" The bar-keeper invariably gave
him a stiff brandy cocktail. When the old gentleman had done this
half a dozen times, I think I lost faith in him. I tried
afterwards to glean from the bar-keeper some facts regarding those
experiences, but I am proud to say that he was honorably reticent.
Indeed, I think it may be said truthfully that there is no record
of a bar-keeper who has been "interviewed." Clergymen and doctors
have, but it is well for the weakness of humanity that the line
should be drawn somewhere.
And this reminds me that one distressing phase of early rising is
the incongruous and unpleasant contact of the preceding night. The
social yesterday is not fairly over before nine A. M. to-day, and
there is always a humorous, sometimes a pathetic, lapping over the
edges. I remember one morning at six o'clock to have been
overtaken by a carriage that drew up beside me. I recognized the
coachman, who touched his hat apologetically, as if he wished me to
understand that he was not at all responsible for the condition of
his master, and I went to the door of the carriage.
Pages:
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286