1903 The Flowing Bowl by Edward Spencer

THE AFTERMATH OF REVELRY 201

chief called the next case, the while some of us poured over-proof rum down the throat of the fashion - editor at an adjacent hostelry. He subsequently trousered his salary, and signed the receipt, satisfactorily, after pleading that he was suffering that morning from "shock." The chief looked somewhat incredulous. " Is he an inebriate ? " he asked, as soon as the invalid had left the office. " Oh ! dear no, sir," replied the acrostic- editor, " he's almost a teetotaller." And the incident was finished. But what is really the best thing to be done under such sad circumstances ? Should the invalid resort to the old remedy, and take at once that " hair of the dog " who bit him over night ? Not invariably. For instance, should British port, or brandy of the desiccated-window- sill {vide a former chapter) have been the causa teterrima of the trouble, nobody, however shaky, would revert to such remedies, the first thing after waking. And frequently it is difficult for the waker to remember which dog it was that assaulted him. I once visited a young friend in his chambers, at the hour of noon, and found him with a sad countenance, seated in an easy- chair faced by a perfect army of assorted bottles. I was about to administer a mild reproof, but he stopped me. 'It's all right, dear old chappie, I've been taking a hair of the dog—you know. But I met such a lot of dogs, jolly dogs too, last night, that I'm hanged if I can remember which of 'em bit me !"