New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-02-02
I 1iquoring onIthe mississippi.

\ We do not know the writer Of the following, but
we admire the GOODNESS with which, after exhibiting
SO intimate q knowledge Of the subject upon which
be writes he affects to be innocent Of any practical
experience touching it:
Our readers have heard of wooding on the Missis-
sippi, gambling on the Mississippi, and even blowing
up on the Mississippi. A late trip on that famous
highway introduced US to what is not less than any
Of these popularity, liquoring on the Mississippi
Did you ever, reader, salt cattle on lcklog, OF
give vermfuge to score Of little niggers on plan
tation? Unless you have done both, you cannot con
ceive of morning liquoring scene on Mississippi
steamboat. 1t takes the first to give idea of the
relish and the second of coming up to it one by one
We rose early, and by accident drew chair on the
guards where full and inside view OF the bar pre-.
| sented itself. Z ,,-,.4 .7,s. & ~. 49,. :
The bar-keeper knows the habits of his customers
sngulary we'll AT certain times he strols about at
Others is constantly in attendance. Like surgeon
who before going into operation has all his bandages
and iniments and knives arranged and in reach, so
the bar-keeper did. We saw him do it, Here the
sugar and the ice, and there the pick to break of
more small pieces from the lump when needed. The
sop tub just under the counter for passing tumblers
through, is replenished the corks are drawn and
fitted in easy the faucets in order If peradventure,
weak stomach Graves it, a lemon is cut and laid by
the squeeze. All ready, he wipes off the board again
and again
Here comes a man In shirt leeves, dry as a fish
takes pull at the big bottle-goes back to bed
Next fills up the glass to taper point works his
lips together as his hand touches it turns round
bottom; stops it in an appreciate part Of second,
just before the final tilt into dry and thirsty abyss
that doubtless had swallowed cotton plantation in
detaseemed to see prismatie beauties as he held it
sunward down it went slow and easy; took his chair
near by and looked thoughtfuy out on the shore,
wondering how his inwards felt.
A man below the ordinary stature, but thick set,
wearing calico pants and loose linen coat leads the
way with two others, one looking seedy, the other
CARELESS They agree, after consultation, as to the
dram-dont seem hard to suit, and it works like a
charm They draw two chairs close, while the third
sits on the railing in 'front.' and talk and laugh bos-
terously till breakfast.
Next an elderly gentIeman-looks rather shy-he is
quick in his moyement-has the change ready-wipes
his mouth and is gone.
sAayoung man, neatly dressed and hat on, saunters
up and says cocktail something with tail to
it. Did you ever see y cocktail mixed up? 1t re.
quires two glasses, and mixing requires a genius.
From to the other glass; right, left right up left
down the sparkling fluid falls ina frightening curve.
1t actually seems to rope-the liquor does. AT last it
rests in one It was curiosity to glance at the gen
tleman who ordered that extra article He toyed with
it until he feared the foam that had been got up with
such effort would subside before he got it down.
They come thick and fast, now fortunate foresight
in the bar-keeper tohaye everything where he can
lay hand on it, Young men come, very young men,,
and men old enough to know better. We saw no
father take up his son they do these things apart
In some cases, 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 side
door near, and pulling out a bag with money, get
drana without ice, sugar or water-the undiluted
stutf-those were mostly Irishmen.
The variety in all this dreadful unity is not the
least interesting fact One comes for the Liquor and
nothing else-gets il ana goes. Another likes the
lounges about its in no hurry, and orders
the dram with an air Of indifference The concoction
is not strong enough for this man, and he says
something to the barkeeper who sprnkles something
in it. That man throws down the drink at a gnlp,
and throws glass of water after it though he had
swallowed fire. One takes it for his stomach's sake
and don't wan to get the taste of it on its way there
Another seems to wish his throat was as long as 8
feneerail that he might taste it all the way down.
The ardent and pure stuff is good enough for some
while others coax and combine the elements in every