Daly's Bartenders' Encyclopedia by Tim Daly (1903, p.101)

3 dasheslemon juice acid
3 dashesAbsinthe base
1 spoonfulsugar base
1 wine glassWhiskey base
1 dashAngostura bitters bitter
seltzer — Fill up the glass after straining.dilution
  1. Shake the sugar, lemon juice, bitters, absinthe, and whiskey with ice.
  2. Strain into a fizz glass, fill up with seltzer, and serve.

Ice: Fine ice

Daly frames it directly as a morning stimulant when a person does not know what else will fill the bill.

See also: Bracer, Evening Daisy