Part II Politics & Politicians 1820-2000

In 1828 a note was made to a certain politician to serve a "cocktail made with spirits, bitters and water. This drink is a great political tool as whosoever swallows this drink will swallow anything else." Then, as now, there was moonshine liquor. In that day in Virginia, perhaps the site of the origin of politics, electioneering and buying of votes. "Moonshine," a pure white whiskey was also known as "Squirrel Milk". I’ve heard it referred in today’s era as "Busthead" and "Rotgut".

Another drink of that day, was Mulled Red Wine-Politicians of an early day used the cheapest red wine, heating to a boil, adding cloves, cinnamon, all spice, ginger, lemon juice and sugar. This hot drink was reputed to be good for the "old cold, weary, dishearted and for votes". The drink syllabub was served at election time to special guests of a ,limited number and was called "Shakers" syllabub. It seems to me that the directions for making this drink would severely limit the number of guests to be served. The directions for making the "Shaker type" syllabub state, "one gallon of warmed apple cider heavily sweetened with maple sugar or syrup with a dash of cinnamon on top, then milk a cow right into the mixture and serve to the guest at once, while it is still hot and foamy. I suggest this is the forerunner of the popular today "beer with a head".

Another drink was Hot Buttered Rum made from molasses and was popular in the middle 1700's and was used by politicians and was described as "sureling the planters with Bumbo." The practice of feasting voters on food and drink seems to have begun as quickly as the beginning of our America.

In political battles of today, specifically the presidential election that was on November 7, 2000, foes and friends of either candidate, with the help of television and newspapers were busy describing the wanted and unwanted habits of the candidates. Huge amounts of money and great wealth is a prime target for critics of both candidates, as well as accounts of the do-nothing records of both men.

Reading an account called "Life in the Old Dominion" by author John Bernard, I had to laugh at his description of a Southern Gentleman. Both our candidates could certainly be called Southern Gentlemen and surely no one would deny they are both associated with great wealth. Could this description of the Southern Gentleman in 1838 be transposed to the year 2000 and applied to our political race?

A Southern Gentleman;

He would rise about nine, when he exerted himself to walk as far as his stables to look at the stud he kept for the races; at ten he breakfasted on coffee, eggs and hoe-cake, concluding it with the start of his diurnal potations, a stuff glass of mint sling. He then sought the coolest room and stretched himself on a pallet in his shirt and trousers. Between twelve and one his throat would require another emulsion, and he would sip his half a pint of some mystery termed Bumbo, apple toddy or pumpkin flys."

All of those drinks were made with whiskey as the main ingredient.

In that day of the beginning of our political processes, electioneering had to be done by horseback or accidental meetings with the voters. One description given by a voter when meeting a politician seeking offices says, "He offered his hand to shake and his smile revealed a row of small perfect white teeth made out of wood," Circa 1808. Another voter in the Virginia mountains talks about the politician seeking office; "Buck was such a talker that whenever he saddled up his horse and went about his district to talk politics, the horse would stop still when any person came in sight. The horse knew it was time for conservation, and didn’t even have to be told to stop".

One of the earliest accounts of politics and political rallies in our Montgomery area tells of the period shortly before the Civil War and increasing in fervor and violence for many years after the Civil War. The site for the political rallies in the town of Montgomery was known as Bells Grove. This was a wooded, shaded area between the 1908 built Social Circle owned by the Clovers on Caroline and Pond Street and the then Dr. Bell home on the Corner of Caroline and Eugenia Street. I was in Bell’s Grove that Sam Houston gave his speech urging Texans not to secede from the United States. The Ghost Town of "Old Dacus" was the site of a huge political rally held in 1868.

End of Part II

Westmont Ranch, Montgomery, Texas. Home of Smart Highbrow Doc, son of Color Me Smart

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