Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-07-11
Scene in a Soda ShOD,
"SnrsapariIIa SINGERS" Smnrtness.
[From the Cleveland Leader.l

A Reputation Nearly Blasted by n
"Snrsap ariIIa Singers" Smnrtness.
From the Cleveland LEADER
We have no hesitancy in stating that among
the able-bodied male adults Of this city the very
common beverage known AZ "soda water" and
which is dealt out 30 unsparingly at every corn
ner during the heated term, is considered, to
use their own language, u " thin drink" But
this ingenious mixture of wind and water il
termed I" thin, strong liquors, such as whis-
kies, are altogether too " thick" for steady
warm weather drink, and 30 the inbiber who
must masten his hues with some liquid re-
freshment seeks a pleasant combination Of the
two classes Of drink, which forms a happy
combination that exhilarates yet is not intoxi-
eating. 1t is customary among these bibulous
go-betweens to enter a drug store. call for
soda water, name their syrup at the same time
giving wink to the dispenser Of slush', who
takes the goblet, in which he places the syrup,
then stoops down beneath the counter or re-
tires to back room, where, by some myster-
chemical change, the contents are colored dark
ly. and the soda is then let in upon the mix
ture, which is handed to the customer with a
wink from the clerk. Too much for the pro-
cess; now for the sequel
Saturday venerable gentleman from the
country, who il respectable church deacon, q
Justice of the Peace, member of the Band
of Hope" and Good Templar in his native
village, came to this city to trade little in dry
goods and purchase such agricultural imple-
ments as he needed to plant and cultivate his
spring crops The deacon is strictly temperate,
and never looks upon the wine when it is red
any more than he does when it is any other
color. Unfortunately our old friend had suffer
ed from opth alma in his early days, which left
him with an optical popularity which caused
his left upper eyelid to drop every few seconds,
and, to those not familiar with his infrmity
gave him the appearance of winking inten-
tionally
The Deac" il passionately fond of soda wa
ter and such light beverages He loves to feel
the gaseous compound Coursing down his
throat, and creating internal connections and
typhoons. that, however endurable by older
persons, throw babes into agony and require
prompt doses of peppermint; 30 Saturday,
after he had bought a few shovels, plows, Dolly
Warden for his Wife, he thought he would fiji
up with soda water and drive on towards home.
He entered drug store, inquired the price OF
the desired refreshment, then deposited HE
scrip and awaited his mixture.
What syrup do you want ?" said the urbane
clerk, as he mopped of the marble counter
with the same towel he used moment before
to remove the honest sweat from his brow.
"Oh, give me sassapapilly that is about az
healthy as anything, guess" (Here the dea-
cons eyelid went back on him and dropped
quickly.)
All right" replied the fountain tender, az
he disappeared below the counter and came up
a moment later with the drinking glass CON
tanning about three fingers of &" sassaparilly,"
to which he added the other ingredients, and
handed it to the deacon. The later drained
the contents to the very dregs, then brushed
the froth from his mouth, smacked his lips and
said, "That syrup is a leetle stronger tran they
generally make it, but my blood is out of order,
and guess III take another glass;" at the same
time his eyelid huttered meaningly as before.
The dose was repeated, and the soda-water
bibber left the store. About half an hour later
he entered another establishment where sign
announced Soda and Mineral Water on
Draught. 1t was noticed the Deacon walked
as if he had the string halt as he entered the
door, and his spectacles were upside down on
his nose He called for Congress Water" at
that place, saying he " did not feel quite right,
and.was afraid he had used too much syrup in
his soda water at the other store, or else he was
bilious" His optical weakness exhibited itself
as he spoke, and returning the wink, the clerk
retired to dark closet then returning filed
up the glass with plain " Congress" and gave
it to our now I" tghtually slight" friend, who
swallowed it without a murmur.
How many ''sodas" the deacon stored away
before he left the city we are unable to say,
but he was found late in the day, asleep in his
wagon, with a pillow point for pillow, and sew
eral yards Of Dolly Warden calico gracefully
draped about his person for covering. He
revived sufficiently to inform stranger that
he had been 6 druged," and a subsequent visit
to the localities where he had taken soda water
developed the fact that his unfortunate habit
of winking-a defect over which he had no
control-was the cause of all his trouble. The
soda water dispensers supposed him to be lone
of the boys" and every time his eye lid drop
ped took the hint. The deacon escaped the
" iimjams," but says hereafter he will wear
binder over that eye when he purchases sum
mer drinks, or else write his order on slate.