The Language of Signs

BB9319-001In general, signs are of two kinds – warning signs, the unnatural signs which indicate effects to follow, on the basis that coming events cast their shadows before them (omens, portents) and luck signs good or bad, which indicate observances (charms, cures, sometimes in the form of counter-charms to break another charm or avert a bad omen) or avoidances (taboos).  Warning may be a good sign or a bad sign or just a sign or mean something; charms and taboos are described in some such terms as hits good luck to do this or hit’s bad luck to do that; while a cure is good for or a sure cure for.  A person has a warning or know of a cure; he can feel a change in weather coming on, but animals know it; signs come true, work out, or work out true.  The reading of a weather sign may take the form of  looks like or something looks like…from the way; the report of a sign may begin, “I know you don’t believe much in signs,” or “I don’t believe in all signs, but”; the favorite expressions of faith and approval are “I’ve always heard that,” “I’ve heard it that way all my life,” “I’ve never knowed it to fail yet,” and of doubt and disapproval, “I never did pay no mind to,” “I never knowed it to happen out that way,” or “You can’t tell.”

No Matter The Name

6847White Mule, Cawn Likker, Shine, Moon, et al.  Regardless of alias this sequence simply means the raw, new, colorless, distilled product of fermented corn mash, sugar and water.  If well made, of decent materials in a proper still, with the fusel oil rectified out, and aged in wood it starts to be whisky after not less than four years in the wood of charred oak casks.

None of the manufacturers of bourbons should any right to call any corn whisky “bourbon” until it has aged at least four or five years, but the demand so exceeded supply that all rules were off.

As far as corn likker goes, whether it sis made in a copper wash boiler, run through an old shotgun barrel, and a length of iron pipe into a galvanized washtub covered with a cotton blanket.  It can be drunk straight, with water, with juices and disguises.  It can be scalding hot on chilly October evening with cloves, brown sugar, and lemon peel.

The Test

drinkingA stranger came once from Virginia to these hills of Western North Carolina to a house of one of these kinfolks and announced to one of the hillbilly that he was a brother-in-law.

“You are?” asked the hillbilly.

“I am” said the Virginian

“Can your wife tell through a brick wall twenty feet thick if you have had a drink of liquor?” inquired the hillbilly.

“She can.”

“Can she tell it two days later?”

“She can.”

The hillbilly shouted with wild laughter.  “You’re my brother-in-law all right,” said he.  Then reaching into a meal bin he pulled out a jug.

“Help yourself, brother,” he said.  “Just help yourself!”

Oh, Bartender!

As fall quickly approaches, it is time to break out some of those pumpkin recipes. Here’s one of our favorites from the bar!

The Smashing Pumpkin

2 ounces           pumpkin Maker’s Mark Bourbon

1 ounce              Pumpkin Puree

3 pieces             Tangerine with the peel

½ ounce             Grand Marnier

½ ounce             Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

Muddle the tangerine segments in a glass with the brown sugar simple syrup.  Add the remaining ingredients, ice and shake.  Garnish with nutmeg.

To make the simple syrup – mix two parts brown sugar with one part water, bring to a boil and then let cool.
Cheers!

Feats With A Rifle

Several individuals who conceived themselves expert in the management of the gun here in the mountains of Western North Carolina, were often seen to meet for the purpose of displaying their skill and betting a trifling sum, put up a target, in the center of which a common sized nail is hammered for about two thirds of its length.  The marksmen made a choice of what they considered a proper distance, which could be forty paces.  Each man cleaned the interior of his tube, which was called wiping it, placed a ball in the palm of his hand, poured as much powder from his horn upon it as would cover it.  This quantity was supposed to be sufficient for any distance within a hundred yards.  A shot which came very close to the nail was considered as that of an indifferent marksman; the bending of the nail was, of course, somewhat better; but nothing less than hitting it right on the head was satisfactory.  One out of three shots generally hit the nail and should the number of shooters amounted to half a dozen, two nails were frequently needed before each could have a shot.  Those who drove the nails had a further trail amongst themselves and the two best shots out of these generally settled the affair, when all the sportsmen adjourned to some house, and spend an hour or two in friendly intercourse, appointing before they part, a day for another trial.  This was technically terming driving the nail.Feats With A Rifle

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