are also in much request amongst the groundlings; whilst during the warm weather I know of no more popular swallow, for moderate drinkers, who do not require their throats to be scratched, than a small bottle of lemonade to which is added just one “pull” of pale-ale. This is called, for the sake of brevity, a _Small Lem and a Dash_, or the Poor Man’s Champagne; and is a refreshing and innocuous drink which might commend itself to total abstainers. In the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge there is probably as much malt liquor drunk per head as in any other part of the world. _Brasenose Ale_ has obtained a reputation which the beverage doubtless fully merits. Since the foundation of this college a custom has prevailed of introducing into the refectory on Shrove Tuesday, immediately after dinner, what is denominated Brasenose Ale, but what is known in many other parts of England as Lamb’s Wool. Verses in praise of the Ale are—or at all events were—annually written by one of the undergraduates, and a copy of them is sent to every resident member of the College. The following stanzas are taken from one of these contributions:— {60} Shall all our singing now be o’er, Since Christmas carols fail? No! Let us shout one stanza more In praise of Brasenose Ale! A fig for Horace and his juice, Falernian and Massic; Far better drink can we produce, Though ’tis not quite so classic. Not all the liquors Rome e’er had Can beat our matchless Beer; Apicius’ self had gone stark mad To taste such noble cheer. After all, the potion is simplicity itself:— Three quarts of ale, sweetened with sifted sugar, and served up in a bowl with six roasted apples floating in it. {61} CHAPTER VI ALL ALE Waste not, want not — The right hand for the froth — Arthur Roberts and Phyllis Broughton — A landlord’s perquisites — Marc Antony and hot coppers — Introduction of ale into Britain — Burton-on-Trent — Formerly a cotton-spinning centre — A few statistics — Michael Thomas Bass — A grand old man — Malting barleys — Porter and stout — Lager beer — Origin of bottled ale — An ancient recipe — Lead-poisoning — The poor man’s beer.