The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-04-20
The Man who aetteth on a Spree.

1here Is class or men OF pecullar naDltS
in every community, not only in the populous
city, but in the quiet and peaceful country
village, whose hearts are open TO generous
impulses, and whose minds are not unfre-
quently endowed with genius, at whom the
Pharisee 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
up betimes in the morning and cock-taileth,
and repeateth the dose an indefinite number
of times, until his brain whirleth. his legs
refuseth their office, and he sinketh down on
the soft side of the pavement, a helpless vic
tim to the wiles of Bourbon or needlegun
whisky, as the case may be. Such men Of
ten keep sober for many weeks, and then, un-
der the influence of the times. fancied mis-
fortune, or a well-flled purse, think they may
venture to take one drink. 1t will dispel
care, raise the spirits. and set them on their
feet again. The drink is taken, and this
drink begeteth an appetite for another. The
spirits begin to rise, and happy feeling of
prosperity warns up the heart. The devotee
of John Barleycorn has commenced his prac-
tice at the bar in earnest. A party of Jolly
fellows come in, and he treateth, and is treat
ed in return. His little pile of currency be-
comes "small by degrees, and 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 will stop when he has got enough.
Another drink, and another, until search
OF the innermost recesses of his pocket fails
to bring to light another dime. He asks the
bar-keeper for credit. eve don't do bust
ness in that way" is the ready reply. By
+b;r ha - Jruok II rto
gers out, and falling into some friendly door
way SINKS into the arms of natures sweet
restorer. balmy sleep" IF he happens to
escape the notice of the vigilant policeman
he awakens at q late hour of the night, min
us hat and shoes, which have been taken
possession of by some wayfarer, whose ne
cessities doubtless drove him to the act
Hatless and shoeless he goes to his lodgings,
and after troubled sleep wakes mp with a
burning thirst. He has no money, but must
have drink. and he gets it. In fact q man
can manage by shrewd engineering to get
whisky when he can't get anything else. The
experiments of the previous day are repeat
ed, and kept up, perhaps, for week, when
the Jolly chap becomes sick, takes medicine,
sees the folly of his course, makes marvel
Gus resolutions, aud swears he will never
touch another drop And, generally speak
ing, he never does-not till next time. Upon
the least rising or sinking Of the mercury in
the mental thermometer, he is off again,
showing that tair promises, like pie-crust,
are easily broken.
There are many young men Of excellent
business qualifications, who viii doubles:
recognize their own daguerreotypes in the
picture we have drawn. 1t is this class wht
ought never to taste drop. Your old soakel
can take his regular dram with no immediate
perceptible effect; but it tells on him il
time, and the man with the poker gets aftel
him, sooner or later. But the young maj
who has acquired habit of spreeing cal
never drink without getting drunk, whereof,
he loses the confidence of his employer
plunges his family into the depth Of woe
and finally becomes an outcast from society
and the associate of bummers and vaga
bonds. And having brought him to thi
level, we close our brief sermon on the maj
who getteth on spree.