Now bubbles of
the rarest carbonic acid gas flow, in obedience to the powerful machine,
in all directions through the glassy prison; and rows of gleaming
bottles indicate the activity of the enterprise. Then you saw the dining
rooms of the Saint Sycophant and the Cosmopolitan Hotels. Here flew the
resounding cork, to be instantly snatched up by the attendant Ethiopian,
and scarcely were the champagne flasks emptied before they were reft
from the tables with unimpaired labels. At the rear doors, there seemed
to wait handcarts, and soon in these the corks, the bottles, and the
baskets were carefully bestowed for their down-town journey, and money
appeared to pass from hand to hand. Then you saw a sleighing party in
the country, and soon a hostel of goodly size. The travelers entered and
demanded banquet; and while they masticated the underdone and tendonous
Chanticleer, quaffed deeply of the amber vintage of the previous
visions. Again you saw morning couches, where lovely woman tore her
Valenciennes night-cap in agonies of headache, and where her ruder
partner filled the air with cries for 'soda-water!'
Engaged with these enchanting dreams, the butler made a false step, and
the precious package, falling to the floor, was instantly shattered.
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