Daily national Democrat., 1861-04-09
The Passion of Drink.


This passion, which has become so terri
bly, prevalent all over the country, must. in
our opinion, be attributed, in great mea-
sure to some popularity in the physical or
ganization of the wretchcd victims of nlco-
hol, which oyerbalauccs all their moral pow
er, and draws them to the bottle, as irresi,t-
ably as needle is drawn by the magnet
We are led TO this conclusion, from the fact
that we have known men Of elevated and
cultivated minds-men fitted by nature and
education TO Gdorn any society, ana who
when sober, would look with abhorrencc
and pity on the miserable inebriate-fall
themselves victims to the vice and that. too
after hayinggiven public pledges to abstain,
and made any amount Of mental resolutions
to keep those pledges. In short, to come
down to vulgar comparison, they seem to
be laboring under fever, which makes
them seek the bottle just as an old hen is
made to seek her nest when the fever Of in
cubauon Is upon hep
Though We have no wish to speak lightly
on matter which so directly interests the
happiness of so many domestic hearths, we
cannot ahowevcr, resist the temptation Of no.
tieing the amusing idiosyncracries of some
genLlemany topers, with whom we have
been brought in contact
The first we knew was named L. lie
was n man Of talent, and had been sent to
:he Missouri Legislature. His efforts to ab-
stain from drink were earnest and sincere ;
but, in spite of all, he would get on peril
olical drunk. Every night of that time his
friends had 10 take him home, and the first
thing he did when he got there, was to get
before a lookjng-glase aud addressing his
own reflected image, would start il some
what after this fashion,
"Now, Mr.. l., is that you? You mis-
cradle Old bloat; you are bound to die in the
gutter. What do your resolutions amount
tot Nou are not fit to live among decent
people" etc. lie would 60 on in that strain,
eXhausting every vile epithct, after which
he went TO bed, and got drunk the first thing
in the morning.
The next was in this State. The subject
was gcnteman)y man, who invariably re-
fused Nhen asked to drink 4 friend OF ours
who lodged in the same house with him. had
often spoken to US about him, and one day
our curiosity got the better Of our discretion
aud we followed hiE to the door of Capt
~ The door was a glass one, and through n
little opening in the corner, not covered by
the curtain inside we sped the Captain,
who sat in the middle Of the room before n
small table, on which stood a bottle and two
glasses His flushed cheeks contrasted sin
gularly with the liyid complexion of the rest
Of his face, and bore sufficient testimony of
recent indulgence. lie talked loud and we
could hear every word. lie poured from the
bottle, half filing his tumbier with brandy,
which he drank with great gusto After two
or three "ughs," expressive Of great sati-lac-
tion, lie started on the following mouologde;
q oil. H.. -
ble-more would. be hoggsh--must be firm
stick to my resolution"
So saying, however, the Captain wos look
ING around as though troubled with some
thing, and his gaze would finally rivet itself
IN the bottle He jumped up all of sud-
den, and coming to the door, he gave it two
slight knocks.
Come in, said the Captain; then dis
guising his voice, he inquired, Captain II p
Then, in his natural voice, that's me, sir"
d" | take the liberty of Introducing myself;
my name is Smith, and your family, whom
saw month ago, requested me to give you
a message"
"NIy family, indeed. sir? Please have a
chair, Mr.. Smith " and SO saying, the Cap
tain drew a chair which he conscieutiouslv
placed alongside of his own. Then proceed
ing TO address his imaginary visitor
Mr.. smith, you must take drinl, with me ;
have here some excellent brandy"
" Really, Captain. you must excuse me: l
drink but seldom"
But You must drink now; pray, Mr..
Smith, how is my auAt?" and 50 saying ,Ie
Captain poured two glasses Of brandy.
" Your cunt, sir, j. very we'll"
Indeed, sir-here'5 your health, Mr..
smith,
" our health. Captain and the Captain
drank the two glasses
lie then. got up AMI pushed the chairs
aside dismissed his imaginary visitor, put
the bottle away, muttorine, eonfounl the
follow We left our watching place, and a
moment afterwards, meeting the Captain ON
the street, we invited him to take drink,
Thank you. sir, never drink" replied the
aptain.-Nc2ad. Yraascyipt
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