The Columbian fountain., 1846-02-16
A CONVERSATION BETWEEN A WINE
MERCHANT AND HIS CLERK.


s'Ha, ha," said a modern wholesale dealer
in liquid poison, 81 pretty good business to-
day for these Temperance times, as they are
called Two hundred dollars received in cash,
besides the credits. A very good days work,
indeed. These temperance men think, by get
ting number Of loafers, and the mechanics
and working people to join them, that they
are going TO break us up in our old and respect
able business; but they can't come it; as long
as the aoisc, the pious and the rich continue to
drink Thorn Champagne, and other high
priced wines and liquors, there is no danger
OF our trade. Let me see, who have we fur
nished with liquor to-day: Lieut.. ),
-, Hon. --, Rev. , Mr.. , Gen.
Col. -, Capt. --. No, there is no dan
ger of us !; we'll make another fortune off these
gentlemen in few years. How is our stock
of wines and liquors. Had we not better send
for another lot of that limitation Champagne
to New Jersey. There is Major -, the best
judge in the city, can't tell it from the Anchor
or Thorn brand, and the other limitations !;
they sell just as well as the genuine; they
can't tell the difference; and if they should
doubt Of their genuineness, you know we
have only to pledge our honor that they are
genuine and they will not doubt our soord Of
honor. We make double profit on these wines,
and they are just as good as the imported for
il is generally adulterated TO considerable ex-
tent. ! missed it lille last fall by advertising
that imitation wine; but they don't catch me
at 1t again. No, no, all genuine sell. When
did you see Col. have not seen him
for a week. He must be sick for he seldom
lets day pass without tasting some of our
liquors, and not week passes but he gets
few gallons. just look at his account, and
see how it stands"
:" He owes two hundred and fifty dollars"
Ha, as much as that. You had better
make out his bill. If he is sick, am afraid
he won't recover; for he is pretty hard
drinker, and | have observed, when these
chaps sicken, they seldom recoper, and they
are al,Oays poor. You remember Capt -"
"Yes.u
There was one hundred and fifty gone.
If it was not for the large profits we make off
those who pay, we could not stand it, Did
you see Mr.. --, the csffee house keeper''
"No, sir. He is not to be seen the bar is
shut up"
"You don't tell me-"
Yes. He is done up"
well, well, there is FIVE hundred dollars
gone. D-n the business. will be ruined
if things keep on at this rate. This Temper
ance cause, am afraid, will go ahead again,
uow that the political excitement has passed
away. wish ,var would break out, or some
thing that would draw the peoples attention
from it; or these fellows, who make such a
fuss about people drinking little wine, would
die off, But there is no chance of that, soon, |
am afraid There is that - . / have
not known him to be sick a day for the last
four years, and have not known one of them
to die, while hundreds Of our friends fall
all around u.s."
"Well, don't you think there must be some
cause for this, that the liquors our friends
drink cause their death in many instances"
"No doubt of it; but that is not our bust
ness. Let them see to that"
A LITTLE For MEDIc,NE.-A party went
out fishing and stepped up to the bar to
lrip oft Al