Pally-ally

Something in the way of light amusement. This is an excerpt from a Victorian novel.

'Ho, yes!' replied Mr Brum, 'I soon recovered; for I went to get a hit of dinner at a shop they called a restorator's; and though he only gave me kickshaws, he soon set me on my legs again. He wanted to give me a lot of sour wine, not arf so good as ginger-pop, but I wouldn't have none of it, for the restorator had stuck up a bill which said (in Hinglish, mind you, or I couldn't have read it)— " Bass's Pale Ale may be had here" So I said to the garsong, as they called the waiter, bring me a bottle of pale ale. He couldn't understand me at first; but, at last, he contrived to say that the restorator didn't keep anything of that name. So I said to the garsong, what does the restorator mean then, by himposing upon gents with this 'ere bill? and I pointed to "Bass's Pale Ale." The garsong seemed to understand me at once, for he began nodding his 'ead, and grimacing like those French chaps always do, and he said, " Oh! we! moshoo would mean de Pally-ally !" And away he went, and brought a bottle of Bass; and I took precious good care for the future, whenever I wanted pale ale, to call for Pally-ally. But they call things very differently there to what we do in Hingland, and I couldn't have got about in Paris at all, if it hadn't been for Murray.'
"Love's Provocations" by Cuthbert Bede, 1855, pages 39 - 40.

The French and the funny way they speak. An eternal source of amusement for the English. What would we have done without this comedy enemy?

Never heard of Pally-ally before. Ally-Pally I know. Officially called Alexandra Palace. I slept on the stage there once, while working at an early GBBF. In the days before CAMRA provided proper accommodation for its volunteers. Happy days.

On a more serious note, this quote demonstrates just how famous and widely- available Bass wasin the mid 19th century.