1939 The Gentleman's Companion volume II Beeing an Exotic Drinking Book

THE GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION

This little list of variegated hairs of the dog, has been hand-culled from quite a few joustings of our own with this sort of human wither– ing on the vine. We have, from sad example set by several friends, come to distrust all revivers smacking of drugdom. It is a small, tightly vicious circle to get into, and a bit of well-aged spirits with this or that, seems much safer and more pleasant than corroding our innards with chemicals of violent proclivities, and possible habit– forming ways. For years before our ignoble experiment, civilized man had been trying to civilize his drinking, and when we think back just yester– day-as world's time is measured-man's one drink was a crudely fermented affair: juice, seeds, saps, and the like. Now take an eye filling look at any well-stocked oasis, and consider progress in colour, taste, bouquet, and result. This early civilization in America-except in the main centers like Charleston, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and New Yark-with the possible exception of the matchless julep, commanded hard likker with a chaser, if any. Now since the insanity of the nineteen-twenties man is studying his spirits sanely and with revived arti::tic interest in their possibilities. The field of the great gray Morning After is one which this same civilized mankind is trying to graduate from undiluted hair of the dog that bit him, to something less regurgitative, and shocking to the whole mental and nervous network. With this thought in view we quietly suggest any of the following. Just as we don't serve mediocre acid red wine to the delicate sensi– bilities of a prize gourmet friend, neither do we give the timid and demure morning-after tummy a turn with raw new bilious atrocities. !fere, if ever,_ the smart host will have a speci~l ca;he of a few prize Jewels-for his very own sake. The vile odours arising from improp– erly age~ spirits are just about all a chap needs to set him to withering on the vrne permanently.... Use only the best ingredients, for after all we don't do these things very often, and it's better to be safe than sunk. . 82. WORDS to the WISE No. XIII, on the NECESSITY for GOOD SPIRITS for MAKING PICKER-UPPERS

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