The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-15
SOMETHING ABOUT AN ABSURD AMERICAN CUSTOM.

A temperance paper gets off the following:
The ridiculous, absurd American custom OF
=" askingn is responsible for -eights-mind,
we say seven-eights, and mean 1t too-of all the
louor consumed in this country. Abolish that
custom to-day, and where there are about eignt
barrels of liquor drank now, there would be bnt
one. We believe this, and believe 1t can't be
gsnsayed. We appeal to any number OF drinkers
for their opinion in the matter. We think they
will agree with and corroborate our statement in
the matter. 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 1t ia to go into place
If in mood for liquor, and to ask i've or six ae-
quantances up to drink with you yet 1t Is done
all the time, and by parties who perhaps want the
money for stockngs; but not to do it when your
acquaintances are abeut, Is to be looked upon as
email potatoes and few in hill: Take the
following as an illustration OF a delightful hx'
liable to arise from this absurd custom.
You feel in a mood for glass. You go for II.
You have, perhaps, dollar about you. meet
friend just as you are about to enter Sin'mh anu
you task him." Enter. and he comes upon
group of four five Of has friends, who have Just
entered and are conyersing for moment: You
are introduced ell around 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 py
custom and impeed by false pride to ask them TO
ioin you 10 social glass. You can't get out OF II.
| They know you came in for liquor, and as your
friend introduced you and didn't invite, why you
| must do the honors. and you say you are glad 10
see them IAN internal lie, by the way) and ask
| them up.
| You have to borrow Of your friend. How g
| that? Perhaps some of the party might ask you
| some other time, but the chances are they
| wouldn't know you from baked apple. most
| absurd, dead fraud this asking" IN connectlon
| with LIQUOR. Do we ask, coax. prevail on ac-
uuaintances to 90 in and have neckties, gloves, or
| boots with us "Come in and take q bottle OF
wine with me-" men will say. and take you oy
the arm, and in you go. Do they ever say j.
tCome in and have hat with me are you
continually urged to eat things! Dothey ask you
to take pocket-knives, lead pencils, hair dye,
tooth powder, paper collars or umbrellas with
tbem?' No, this "asking " business is connned 10
louor. 1t is liquor liberality, or custom rather,
that extends itself 10 other article II we except
oysters and cigars, bat In these il is limited.
j.Taka party of six Germans who go IN for fneir
lager. They sit down, and each one drinks what
be wants, and pays for what he drinks: he isn't
| forced and hantered because he don't drink more.
| The same with Engnsnneu, frencnmen, ana al
other people on the face of the globe except
Americans. You know how 1t would be with SIX
of the latter, did they go In for lager. There
would be thirty.si glasses drank, or paid Tor II
not all drank, because each must ask the others
Imssine case like this, did the "askingr bust
ness extend beyond the confines OF iiquer. Two
gentlemen walking up Broadway. One Is attrsot
ed by fine display of bottles-no, boots, shoes
etc., in window. "Bob, let's go in and have b y
%Rs eSosI Sous 1 'y f. yoa o a1
not taking boots Just now" "oh;;, get in. Take
hold. One pair won't hurt you." mo. excuse
! me, Tom" Take something. Bob. Have pail
of shoes. boot jack, CATERS. Take home pair o.
shoes for your wife Don't see me- 90 this a;n tniat
boots. It's no use. Who could Withstand romi
, / appealf