The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-07-19
A Foolish Custom.

r. ME foolish and ridiculous custom'of ask
u ing others to drink, is responsible for
there tourths of all the drinking done in this
country. Abolish that custom to-day, and
where there are eight barrels ofliquor drank
now, there would not be two We believe
this, and believe it can't be gainsayed. We
appeal to any number of drinkers for their
opinion on the subject We think they will
agree with, and corroborate our statement
i'll the matter To this custom we owe this
drinking between drinks" which some
wag, with more truth than poetry in his
SOUL said was the only thing that hurt, OF
words to that effect. What ridiculous
piece of folly it is to go into place, if in q
mood for liquor and to ask five or six ac-
quaintances up to drink with you yet it is
done all the time, and by parties who per-
haps needs the money for stockings but
not to do it when your acquaintances are
about is to be looked upon upon as "smaE
potatoes" and few in hill. A most ab-
surd, dreadful frand, this "asIling" in con-
nection with liquor. Do we ask, coax, pro
vail, on acquaintances to go in and have
neckties, gloves or boots with us? "Colne
III 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
! take hat with me?" Are you continually
urged to eat things? Do they ask you to
take pocket knives, lead pencils, hair-dve.
tooth-powdcr, paper collars or umbrellas
with them? No; this "asking'' business
is confined to liquor. 1t is liquor liberaity,
or custom rather, that extends itself to
no other article, if we except oysters anG
cigars, but in this 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 paws for
what he drinks. lie isn't forced and ban
tered because he don't drink more. The
! same with Englishmen, Frenchmen, and all
other people on the face of the globe ex-
cept Americans. You know how it would
be with six of the LATTER did they go in for
lager There would be thirty-six glasses
dlank, or paid for, if not all drank, be-
cause each must ask the other. Humbug I.
Folly
Imagine case like this, did the ask
ing business extend beyond the confines Of
liquor. Two gentleman walking up Broad
way. One is attracted by fine display Of
bottlos-no boots, shoes, &C., in a window
" Bob let's go in and take some boots" In
they go! "Take hold, Bob. What'syouy
fancy?' "No, thank you, Tom, but Pm
not taking boots just now" "Oh, get in
Take pair. One pair won't hurt you. 8"
No, excuse me, Tom" "Take some
thing else. Have q pair Of shoes, boot-iacL
or CATERS. Take home pair of boots to
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 stand
Toms appeal?
Can't this thing be extended to boots,
hats umbrellas, tooth-brushes, .nutmeg-gra-
ters, shirts, eyeglasses, carpet bags, &C. ?
How cheap some of us could get along, if it
could be. Give it a start, gentlemen. Do
not let it be limited TO liquor. If not let
us say Teetotalers, if you would cultail the
consumption of liquor, make an assault
upon this absurd asking custom in vogue
with us and until you can do this. YOU
nee Int expect any decrease in the lqucx
business.