The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-12-12
The Man Who Getteth On a Spree.

The following, from the Richmond Elk.
aminer, may possibly have some applica.
tionSin this latitude: s
There is class of men of peculiar habits
in, every community, not only in the popu.
Ions city, but in the quiet and peaceful
country village, whose hearts are open to
generous impulses, and whose minds are
not nnfrequently endowed with genius
at whom the Parisee points the finger OF
scorn, and for whose shortcomings and
failings society in general has but little
sympathy. We allude to the habitual
spreer-the man who getteth tip betimes
in the morning and cocktaileth, and re.
peateth the dose an indefinite number of
times, until his brain whirleth, his legs re-
fnseth their Office, and he sinketh down on
the soft side Of the pavement, a helpless
| victim tothe wiles of Bourbon or needle
fgun whisky, as the case may be.
| Such men often keep sober for many
weeks, and then under The influence Of the
times, flncied misfortune, or a well-tilled
purse, think they may venture to take one
drink. It will disnel care, raise the spir,
it's, and set them OH their feet again. The
drink, is taken. and this, drink begetteth an
appetite for another The spirits begin to-
rise, and a warm, feeling of prosperity
warns up the heart. The devotee of John
,Barleyc0rn has, commenced his practice at
| the bar in earnest A party Of jolly fell
lows come in, aud he treats and is treated
in return. His little pile Of currency be-
comes small by degrees aud beautifully
less" So long as it lasts he is generous,
and never lacks for "a friend to join him
in a drink. Finally his legs begin to get
drunk, but his brain is clear. He knows
what he is about, and win stop when he
has got enough. Another drink, and an!
other, until Il search of the innerm0st re-
cesses Of his pocket fails to bring to light
another dine. ~ va Hs7i@iA
HI, asks the bar-keeper for credit. "We
don't do lb,isihess in that way" is the ready
|reply, By this time he is pretty drunk all
over, staggers out and falling into some
friendly doorway, sinks into the arms Of
natures sweet restorer, balmly sleep."y If
he happens to escape the notice Of tie vig-
liant policeman, he awakes at a late ho1r
Of the night, minus hat and shoes, which
have been taken possession of by some
wayfarer whose necessities doubtless drove
him to the act Hatless and shoeless he
goes to- his lodgings, and after astroubled
sleep wakes up with a burning thirst. He
has no nloney,,bnt must have u drink. and.
he gets it. In fact, a man must manage
by shrewd' engineering to get whisky when
he can't get anything else. fsifait'sf /
|. The experiments of the previous day are
repeated, and kept up, perhaps for week,
when. the jolly chap becomes sick, takes
medicine, sees the folly Of his course,
makes marvellous resolutions. ard swears
he will never touch another. drop, And.
generally speaking, ne never does--untii
re ncsssts Iime. Upoii the least rising or
sinking of the mercury in the mental Their,
mometer, he is offiagain, showing that fair
promises, like pie.crust, are easily broken.
(. There are many young men of excellent
business qualifications, who will doubtless
recognize their own daguerreotype in the
picture we have drawn. It s'this class
who ought never to taste drop. Your
old sokeE can take his regular drains with
no immediate perceptible effect; but it
tells on him in time, and the man with the
poker gets after him, sooner OF later. But
the young man who had acquired habit
of spreeing can never drink without get
ting drunk, whereby he loses confidence of
his employer, plunges his family into the
depths of woe, and finally becomes an out
cast from society, and the associate of bum
mers and vagabonds And. having brought
him to this level, we close our brief ser
mon on the man who getteth Oh sprss