A PUBLICAN'S DRINKS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 30 July 1891, Page 4

A PUBLICAN'S DRINKS.

The proprietor of a certain public-house was noticed to drink with everyone who asked him, but never took the same liquor ms his customer. " How is it," asked a man who had been ! joking on from his seat at a table near by, •• that you can manage to consume so much liquor in the course of the day, and yet not show the effects of it ? You have had at least ten glasses in the last hour, and I <-uppose the same sort of thing goes on all day, yet your eyeis clear, your skin healthylooking, and your wh.ole appearance that ol n man who never takes more thah is good for him." " Well, I'll tell you"' said the proprietor, with a laugh, "seeing that you're an old Iriend. if you promise not to tell. You see lor yourself how hard it is for a popular publican to keep from becoming a mere tank, a sot, so many people are always asking him to drink, for various motives, and if he declines he is apt to give offence. Now, I attribute my success in that line to U) a wise choice of liquors. "Gin or whisky of an especial brand I always taste, and I keep them in particular l'ottles, which are never handed to customers, but are kept here on the shelf for n;y own use. Taste my whisky," he said, ' setting out his private bottle, containing a yellowish liquid. " What do you think of ii ?" " Curious stuff," said his friend, sipping it and sniffing at it. "Don't think I ever lasted anything like it before. It's not at all bad, though. Has considerable aroma, but it's mighty weak for whisky. What brand is it?" " Taste the gin," was all the reply the proprietor gave, as he set his private gin U;>ltle down beside the other. "Curious." said the friend, pouring out •md sampling a colourless liquid. "I am sine I never tasted anything like it before, '."ome, now, what is it'?" " That's water," said the publican, with a •Ciln. Never tasted it, eh ?" "Water !" gasped his friend. " Yes, and the other's cold tea. Now you ! <now how I drink and drink and yet keep a clrtar head and a steady pulse. But keep it quiet, my boy."