108 / 174
Io8
MIXED DRINKS.
at hand for the man who can design a non-ahsorptive
cork.
"It is quite a relief to emerge from the damp,chill
home of these millions of bottles of champagne, and
to glance at the women above working in the blessed
daylight and breathing a more congenial air. Here are
sacks of corks, and the dames and girls may be seen
giving the impress of Dry Monopole to one cork after
another. The cork itself is of the best obtainable
quality; with a little search among the stamped pieces,
^ou may discover some of a material as smooth as
planed lumber.
"The wrapping of the tinfoil round the necks of
the bottles and the labeling are also women's work.
It is interesting to learn that the red foil bottles are for
Germany. They indicate a sweeter wine than that
which goes to England. Canning once said.that the
man who declared that he preferred dry champagne to
sweet lied unblushingly. This was, of course, a candid
confession of inexperience on the part of the statesman.
His words would he received with polite incredulity
among the people ofReims. And certainly,after drink
ing a bottle of Dry Monopole here among the models
of old champagne bottles during the last century, one
has no desire for anything sweeter. My guide told me