Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1869-05-20

y
power of expression. In lis eyes and
nose alone were perceptible traces of
his Indian origin. He leaves wife
and four children, one a son.
Lets Have a Drimk"-Somc.
thing about ;an Absurd Anne ri.
can Custom.
A temperance paper gets off the fol
lowing:
The ridiculous, absurd American
custom OF "asking" is responsible fol
seven -eighths-mind, we say seven
eighths, and mean 1t too-of all the
liquor consumed in this country
Abolish that custom to-day, and where
there are eight barrels of liquor drank
now, there would be but one. We
believe this, and believe it cant be
gainsaid. We appeal to any number
OF drinkers for their opinionin in the mat.
ter. To this custom we owe our
drinking between drinks which some
wag, with more truth than poetry in
his soul, said was the only thing that
hurt, or words to that effect.
What ridiculous piece of folly it is
to go into place, if in the mood tor
liquor, and to ask FIVE or six acquain-
tances up to drink with you; yet it is
done all the time, and by parties who
perhaps want the money tor stockings;
but not to do it when your acquain-
tances are about, is to be looked upon
AS small potatoes and few in a hill
Take the following as an illustration
OF a delightful fix liable to arlse from
this absurd custom.
ou teel in mood for glass. \ You
go tor 1t Meet friend just as you
are about t. enter a gin-mill, and you
''ask him. Enter, and he comes upon
a grcup OF toar or five of his friends
who have just entered, and are con-
versing tor moment. \ on are in
tgoauced all round by your friend.
Where are you now? With dollar
in your pocket and FIVE or six fellows
on your hands, only one of whom you
ever saw before, and morally bound
by custom and impelled by false pride
to ask them to join you in a social
glass.
You can't get out of it; they know
yen come for liquor, and as your
trend introduced you and didn't in
,nc, why you must do the honors,
ana you say you are glad to see them
ian internal lie, by the way) and ask
them up. 1t you are known at the
bar, all right: if not, you have to Dor.
row Of your friend. Iow.s that? Per
haps some of the party might ask you
some other time, but the chances are
they wouldn't know you from baked
apple. A most absurd, dead fraud
this asking" in connection with liquor
! Do We ask, coax, prevail on acquaint
ances to go in and have neekties
gloves or boots with u.s." Come il
and take bottle OF wine with me.
men will say, and take you by the arm
and in you go. Do they ever say
Come in and have hat with me-
Are You continually urged to ca,
things: Do they ask you to take
pocket-knivcs, lead pencils, hair-dye
tooth-powder, paper collars or UNI
brellas with them: No, this asking
business is confined to liquor. 1t is
liquor libcra!ity, or custom, rather
that extends itself to no other article
it we except oysters a..d cigars, bu,
IN these it is limited.
Take party of six Germans, who
go III for their lager. They sit down.
and each one drinks what he wants
anl pays tor what he drink. He ism,
forced and bantered because he don't
drink more. The same with English.
men, Frenchmen, and all other people
on the face OF the globe, except Amer
leans. You know how it would be
with six OF the latter, did they 60 in
for lager. There would be thirty six
glasses drank, or paid for, if not all
drank, because each must ask" the
other. "Humbug. Folly.'
Imagine case like this, did the
asking business extend beyon,l the
confines OF liquor. Two gentlemen
walking up Broadway. One is attract
cd b! find display OF bottles-no,
boots. shoes, etc, i'll window. Bob
let's go in and have some boots Iu
they go. Take hold, Bob. What's
your iancy?' Thank you, Tom, but
I'm not taking boots Just now.' "Oh,
get in. Take hold One pair won't
hurt you "No. excuse me. Tom. y
TAKE something, Bob, Take home
a pair OF boots tor your wife. Don't
see me do this thing alone Bob
comes down and takes pair OF boots.
It's no use. Who could withstand
Toms appeal?