from H-AMSTDY: >Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 14:16:40 -0500 (EST) >From: Lee A Ghajar <[log in to unmask]> Whether this is "literature" depends on the breadth of your definition; however, it is an interesting story. FromHugh Gibson, 1833-1954: Extractsfrom his letters and anecdotes from his friends with an introduction by Herbert Hoover. Ed. Perrin C Galpin. New York: Belgian American Educational Foundation, Inc., 1956. p.28 Tells of the origin of the Gibson Martini. Gibson was not a drinker; however it was the habit of a group stationed at the State Department in the old building on Pennsylvania Avenue to walk to the Metropolitan Club after work each day. Gibson couldn't handle the second and third drinks his companions ordered. "...and at the same time I didnot wnt to ruin the part for the rest of the boys, so I arranged with the bartender to fill my glass with plain water on the second and all later rounds. As he did not want to confound my drink of plain water with the others he got into the habit of placing a pickled, baby onion in it." His colleagues discovered Gibson could drink and drink with no inebriating effects and began to order the "Gibson." For them, the bartender made the drink with almost all gin and very little vermouth--and a pickled baby onion. An interesting story, anyway. Lee A Ghajar <[log in to unmask]>