Post #442236 by Chip and Andy on Tue, Mar 24, 2009 3:21 PM

And how about this old postcard:

The Zombie didn't have a straw? And the Pi Yi and the above Coconut had TWO! the reason for this might have been that if one straw got clogged with fruit meat matter, one still would work. But then, the Tahitian Rum Punch: TWO straws, very thin, and colored...

You are all forgetting one thing.... the straws are part of the garnish.

at least they can be. Look at the Rum punch, two straws pointing out in two directions, very nice looking.

There is another aspect to straws for this conversation..... Ladies.

Ladies wear lipstick. These days some men wear it too, but in the time period under discussion lipstick was limited to the ladies. Ladies are particular about their lipstick, and are constantly reapplying it. Don't believe me, watch one next time you are around them.

Straws allow a lady to enjoy her drink with a minimum of lipstick loss. Sipping from the side of a drink vessel will remove much more lipstick than your typical straw.

So..... straws should be included in your drink. You are not obligated to drink from it just because it is there. And straws should be treated as garnish which means they should get the same care and consideration as everything else going into the glass.

And, thanks to Google...... http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blstraws.htm