1903 The Flowing Bowl by Edward Spencer

.Jff

CHAPTER XII

Definition of the youth—The valley of the Marne—An Arch bishop in sparkling company—All is not cham. that fizzes—Beneficial effects of Pommery—Dire memories of the Haymarket—The bad boy at York—A hair of the canine—The good boy—Gout defied—Old Roman cellars— A chronic bombardment—Magnums to right of 'em— Duties of the disgorger—Simon the cellarer—Fifteen millions of full •bottles—^Pro-dig-i-ous!—Gooseberry champagne a myth—About Medoc—The ancients spelt claret with two "r's"—Hints on adulteration—"Chateau Gubbins"—New wine—Gladstone claret—" Pricked ! " " See how it sparkles, this drink divine," sings Girofle, in Lecocq's opera; and although the sparkling liquor therein is described in the text as " punch "—which does not sparkle much as a rule—I have no doubt whatever that what Lecocq, or his librettist meant, was the grateful liquid which is described in different circles of societyas "fiz," "Simpkin" (the nearest approach a Mahomedan table-servant can make to " cham pagne") "a bottle," "golden pop," and "the Boy." Here let me interpolate the commonly-received