The notion that alcohol may do good because, for a moment, it
seems to do good, was well answered by a physician’s response to
a man who was somewhat too much given to the pleasures of the
table. This man had said to the doctor:
“What do you think of the influence of alcohol on the digestion,
doctor?”
“I think that its influence is bad,” said the physician.
“But a little whisky taken just before a meal is the only key
that will open my appetite, doctor.”
“I don’t believe in opening things with false keys, sir!”
answered the other.
Nor is alcohol the only false key in common use. Pretension,
misrepresentation, any means not adapted to the desired end--all are
false keys and must fail.
(1715)
=Kind Looks=--See _Face, An Inviting_.