1903 The Flowing Bowl by Edward Spencer

222 THE FLOWING BOWL ticularly well, especially dear old Mrs. Jarley, whose consideration for her own comforts was fully equalled by her desire for the worldly welfare of others. In Bleak House allusions to the bowl are infrequent. The rag-shop " Lord Chancellor " cremated himself with the aid of gin, and Mr. Tulkinghorn had a weakness for old port. Mr. Bucket favoured brown sherry, and Harold Skimpole would nibble a peach and sip claret, with an execution in his house. This is one of the best characters drawn by Dickens ; and although the type is not a familiar one, I have met him in the flesh. Dombey and Son is by no means a " thirsty " work ; though Joey Bagstock was a votary of the bowl, like old Mrs. Brown. The rest of the company put together (I except "the Chicken") would not have enabled a publican to pay his rent, and one of the most melancholy parts of the book is the mention made therein of only one bottle of the old Madeira remaining in the cellar of Sol Gills, at a time when most of the other characters in the book—male and female—are making use of his house. Next to my Pickwick I love my Great Ex pectations. Brandy-and-tar-water, imbibed by Pumblechook, in mistake, at the Christmas dinner, should properly come under the heading of " Strange Swallows" ; but the capacity ot those two bottles of port and sherry, which he brought as a present on that occasion, has always been a puzzle to me. Joe, probably, would not be allowed more than a glass, and, naturally.