The Woodville Republican., 1853-01-18
The Bar Rooms I'm New
Orleans.

1
CT the fruits OF Willis journey TO tie West
India Islands. and his visit 10 the South.
lie describes the elegau, barNrooms Of New
Orleans, with some touch Of the manner
aud character Of the people. Thus, speak
ing OF the scenes Mt the ST. Louis, he says
The planter takes drink, dozen
times in the iorenoon--hut does not drihk
II. lie seldom calls for t alone. IL is with
him matter OF etiquette. Wherever he
meets friend or acquaintance, there IS
drinking saloon near by and he would feel
MS much at loss TO exchange the comph.
menis OF the day without stopping Ia 20 do
over glass, as to bow to a lady without
his hat, or manage an interview without
mention Of health or weather. In the way
he walks up, signifies his wish TO the bar
keeper, sees that his friend Is properly at
tended to, aud dtsposes of his own glass.
/ la the manner of all this there is n certain
absolute ease aud cotton>baie soildl,y
OF suavity that forms type OF politeness
winch botrows nothing nom intoxicaton.
IL is the Westerner at home-perectly
suIitrusllul and ever ready for emergency,
but bonudlessly hospilabe aud courteous,
aud witha careful in his drink, The ar
pngements for the convenience of tobacco
chewers receive the greater part OF what
he takes into his mouth for courtesy, and he
modilies the mixture of his own glass with
such adroitness as not to make II COM
ment on the stronger drlnk OF his compau-
ion. was amused at the clever manner IN
which this was done, aud the mony instan-
ces Of it that came under our observation
SO many are the strangers, that they ara
part OF almost every uotterie ia bar room;
but whatever or whoever they were, the
planter was tho man OF mark among them,
He is gentleman by every influence OF ed
ucalion and climate.
With a slight touch of the te,rarch in his
manner, perhaps, the constant habit OF AIT
thorIty has made il slt gracefully upon him,
and it mpregnales his whole bearing with
that indiscribable air Of conscious superior.
| ity which never eau be assumed, but which
is priced above all other fruits by the high
born ia Europe. We shall be proud yet Of
our planter school of gentlemen, The ear
y.learnt self possession as master, the cli-
mates lavishncss Of generosity, the habitn-
alton to personal risk and chivalric prompts
ness. and the large amounts aud elegant in>
iermedlary leisure with which plantation
business is transacted, are tho training for
a peculiar as well as very high.spirlted
class OF men. by the members OF the pro-
lessions aud by those who have long resi-
dcd nt the west, the manners Of this class
are very much adopted. IL is the secret OF
that gracefully cavalier tone pervading tho
upper classes OF the valley aud the southern
tier--the more valuable because the same
thing is fast dying out in the lands where
il has been historical.
The other drinking at the bar OF one Of
these fashionable saloons, is miscellaneous
without being riotous OF rude. The newly
arrived northern man is tho most conspIcu-
GUS, from heing quite the earlies, in The day
TO get "happy." lie is used to having the
worth Of his money, aud drinks all his liquor.
"The bar.keepers aatterIng manner has
made him feel appreciated for the first time
in his life, and, with his hat on the back Of
his head. lie shakes hands right and left
with great vehemeuce, aud is otherwise inS
convenient with llis cordialiles. The next
most eager customer is the exhausted busi>
ness man who is new to the climate, aud
who rttshss in from the hot streets for an
iced drink, as il cholera aud yellow fever
were behind him. Then there are brokers
negotiating gravely over iulep, aud groups
around the popular actors CHANGING to be
IN town, and half dozen OF those blandly
resolute aud keeD>eyed looking men whom
you know at once To be steamboat captains.
aud Il traveller or two exceedingly ente:taln~
ed with the novelty OF the scene. Aud.
what with the costllness OF the pictures aud
drapery. the spendo: OF the appointments
the prevailing courtesy aud certainty OF
good manners and behavior, it is unques-
tlonabiy a more orderly and highloned re-
sort than Que OF the drinking saloons Of
other cities, and would deserve to be named
perhaps in the same breath with some of
the clubs, or other permitted shapes of gems
:lemcus conviyialities."
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ImPoRTANT Decision OF THE u. $. ST.