XI / 104
ear
So many friends have said that 'twas high time for a second
edition of my BonVivant's Companion of 15 years ago, that
I amtaking the risk, making only such suggested changes and
additions as appear necessary.
In all ages of the world, and in all countries, men have in
dulged in "Social Drinks." They have always possessed them
selves of some popular beverage, apart from water. Whether
it is judicious that mankind should continue to indulge in such
things, or whether it would be wiser to abstainfrom all enjoy
ments of that character, it is not my province to decide. We
leave that question to the moral philosopher. We do not pro
pose to persuade any man to drink, for instance, a punch, or a
julep, or a cocktail, who has never happened to make the ac
quaintance of those refreshing articles under circumstances
calculated to induce more "intimate relations"—but we do
propose to help those whose "intimate relations" in question
render them somewhat fastidious in the daintiest fashion there
unto pertaining. We want this book to be a blessing to man
kind, and offer instruction in the concoction of cobblers,
juleps, cocktails, etc., in the choicest manner; and, for the
perfection of this education, we have gathered among others
the recipes of Jerry Thomas, the Jupiter Olympus of the bar,
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