OLD DRINKING MUGS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1929, Page 18

OLD DRINKING MUGS

Who knows what history or romance may'bo associated with ■ the. strange catch mado recently by a Scottish trawler while fishing some 50 miles southeast of Aberdeen. From the green depths of tho North Sea was brought of all things—a," greybeard " which, as my older readers will know (says a contributor to the Edinburgh "Weekly Scotsman"), is an old type of earthen drinking-jug or vessel, made to hold a considerable quantity of "honey dew" in thoso times when the national product was niore popular and potent, and cheaper than it is to-day. The "greybeard," which was exhibited at Glasgow fish market, stands nine inches high, and is made,, of brick-coloured ware. It bears the usual representation of aii ancient man with flowing beard, *nd is distinguished by the addition of ft'family crest. Although broken ,in |>art and encrusted with barnacles when found, the vessel is stated to bo in good condition, and is probably 300 years old. The drinking vessels of our grandfathers had curious shapes. I remem■ber seoingVa strange "decanter "in a farmhouse jn a "far awa" district of tho west of 1 Scotland which, was placed liei'ore a couple of weary hill - trampera., "Brinf? hen the mell," ordered the pudcinan, ami tho serving lass entered li'.-nnuj; mi car!horn, jar shaped like the 3n.'a\y mallet used by masons.