1903 The Flowing Bowl by Edward Spencer

I I'i

CHAPTER XIX

THE DRINKS OF DICKENS

The lesson taught by "Boz" —Clothing Christmas—Dickens's drunkards—Fantastic names for ales—Robbing a boy of his beer—Aschoolsupper—Poor Traddlcs—Micawber and punch -—Revelry at PecksnifPs—Todgers's " doing it —Delights of the " Dragon "—Sairey Gamp's requirements—What was in the teapot—The " Maypole "—Sydney Carton's hopeless case—Stryver's model—" Little D, is Deed nonsense "— Dear old Crummies—A magnum of the Double Diamond— Newman Noggs—Brandy before breakfast—Mr. Fagin's pupils—Orange-peel and water—Quilp on fire—"Pass the rosy" — Harold Skimpole—Joey Bagstock—Brandy-and- tar-water—That ass Pumblechook—An inexhaustible bottle —Jaggers's luncheon—Pickwick i/. total abstinence—Every thing an excuse for a dram—Brandy and oysters—" The inwariable "—Milk-punch—Charm of the Pkkiutck Papers, Although it is the fashion of the day to be little, if not sneer at, the works of " Boz," he has still sufficient admirers to justify a chapter on what is, I hope, a congenial subject to my readers. The characters may be unduly elabor ated, and the incidents too much spun-out for these slap-dash, go-ahead times ; but it is to the simple, homely, hospitality so often referred to in the novels of Charles Dickens that most of them owed that popularity which may, or may