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THE GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION
This little list of variegated hairs of the dog, has been hand-culled
from quite a few joustings of our own with this sort of human wither–
ing on the vine. We have, from sad example set by several friends,
come to distrust all revivers smacking of drugdom. It is a small,
tightly vicious circle to get into, and a bit of well-aged spirits with
this or that, seems much safer and more pleasant than corroding our
innards with chemicals of violent proclivities, and possible habit–
forming ways.
For years before our ignoble experiment, civilized man had been
trying to civilize his drinking, and when we think back just yester–
day-as world's time is measured-man's one drink was a crudely
fermented affair: juice, seeds, saps, and the like.
Now take an eye filling look at any well-stocked oasis, and consider
progress in colour, taste, bouquet, and result. This early civilization
in America-except in the main centers like Charleston, New Orleans,
Philadelphia, and New Yark-with the possible exception of the
matchless julep, commanded hard likker with a chaser,
if
any. Now
since the insanity of the nineteen-twenties man is studying his spirits
sanely and with revived arti::tic interest in their possibilities.
The field of the great gray Morning After is one which this same
civilized mankind is trying to graduate from undiluted hair of the
dog that bit him, to something less regurgitative, and shocking to the
whole mental and nervous network. With this thought in view we
quietly suggest any of the following.
WORDS to the WISE No. XIII, on the NECESSITY for GOOD
SPIRITS for MAKING PICKER-UPPERS
Just as we don't serve mediocre acid red wine to the delicate sensi–
bilities of a prize gourmet friend, neither do we give the timid and
demure morning-after tummy a turn with raw new bilious atrocities.
!fere,
if
ever,_ the smart host will have a
speci~l
ca;he of a few prize
Jewels-for his very own sake. The vile odours arising from improp–
erly
age~
spirits are just about all a chap needs to set him to withering
on the vrne permanently.... Use only the best ingredients, for after
all we don't do these things very often, and it's better to be safe than
sunk.
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