The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-06-03
"CONE, BOYS, LET'S HAVE a
DRINK

A temperance paper asserts that the
ridiculous and absurd American custom
of ''treating'' is responsible for seven
eights of all the liquor consumed in the
country. A young man steps into sa-
loon, perhaps in quest of a lunch, not
having enjoyed his breakfast, and meets
half a dozen acquaintances. The first
thing he daes is to say /: ''Come, boys,
let's drink He does it, not because he
wants II himself, for he may only take a
glass Of lemonade, bat because it is the
custom, and he thinks his acquaintanc ces
will think him mean and stingy if he does
not do it. Abolish that custom to-day and
where there is eight barrels Of liqucr drank
now there would be but one We be-
lieye this. and believe it can't be gainsaid.
We appeal to any number Of drinkers for
their opinion in this matter. To this cus>
tom 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. A moments reflection would show
the Righteousness of going into q place,
even in the mood for liquor, and asking
FIVE or six acquaintances up TO drink with
you; yet it is done all the time, and by
the parties who perhaps want the money
for stockings; but not TO do it when your
acquaintances are about, is to be looked
upon as "small potatoes and q few IN
the hill. Take the following as an Illus
tration of delightful SIX" liable to arise
~. faol
mood for glass. You go for it. Meet
a friend just as you are about 20 enter
gin mill, and you 'ask" him. Enter,
and he comes upon group of four or
five Of his friends who have just entered,
and are cOnversing for a moment. You
are introduced ali round by your friend
Where are you now, with a dollar in
your pocket and five or six fellows on
yonr hands, only one of whom you ever
saw before, and morally bound by Gus
tom and impelled by false pride to ask
them to join you in social glass. You
can; get out of it they know you came
in for liquor, and as your friend introduce
ed you and didn't invite, why you must
do the honor, and you say you are glad
to see them, Gan Internal lie, by the way,)
and ask them up. If you are known
at the bar, all right; if not, you have to
borrow of your friend. How's that p
Perhaps 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 ''ask-
ing" in connection with liquor Do we
ask, coax, prevail on acquaintances to go
in and have neck-ties, gloves or boots with
US? "Come in and have bottle of wine
with me" men will say, and take you by
the arm and in you so. Do they ever say,
''Come in and have hat with me p
Are you continually urged TO eat things
Do they ask you to take pocket knives,
lead pencils, hair dye, tooth powder, paper
collars or umbrellas with them? No, this
''asking" business is confined to liquor.
It is liquor liberaIity,tor custom rather,
that extends itself to no other article, If
we except oysters and cigars, bat in these
it is limited. Take party of six Ger
mans, who go in for their lager. They
sit down. and each one drinks what he
wants, and pays for what he drinks. He
isn't forced and bantered because he don't
drink more The same with Englishnen,
Frenchmen, and all other people on the
face of the globe, except Americans, You
know how it would be with the latter did
they 60 in for lager. There would be
thirty-six glasses drank, OF paid for if not
drank, because each must ''ask' the 9TH
ers. Humbug! Folly! Imagine case
like this, did the asking business ex-
tend beyond the confines of liquor: Two
gentlemen walking up Main street. One
is attracted by fine display of bottles
no, boots, shoes, ETC., in window. "Bob,
let's 60 in and have some boots In
they go. 'STake hold, Bob /; what's your
fancy :" "Thank you, Tom, but I'm
not taxing boots just now" "Oh, get
in. Take hold One pair won't hurt
you." "No, excuse me, Tom" 'sTsKe
something, Bob. Take home pair of
boots for your wife. Don't see me do
this thing alone" Bob comes down and
taxes a pair of boots. It's no use. Who
could Withstand Toms appeal.
GALEoPING CoNsUsPIToS-Eating at a