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CHAPTER XIX
THE DRINKS OF DICKENS
I I'i
The lesson taught by "Boz" —Clothing Christmas—Dickens's
drunkards—Fantastic names for ales—Robbing a boy of his
beer—Aschoolsupper—Poor Traddlcs—Micawber and punch
-—Revelry at PecksnifPs—Todgers's " doing it —Delights
of the " Dragon "—Sairey Gamp's requirements—What was
in the teapot—The " Maypole "—Sydney Carton's hopeless
case—Stryver's model—" Little D, is Deed nonsense "—
Dear old Crummies—A magnum of the Double Diamond—
Newman Noggs—Brandy before breakfast—Mr. Fagin's
pupils—Orange-peel and water—Quilp on fire—"Pass the
rosy" — Harold Skimpole—Joey Bagstock—Brandy-and-
tar-water—That ass Pumblechook—An inexhaustible bottle
—Jaggers's luncheon—Pickwick i/. total abstinence—Every
thing an excuse for a dram—Brandy and oysters—" The
inwariable "—Milk-punch—Charm of the Pkkiutck Papers,
Although it is the fashion of the day to be
little, if not sneer at, the works of " Boz," he has
still sufficient admirers to justify a chapter on
what is, I hope, a congenial subject to my
readers. The characters may be unduly elabor
ated, and the incidents too much spun-out for
these slap-dash, go-ahead times ; but it is to the
simple, homely, hospitality so often referred to
in the novels of Charles Dickens that most of
them owed that popularity which may, or may