Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/713

 COUNTRY INNS AND PUBLIC HOUSES. 89 flexible tube is conducted to each particular cask. The liquor is supplied to what is called the fountain, on the counter (r, fig. 1316), by pipes, which communicate with the casks, and are connected with them by means of union joints (that is, male and female screws, witn a nut generally of brass). The pipes are brought down in a case or trunk against the wall, are led along the back of the counter close under its top, and are afterwards carried up the hollow column of the fountain, in the upper part of which they are united to the different cocks by which the liquors are drawn off. There are store vats, b b, for such liquors as are sold in larger quantities, and these are drawn directly from the vats by cocks. There are bins for wine and liqueurs kept in bottles, which bins are here shown with the doors shut at c ; at d are shelves for glasses and similar articles ; at e, shelves for pewter or stone pots for beer, ale, &c. ; at f are pigeonholes for bottles containing choice compounds, cordials, &c. ; and at g, cupboards for various articles ; /« is a fire- place, with a boiler for hot water round three sides, and a cock to draw it off for constant use ; and i is the case or trunk, containing the pipes which lead from the upper casks to the counter fountain. Fig. 1316 is a view of the inside of the counter, looking from the bar-room, in which A: is a six-motion beer-machine to draw the beer and ale of different ages and qualities from the butts in the cellar. Beneath this machine, at I, is a projecting tray, the bottom of which is formed of a grating, or of a pierced plate of pewter, the holes being about the eighth of an inch in diameter ; over this the beer is drawn into the pots, and the droppings are collected by this grating, and passed down, by means of a tube, to a vat in the cellar. This waste beer is taken back by the brewers, and an equal quantity of new beer given in exchange ; at ?» are shelves for glasses, liquor measures, &c. ; at n is usually placed a portable apparatus for heating elder wine, gin and ale, or other liquors ; it consists of a funnel connected with a worm tube, which passes through a vessel filled with hot water ; the water is sometimes kept hot by an iron heater like that of an urn, or a :;pirit lamp ; and at other times, by a tube connecteU with the boiler at the back or sides of the kitchen fire. Sometimes there are two funnels and worms, so that two sorts of liquor can be warmed at once. To warm the liquor, it is poured into one of the funnels at top, and in about half a minute it is drawn off by a cock at bottom ; the length of the worm in the hot water allowing time for the latter to communicate its heat during the passage of the wine through it. There are drawers, o, for tobacco, cheese, biscuits, sugar, lemons, &c. ; places for bread and other articles, p ; a recess for pipes, y; and a fountain, r, with twelve cocks, connected with the small casks, a, in fig. 1315, and with a basin and water for rincing glasses below. In some places this basin is supplied with two cocks, one for hot and the other for cold water, w ith a waste-plug and cliain in the bottom of the basin ; and in others there is, imme- diately beneath the fountain, a saveall, or pierced plate of pt-wter, through which the drippings froin the glasses percolate, and are collected in a shallow basin below, from which they are taken out occasionally, and sold at a low prict! to the poorer customers, or given away in charity. All the wood-work of tliis counter is mahogany, and the metal is pewter, with the exception of the cocks, which are sometimes of brass, though pewter is considered preferable, as being less liable to corrode. 1444. Remarks. For this Design we are indebted to Mr. Laxton, who has had great experience in fitting up public houses. We may observe here, that the fitting up of public Hfcuse bars in London forms almost a distinct trade; and that the expense incurred in this way by the owners of public houses is almost incredible, every one vying with his neighbour in convenient arrangement, general display, rich carving, brass- work, finely veined mahogany, and ornamental painting. The carving of one ornament alone, in that of Mr. Weller, the Grapes, in Old-street Road, cost £" 100 j the work- 4 I