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THE DRINKS OF DICKENS
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breakfast—seems at the first glance an impossi
bility ; but many of those who know for certain
the effects of undue indulgence are the most
careless in indulging, and Bob Sawyer and his
still more rascally friend and fellow-student Ben
Allen are reckless types of a reckless profession.
The same meal—oysters cum brandy—is partaken
of, la^r on, by Solomon Pell and the coachman ;
and Dickens probably knew that lawyers and
stage-drivers, like sailors, can digest anything.
The most drunken man in the book, " the
Shepherd," is an alleged teetotaller ; and the
abstaining division will assuredly never forgive
Dickens for his word-paintinp; of Stigeins, whose
"vanity" was pine-apple rum with hot water
and plenty of sugar. The Wellers, p}re et jih^
were not conservative in their potations ; and
whether "the inwariable" is Wellerese for brandy
hot, or rum hot, I am still uncertain, although
many correspondents have sought to enlighten
me on the subject; said correspondents being any
thing but unanimous. One of the most favoured
beverages mentioned in the work is "cold
punch," by which I understand milk-punch, a
very " more-ish" draught indeed.
I have prolonged this chapter perhaps unduly.
But the subject of the Drinks of Dickens is too
important a one to slur over. The man who
cannot appreciate Pickwick has never yet come
my way. There is a peculiar charm about the
book, a broad hospitality, an unbounded love of
the good things of this life which must endear it
to the hearts of true sons of Britannia, who will
revel, on occasion, no matter what obstacles may
Q
M
CK