Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-04-20
Temperance.


NATIONAL ETIQUETTE OF THIRST.
drinking" which, Americanice means the
use Of vinous and alcoholic stimulus, has been
discussed many thousand times on religious,
moral hygienic, and economical principles,
but it has been more condemned than descub-
ed. The manners and customs of the bar
room and the institution Of our national treat
are curious and absurd enough TO merit par
ticular attention.
If Mr.. A. is in the street walking for health
or on business, and happens to meet either a
friend whom he hasn't seen for some time. or
one from whom he parted last night,--or an
enemy with whom he has made up, or one
whom he wishes to blind, or a person whom
he wishes TO secure as customer, or one
whose customer he wishes to become, or gem
orally anybody whatsoever who is Of enough
importance to stop and talk with, the first
thing to do is to invite him to take drink.
Not that Mr.. A. before mentioned is thirsty
or previously TO the rcncontrc had any pur-
pose of imbibing. or that be supposed his in-
terlocutor is suffering from the want Of re-
freshment, but the suggestion is made as the
right thing to do under the circumstances.
And this brings US TO the observation that
Americans seem to take it for granted that
every male ielow-citizen out of swadding
clothes. and not assuming intense and old
fogy respectability, is in perpetual readiness
for strong drink at all hours Of the day and
night That upon the magic call being made
any hesitation should DC expressed on the
ground that the invitee did not desire TO ac-
cept the favor, would be indeed startling
phenomenon. mot want 20 drink IL is
simply impossible, he must intend to insult
me % would be the thought of the sighted
one. And in sober fact such a refusal is the
actual occasion of many quarrel, and in the
less law abiding sections, of many fight
Nothing short Of physicians certificate of
absolute illness and prohibition Of the indul-
goncc. will be Of any avail, and even then tits
ground for suspicion. To have Just partakcn
is by no means an excuse, but on the contra
~ an unanswcrabe argument for repetition,
and it would be difficult to estimate the de-
gree of drunkenness in acquaintance which
would sanction his being omitted from an in
vitation when in presence.
Well, our friend A. aud his casual wayiarcr
proceed to bar, which, whether more or less
gaudy, is always studiously uncomfortable, as
if to teach the duty of boiling the desideratcd
liquor as speedily as possible, paying there
for, and decamping to leave room for the next
customer. 1t is ten chances to one, however,
that some one or more Of AS acquaintance
are found on a similar errand, in which case
it is his imnerative dutv n insist nnon a ioin-
der Of forces The law ia clear tbat no man
shall ,,oister HE cl,,, u,lcss c,cry ipdi,iJ,,L
in the neiybborbood IN whom bc ba. at any
time been introduced Is compellod to 20
through the same ordeal in company drills.
1t is of no consequence. how different may be
the tastes and characters OF the persons thus
forced into line. they must. at whatever sacri-
fee be mutually introduced-must be asked
to imbibe. and must not refuse. The charm-
ingly varied acquaintance thus produced. is an
admirable result of the usage. besides the
largelv increased consumntion of the commo-
div yended For when the several partics
have nrenarod their linuid cbargos- and with
mechanical regularity nodded. raised tho crvs-
tai swallowed. sighed and stooped-thcrc he
gins another phase of the great system. This
arisos from tho debtor and creditor nccopnt
which places the anus now unon those in he
half of whom the sum Of a shilling or six
penee ner head. as the case NAV be. has been
generously extended. On penalty of being
considered mean in the last DEGREES each of
the treaties must then and there or some ear
" onportunitv respona TO the i,coior. and so
on f,revormore until il bocouos an interest
;,. ,r;tbroo,;c,I o,,ostio, hon, ,,o,., dr;L.