Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-05-09
,Liuuoring ON the Missisgppi.

ing, but we admire the GOODNESS with which,
after r-exhibiting so intimate - knowledge of
the subject upon which hewrites, he affects
tosbe innocent of any practical experience
touching it:
Our readers have beard Of wooding on the
Mississippi, and gambling on the Mississippi.
A late trip on that famous highway intro
duced us TO. what is not less than any Of
these peculiartS liquoring on the Mssis
sippi.
Did you ever, reader salt cattle on lick
log, or give vermfuge to score Of little
niggers on plantation? Unless you have
done both, you cannot conceive of.a morn.
ing ]iquoriug scene on a Mississippi steam
boat 1t takes the first to give an idea Of
the relish, and the second of coming up to
it one byone. We rose early, and by,acci-
dent drew a chair on the guards whore
full and inside view of the bar presented L.
self.
The bar-kceper knows the habits Of his
customers sjngularly we'll AT certain times
ne strolls about, AZ others constantly in at
tendance. Like asurgeon, who before go,
ing incorporation has all his bandoges, and
linlments, and knives arranged, in reach, so
the barkeeper did, We saw him do II -.
Here the sugar and the ice, and there the
pickto break off moro small pieces from The
lump when needed, The slop tub, just un-
derthc counter, for passing tumblers through
is replenished; the corks are drawn and fit
ted in easy; the faucets in order IF, per
adventure, "a. weak stomach Graves it, a lem
on is cut and laid by the squeeze. All
ready, he wipes of the board again and
again.
Here comes man in shirt sleeves, dry
asa fish takes pull at the big bottle
goes back to bed. Next one fills UP the
glass to taper point; works his lips togeth-
er as his hand touches it; turns il round on
bottom; stops it in an appreciaBle part of
asecond, just before the final tilt into dry
and thirsty abyss that doubtless had swal-
lowed a cotton plantation in detail--seemel
to see prsmatic beauties as he held il sun,
ward down, it went slow and easy took
his chnir near by, and looked thoughtfuly
out on the shore, we wondering how his in
wards felt. t'
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 olhe, careless. They
agree after consultation, as to the dram
don't 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 hoisterously till breakfast.
Next an elderly gentleman looks rather
shy-he is quick in his movemeut-has the
change ready wipes his mouth and isgone
a young man, neatlR dressed and ha, on,
saunters up and says "cocktsil," or some
thing with.a tail toit.. Did you ever see
cocktail mixed up! II requires two glass,
es, and mixing requires a genius. From
one to the other glass, right left, right up,
left down, the sparkling fluids falls in
iengthening curve. II actually seems TO
rope-the liquor dos. At, last il rests in
one. 1t was o curiosity 10 glance the
gentleman who ordered the extra article.
He toyed with it until he feared the foam
that had been got up with such effort would
suhside before he got it down.
They come thick and fast, what fortunate
foresight IN the bar.keeper 60 have every
thing whore 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, we painfully suspected that
a member of the Christian Church, feeling
away from witnesses ard restraint, was IN
dulging an old appetite.
Ever and awhile deck hand would come
to.a side door near and pllng out a bag
with money, get dram without ice, sugar
orwater-the undiluted stuff--those were
mostly Irishmen. sa ~
The variety in all this dreadful unity is
not the least interesting fact. One comes
for the liquor, and nothing else-gets it and
goes. Another likes the place-lounges
about It's in no hurry, and orders The
dram with 40 air of Indifference. The con.
cociion is not strong enough for this man,
and he says something TO. the bar keeper,
who. sprinkles something init. The man
throws down the drink at n gulp, and throws
a glass. of water after IL as though he had
swallowed FIRE. One takes il for his stom-
ach's sake, and don't want to get the taste
of IL on its way there Another seemsst O
wish. his throat was as long as a4fenee. rail,
that he might taste it all tbe way down.
The .irasS: and pure stiff is good encueh
for some, while others eoax and combine tbe
elements in every variety.
" little ginger to make it bot,
"a little ice 10 make ii COO!
a litaewat to make il weak.
a little brandy 10 make il strong,
a little sugar to make IL sweet, 3
- Aslittle.lenon to make il sonf, Is
a llttle effort TO make i go down"
-. y j. -s