The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-05-13
CITY LIFE.-INTEMPERANCE.
By INVISIBLE GREEN, ESQ

A Local Editsr or Reporter Of city daily
newspaper, is thrown into all shades of so.
ciety, all classes of the community. Fashion
and poverty, intelligence and degradation,
honesty and corruption, virtue and villainy,
are the subjects Of continual investigation
with him-made so by the duties of his vOca-
tiOn. From the description of brilliant
festival, (Which he has had the honor to at
tend,' he descends into the meanest hovel, to
gather the particulars Of "hOrrid occurrence
or a "reVOltiDg spectacle. There are no
places in this city where reporters are more
frequently thrown, in pursuit of "items,"
than coffee. houses, those tempting places Of
refreshment (H) where men do congregste,
to while away an idle hour in social cOnver-
sation, and to sip stimulating fluids until elated
with all unnatural flew of spirits. In those
most frequented, be issure to hear some news,
or to be put upon the track Of an item. And,
how often is it the case, that in these gilded
palaces of pleasure, he commences a story
which ends in far different place. How Of
ten, amid " n. ..
''The sounds Of revelry by nSht,'
does he witness the poor inebriate, whose only
hope OF life is burn ing liquor, and whose
sudden death he will be under the painful |
necessity to record the next day2 How often
does he see men there, full Of life, glee and hu-
NOR, whose wives and children are starving
over their restless needles2 How often does
he hear the cruel boast of the seducer, that
his victim is degraded beyond redemption,
and yet be compelled to witness the rawlings |
OF that victim, confined in cell of the watch
houSeY l have traced many sad story from
the coffee house to the grave, but none more
sOrrowful than the following:
The patrons OF the W Restaurant,
on Fifth street, all knew Joha Smith, q give
him that Aame) the pert little shoemaker,
who was always be found there after dark, un.
less otherwise particularly engaged. He had !
the reputation of being one OF the cleverestt
men in the world, and in truth he never hes
ltated to treat the party" when he had the
funds to do it, was always full Of fun, ready
to tell or play joke. He was commonly known
as 'Snob John, and was great favOrite with |
the frequenters of W Restaurant. He was !
hard. working man that is, be worked full |
Ten hours every day, until he made enough |
ahead for spree, and then his shop missed bis
presence for many days after his funds run
out. | say many days, for he was such Gle
yer fellow, so full Of fun, that his sprees were
prolonged by the purses of kindred spirits, |
who could never be without him in froiC.
always supposed "SnOb john to be jOl-
ly old bachelor, who could sing with truth,
81 care for nobody, III.
Nobody cares for me-"
and was determined to sail down the stream
OF life as merry as possible, without infring-
ing upon the happiness Of others. | was there
fore not little surprised when friend Of
his informed me, that John was a husband |
ard father, but, as the "old woman was
Sorter cross, he didn't often go home" From
that time | could not entertain so good an
opinion Of him as before, his mirth appeared |
dteyilish, and his wit stale, flat and unprOfit-
able.
Last Christmas eve, the W Restaurant
was crowded with frolickers, celebrating
that sacred anniversary with debauchery and |
blasphemy. In one Of the upper rooms, |
party Of ten or twelve persons were having |
aJolly time over the "luxuries Of the season." |
and the best Of the bar. Among them, was
'Snob John" in fact, he was the prince of the |
party, for his humOr made them lively, his |
Jokes kept them merry. They were all in the |
happiest mood, when little ragged boy 4
about nine years Of age, opened the door Of |
the room, and with shivering limbs, unob- /
served, approached ''SnOb john Timidly !!