North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-05-05

Let's Have . Drink-Some hing about
On Absurd American Custom.
A temperance paper gets off the fol-
lowing:
The ridiculous, absurd American Gus
tom Of '.asking" is responsible for
seven-eights--mind, we say seven-eights
and, mean it too--of all the liquor con-
sumed 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 can't be gainsaid. We
appeal to any number Of drinkers for
their opinion 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 it
is to 90 into place, if in the mood for
liquor, and to ask five or six acquaintan-
ces up to drink with you; yet it is done
all the time, and by parties who perhaps
want the money for stockings; but not
to do it when your acquaintance are
about, is to be looked upon as "small
potatoes" and few in hill. Take the
following as an illustration of delight
full "fix" liable to arise from this absurd
custom
You feel in mood for a glass. You
go for it. Meet friend just as you are
about to enter gin-mill, and you ask
him. Enter and he comes upon a group
of four or FIVE of his friends who have
just entered, and conversing for mo-
ment. You are introduced allround 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 social glass.
You can't get out of it; they know
you come 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 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? Perhaps some of the par
ty 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 acquaintance to go in and have
neckties, gloves or boots with us !? "Come
in and take bottle of wine with me ?"
men will say, and take you by the arm,
and in you 60. Do they ever say,
"Come in and have hat with me ?"
Are you continually urged to eat
tAings? Do they ask you to take pock-
et-knives, lead pencils, hair-dye. tooth
powder, paper collars or umbrellas with
them No, this asking" business is
confined to liquor. 1t is liquor liberal
ity, or custom, rather, that extends
itself to no other article, if we except
oysters and cigars, but in these it is
limited.
Take party of six Germans, 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 fore
ed and bantered because he don't drink
more. The same with Englishmen,
Frenchmen, and all other people on the
globe, except Americans. You know
how it would be with six of the latter,
did they go in for lager. There would
be thirty-six glasses drank, or paid for
if not all drank, because each must
task" the others. Humbug folly.
Imagine case like this, did the
asking" bushes extend beyond the
confines of liquor. Two gentlemen
walking up Broadway. One is attracted
by fine display Of bottles-no, boots,
shoes, etc., in window. "Bob, let's
go in and have some boots" In they
go. "Thank you, Tom, but I'm not
taking boots just now" sOh, get in
Take hold. s'One pair won't hurt you"
"No, excuse me, Tom" ''Take some
thing, Bob" Take home a pair of boots
for your wife. Don't see me do this
thing alone" Bob comes down and
takes a pair of boots It's no use.
| Who could withstand Toms appeal