Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-10-13

Sro.n the New Orleans Christian Adyocate
Liqucring on the Misstasppi.

Our readers have heard OF wooding o,
the Mississippi, gambling on tho Missis
sippi. A late trip on that famous high
way introduced US TO what 10 not les
than any Of ihose popularity, liquor
ing on the Mississippi.
Did you ever, reader, salt cattle on /,
lick log, or give vcrmifuge to score oil
little niggers on a plantation =? Unles'
you have done both, you cannot conceiv,
OF q morning liqoring scene on Mis-
sissippi steamboat. Ii takes the first "a
give an idea OF the relish, and the sec
ond Of coming up to it ono by one.-
We rose carly, and by accident drew q
chair on the guards, where . full and
inside view Of the bar presented itself.
The bar.keeper knows tho habits Of
his customers singularly well. Al GER
tain limos ho strolls about-at others 10
constantly in attendance. Like . sur
geon, who, before going into 90 opera.
ton, has oil his bsndages and liniments
and knives arranged and in reach, 90
the bar keeper did, We ssw hin do il.
Here the sugar and tho Zoe, and the pick
to break of moro small pieces from tho
lump whom needed. The slop tub, just
under the counter, for passing tumblers
through, 10 replenished--tho corks are
drawn, and fitted in essy-the facets in
order, II, peradventure, weak stomach
craves it, lemon 10 cut, and laid By
tho squeeser. All ready, hs wipes OF
the board again and again.
Here comes . man in shirt sleeves, dry
q a GQh--fak I'M N v,s.It Hkn L~k
-gocs back to bed. Next one fills up
tho glass TO taper point-works bis lips
together a. his hand touches it-turns
1t round on bottom -stops it an appre.
ciable part OF q second, just before tho
final tilt into a dry and thirsty sbyss
that doubtless had swallowed . cotton
plantation in detail seemed to see pris-
matte beauties as he held it sunward.-
Down it went, slow and easy. Took his
chair near by, and looked thoughfully
out on the shore, We wondering how his
inwards feel.
A man below the ordinary statue, but
thick set, wearing calico pants and
loose linen coat leads tho way with two
othors, ono looking soedy, the other
careless. They agree, after consulta-
ton, as to the dram-don't seem hard to
suit, and it works like q charm. They
draw two chairs close, while the third
sits on the railing 10 front, and laugh
boisterously till breakfast.
Next on elderly gentleman -looks
rather shy ID quick in bis movement
has tho change ready -wipes his
mouth and 10 gone.
A young man, neatly dressed, and hat
on, saunters up and says, Cocktail" or
something with q tail to it. Did you
ever see . cocktail fixed up2 ltrcquirss
q genius. From ono to the other glass,
right, left, left, right up, down the
sparkling fluid falls in lengthening
curve. 1t actually seems to rope-the
liquor does. At last it rests in one. 1t
was curiosity to glance at tho gentle.
man who ordered that extra article. He
toycd with in until We feared the foam
that had been got up with such effort
would subside before he got it down.
They como thick and fist now-for.
tunste foresight in tho bar-keeper to
have everything where he can lay hand
on 1t. Young men come, very young
men, and men old enough to know bet
ter We saw no father take up his SOD;
they do these things apart. 10 some
cases, wc painfully suspected that
member OF the Christian Church, feeling
away from witnesses and restraint, was
indulging an old appetite.
Ever and awhile deck hand would
come to q side. door near, aud pulling
out bag with money, get . dram with
ovs ice, sugar, or water-the undiluted
stuff-these were mostly Irishmen.
Tho variety in all this dreadful unity
issnot the lease interesting fact. One
comes for tho liquor and nothing else
gets it, and goes. An other like the
place-lounges obout it's in no hurry,
and orders tho dram with an air of in
difference. The connection is not strong
enough for this man, and he says somo-
thing to the bar-kecper, who sprinkles
something into it. That man throws
down the drink at q gulp, and throws a
glass OF water after it, rs though he had
swallowed fire. One takes it for his
stomach'ssake, end don't want to got
the taste of it on it's way there. Anoth-
CT seems to wish his throat was as long
IS fencc-rail, that he might taste it all
tho way down.
The ardent and pure stuff is good
enough for some, while others coax and
combine the elements in every variety.
"A little ginger TO make 1t hot,
A tie ice II maze 1t cool:
little water 30 maze 1t weak,
little brandy to make 1t strong:
A lite sugar To make IL sweet
little lemon 20 make IL sour,
little tGort 10 make 1t 60 down 4"