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•STILL HARPING ON THE DRINK 167
" This process," says my informant, writing
from Davos, "sanctifies good liquor, and makes
inferior ditto distinctly welcome."
A
Prairie Oyster
serves as a valuable restorative of vital power.
The origin of this popular pick-me-up is said to
be as follows :—
" Some years since three men were encamped
on Texas Prairie, 500 miles from the sea-coast,
when one of them was sick unto death with
fever, and was frantically crying out for oysters ;
he was quite sure that if he could only have an
oyster or two he would be cured. After much
thought as to how they were to procure what he
wanted, one of them, having procured some
prairie hens' eggs, not far from the camp, broke
one, and putting the yolk into a glass, sprinkled
it with a little salt and pepper, adding a little
vinegar, and gave it to his sick companion, who
declared it was just the thing he wanted ; and
from that hour he began to get better, and
eventually got quite well."
Turkey Oyster
is the yolk of a turkey's egg treated after the
above fashion, and is said to be " greatly in vogue
with athletes." But if the athlete be wise he
will not omit to swallow the white of the egg as
well.
The name "negus" is suggestive of a chil
dren's party—as well as of the east coast of