The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-15
" Lets Have q Drink"


A temperance paper gets OFF the following:
The ridiculous, absurd American custom OF
asking' is responsible for seven-eights-mind,
we say seven-eights, and mean it too-of all the
liquor consumed in this country. Abolish that
custom to-day, and where there are about eight
barrels of liquor drank now, there would be bnt
one. We believe this, and believe 1t can't be
gsnsayed. We appeal 20 any number Of drinkers
for their opinion in the matter. We think they
will agree with and corroborate our statement Ia
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 q
ridiculous piece of folly il is TO go into place
If in mood for liquor, and to ask five or six ac-
quaintances up 10 drink with you yet 1t is done
all the time, and by parties who perhaps want the
money for stockings; but not to do II when your
acquaintance are aDeut, ia to be looked upon as
"small potatoes" and few in hill. Take the
following as an illustration Of delightful 6x'
liable to arise from this absurd custom.
You feel in mood for glass. You go for it.
You have, perhaps. dollar about you. Meet
friend just as yon are about to enter gin.m MILL and
you TASK him." Enter. and he comes upon q
group of four or five Of has friends, who have just
entered and are eonYersing for moment: You
are introduced all around by your friend Where
are you now? With dollar in your pocket and \
five or six fellows on your hands. only one Off
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 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 TO;
see them Gan internal lie, By the wsy,) and ask
them mp.
If you are known at the bar, oil right; If not,
you have to borrow of your friend. How 8
that? Perhaps some Of the party might ask you
some other time, but the chances are they
wouldn't know you from a baked apple. A mosti
absurd, dead fraud this asking " in connection
with liquor Do we ask, coax. prevail on se-
quantances 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 go. Do they ever say
"Come in and have hat wits ese !" Are you
continually urged to eat things7 Do they ask you
to take pocket-knives, lead pencils, hair dye,i
tooth powder, paper collars or umbrellas with.
them? No, this "askingn business is confined J0i
liquor. 1t is liquor lberality or q custom rather,
that extends itsef 10 no other article. we except
oysters and cigars, but in these il is limited.
Take party Of six Germans who go in for their
lager. They cit down, and each ore 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 Englshmen, Frenchmen, and all
other people on the face of the globe except
of the latter, did they go in for lager. There
would be thrty'six glasses drank. or paid for IL
not all drank, because each must ask the Others.
Humbug! Folly
Imagine case like this, did the "asking" bust.
ness extend beyond the confines of liquor. Two
gentlemen walking up Broadway. One is attract
ed by fine display of bottles-no, boots, shoes,
etc., in a window. "Bob, let's go in and have
some n J., boots In they &C. Take r hold Bob: %,
not taking boots just now" "0h. get in. Take
hold. One pair won't hurt you." mo, excuse
me, Tom" "Tske something. Bob. Have pair
of shoes, boot jack, CATERS. Take home pair OF
shoes for your wife. Don't see me do this thing
boots. It's no use. Who could withstand Toms
appeali