playing croquet, gave him a cigar.

The new volume contains a long and able introduction by Herbert Asbury,-- and many venerable illustrations. One of these shows a lady upsetting a waiter's tray with her dainty toe; the caption is: "Indignant Young Lady Refusing to Take a Drink. This occurred in 1868."

The most amazing drink invented by Professor Thomas is the BLUE BLAZER. His recipe: "Use two large silver-plated mugs, with handles. One wineglass of Scotch whiskey. One wineglass of boiling water. Put the whiskey and the boiling water in one mug, ignite the liquid with fire, and while blazing mix both ingredients by pouring them four or five times from one mug to the other. If well done this will have the appearance of a continuous stream of liquid fire. Sweeten with one teaspoonful of pulverized white sugar, and serve in a small bar tumbler, with a piece of lemon peel. ... A beholder gazing for the first time upon an experienced artist compounding this beverage, would naturally come to the conclusion that it was a nectar for Pluto rather than Bacchus. The novice in mixing this beverage should be careful not to scald himself. To become proficient in throwing the liquid from one mug to the other, it will be necessary to practice for some time with cold water."

Being explicit was a large part of the art of Professor Thomas. Example: "LIGHT GUARD PUNCH. For a party of 20 (this is sufficient for a mixed party of 20, not 20 of the Light Guard.--J.T.):

"Three bottles of champagne.

"One bottle of pale sherry.

"One bottle of cognac.

"One bottle of sauterne.

"One pineapple, sliced.

"Four lemons, sliced.

"Sweeten to taste, mix in a punch bowl, cool with a large lump of ice, and serve immediately."

There are 306 recipes in the book. Sixteen of these are temperance drinks, such as: "DRINK FOR THE DOG DAYS. A bottle of soda water poured into a large goblet, in which a lemon ice has been placed, forms a deliciously cool and refreshing drink; but should be taken with some care, and positively avoided whilst you are very hot."

*Author of Up From Methodism, The Gangs of AVu> York and the famed article Hatrack about a prostitute ("Fanny Fewclothes") and two churchyards.