New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-26
SCENE IN A SODA SHOP.
A Reputation Nearly Blasted by ''Sar.
saparilla SIinger's'' SmaFtnesss
From the Cleveland Leader.]


From the Cleveland Leader]
We have no hesitaney in stating that
among able-bOdied adults of this CITY the
very common beverage known as ''sOda
water" and which is dealt out so unspar-
ingly at every corner during the heated
term, Is considered, to use their own Ian
guage, 'Ethin drink" But while the in
genious mixture of wind and water is
termed "thin," strong liquors, such as whis-
kies, are altogether too ''thick" for steady
warm weather drink, and so the imbiber
who must moisten his hues with some
LIQUID refreshment seeks a pleasant com
binatiOn of the two classes of drink
which forms happy combination
that exhilarates, yet is not intoxi-
eating 1t is customary among these bibu-
lOus go-betweens to enter drug store,
call for soda water, name their syrup,
at the same time giving a wink to the
dispenser of "slush, who takes the goblet,
In which he places the syrup, then Stops
down beneath the counter or retires to a
back room. where, by some mysterious
chemical change, the contents are cOlOred
darkly, and the soda is then let In upon the
mixture which is handed to the customer
with a wink from the clerk. So much for
the process; now for the sequel.
Saturday a venerable gentleman from the
country, who is a respectable church dea-
the "Sand of Hope" and Good Templar
in his native village, came to the city to
trade a little in dry goods, and purchase
such agricultural implements 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
suffered from Opthalmia in his early days,
which left him with an optical popularity,
which caused his left upper eyelid to drop
every few seconds, and which, to those not
familiar with his infrmity, gave him the
appearance of winking Intentionally.
The "Deae" is passionately fond of soda
water, and such light beverages. He loves
to feel the gaseous compound cOursing down
his throat, and creating internal cOmmO-
tons and typhOOns, that, however endura-
bic by older persons, throw babes into
agony, and require prompt doses of pepper
ment; so, Saturday, after he had bought
few shOvels, plOws, hoes, rakes and thresh-
ing machines, also a Dolly Warden for his
wife, he thought he would fill up with soda
water and drive on toward home. He en-
tered drugstore, inquired the price of the
desired refreshment then deposited his
scrip and awaited its mixture.
what syrup do you want 2" said the ur-
bane clerk, as he mOpped off the marble
counter with the same towel he used q mo-
ment before TO remove the honest sweat
from his brow.
"Oh, give me sassaparilly; that is about
as healthy as anything, guess" Here the
deacOn's eyelid went back on him, and
dropped quickly.)
''All right" replied the fountain-tender,
as he disappeared below the counter, and
came up moment later with the drinking
glasses containing about three fingers of
"sarsaparilly," TO which he added the other
ingredients, and handed it to the deacon.
The latter drained the contents to the very
dregs, then brushed the froth from his
mouth, smacked his lips and said, "That is
a Ieetle stronger than they generally make
it, but my blood is out OF order, and guess
I'll take another glass )" at the same time
his eye-lid huttered meaningly as before.I
The dose was repeated, and the soda
water bibber left the store. About half an
hour later he entered another establish
ment where a sign announced "Soda and
Mineral Water on Draught" 1t was no
ticed 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 this
place, saying he did not feel quite right,
and was afraid he had used too much svrup
in his saltwater at the other store, or else
he was bilious" His optical weakness ex-
hibited itself as he spoke, and returning the
N4uA5 Iu6 C4GEh I6llF6u 10 a udIk closet
then returning filed up the glass with plain
Congress" and gave it to our now slight
ually slight friend. who swallowedit with
out 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 pillow point for
a pillow, and several yards Of Dolly Warden
calico gracefully draped about his person
for a covering. He revived sufficiently to
inform stranger that he had been
'drugged," and a subsequent visit to the
localities where he had taken saltwater
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 saltwater dispensers sup
posed him to be zone of the boys" and
every time his eyelid dropped took the
hint. The deacon escaped the '.jim-jams,"
but says hereafter he will wear binder
over that eye when he purchases summer
drinks, or else write his order on a slate.