An incident has occurred on one of the suburban lines which will
certainly be supposed by many to be only _ben trovato_, but it is a real
fact. A lady, who seemed perfectly well before the train entered a
tunnel, suddenly alarmed her fellow-passengers during the temporary
darkness by exclaiming, “I am poisoned!” On re-emerging into daylight,
an awkward explanation ensued. The lady carried with her two bottles,
one of methylated spirit, the other of cognac. Wishing, presumably, for
a refresher on the sly, she took advantage of the gloom; but she applied
the wrong bottle to her lips. Time pressed, and she took a good drain.
The consequence was she was nearly poisoned, and had to apply herself
honestly and openly to the brandy bottle as a corrective, amidst the
ironical condolence of the passengers she had previously alarmed.
—_Once a Week_.