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

INTRODUCTION TO MIXED DRINKS.

112

wards; yet the imagination on my part was at that time like that of the rest of boys of the same age. But with the advance in age, this imagination faded, for it had to; and now I began to learn. A period of a few years passed and I began to believe I knew something; undoubtedly I did, but how little ! and every day con- vinces me more and more how much there is to be learned, although I have given particular care to this business close on to thirty years. How often a man will overestimate himself, because he happens to be successful, as well as another one will undervalue his dexterity because good luck did not favor him. Perhaps you think I was born with a fortune waiting for me; I was, but I was not to keep it, and only my misfortune in younger years is the cause, and has ever since been, that made me work hard and seek new ideas. There is no more reason for a well-off man to give up his ambition than there is for another, who did not meet with success, to despair. Surely it is a nice, pleasant feeling for any one to be born rich; but to be born with a silver spoon in the mouth and to die with a fortune behind you, without having shown that you accomplished something of value through your daily toils and labors no ! I would rather be a dog than a man without ambition and a record of toil. My dear readers ! Never was I guilty of not enjoy- ing myself at every opportunity after business hours, and I never will let the time pass by without doing so hereafter. It is a pleasure to me to enjoy the labor,