The story of the vine / by Edward R. Emerson.

  • Emerson, Edward R. (Edward Randolph), 1856-
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The story of the vine / by Edward R. Emerson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    a wonderful change. This must be the case, for in describing the drinking bouts, Pliny tells how the contestants would drink powdered pumice- stone before beginning the bout; and that the drinking of a gallon of wine at a breath was a very common feat indeed. It is no wonder that the Romans were a hardy race, and conquered every people that came before them, for their ability to retain pumice-stone, sea water, and tar, mixed with wine and then consumed by the gallon or more at a draught, speaks for itself, and makes comment entirely unnecessary. They had, how- ever, one redeeming feature that is worthy of com- mendation, namely, the estimation in which they held rare old vintages. Money would not induce them to part with what they knew to be of a certain age, and their practice of marking their amphorae with red letters is closely akin to our phrase “ a red letter day.” The amphorae of the Romans were made of baked clay so glazed as to exclude the air and make them water-tight. They varied in size according to their requirements. Some only held five or six gallons, while others held as many barrels. The larger ones were invariably imbedded in the earth, and sealed after being marked to show the date of vintage;