1892 The flowing bowl when and what to drink (1892, c1891)

HINTS AND GENERAL REMARKS.

Ill

It must be borne in mind: Drinking is an art, and it requires practice to know how to drink, what to drink, and when to drink. Drinking is like eating. Who but a cannibal would not prefer his viands prepared in a palatable form ? That fancy cooking is not injurious, we have full proof of; we know of aged people of the past and of the present who spent a little fortune in having their dishes made to suit their taste. As good eating depends on the cook, so good drinking on the expert barkeeper. A distinguished Englishman, Mr. T., one day told me: " We do not have much mixed drinks in our coun- Whereupon I asked him: " Why do your coun- trymen mix ale with porter, or Bass ale with ginger ale ? " " Well, it makes the drink more pleasant to the taste." I needed no more answer. A man gets tired of good company, of good friends, or even of his best girl why should we wonder at see- ing him getting tired of mixed drinks ? I cannot help stating the fact that our drinking capacity is increas- ing, compared with former times. Not everybody is capable of criticising and appreciating a good drink, more so a mixed one. Never smoke when you want to enjoy a fine drink, nor chew; never drink anything mixed when you do not feel well. For medical pur- poses, plain drinks are preferable. When I began my business as bartender, I was only a boy and hardly able to keep up with the demands of my employer; I remembered this often enough after- try."