ICED DRINKS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sra,—The following lines are quoted from Boileau's Third Satire, " Le Repas Ridicule," published about 1664, and there- fore contemporary with the quotation made from Pepys by Mr. Joseph Wilby in your issue of March 25th. The lines show that the icing of drinks was quite common in Paris over 250 years ago, for otherwise Boileau's scorn would be meaningless :—
" J'approuvais tout pourtant de in mine et du geste, Pensant qu'au moins le vin &It reparer le mate; Pour m' en eclaircir done, j'en demande . . . . Mais qui l'aurait pense ? pour comble de disgrace, Par le chaud qu'il faisait none n'avions point de glace. Point de glace, bon Dien dans le fort de rue
Au mois de juin "
In the edition from which I transcribe, the French editor adds the following note : " The practice of icing drinks, known to the ancient Romans, was introduced into France towards the middle of the seventeenth century." As it was common to store ice for use in summer, it is natural to sup. pose that it was used for the cold storage of food as well as
the cooling of liquids.—I am, Sir, die., F. RoNNFELDT.
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