The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-05-19
!" Ist's Havs . Drink"
SOM ErHrSa ABOUT AN ABSURD AMERICAN
| CUSTOM.

A Temperance paper gets off the follow
THE ridiculous, absurd American custom
Of asking" is responsible for seven
mean 1t too-of all the liquor consumed in
this country. Abolish that custom to-day,
and where there are eight barrels of liquor
drank now, there would be bat one. We
believe this, and believe it can't be gain
sayed. We appeal to any number of
drinkers for their opinion in the matter.
We think they will agree with and corrob-
custom we owe our drinking between
drinks" which some wag, with more truth
than poetry In his sonl, said was the only
thing that hurt, or words to that effect.
What ridiculous piece of folly it is to
go into place, if in the mood for liquor,
drink with yon 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 il
lustration of delightful "fix" liable to
arise from this absurd custom.
You feel in q mood for glass. You 60
for it. You have, perhaps, dollar about
You. Meet friend just as you are about
to enter q gin-mill and you " ask him."
Enter, and he comes upon group of four
or five of his friends, who have just enter
ed and are converting for moment. You
are introduced all around by your friend.
Where are you nowf 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
ont Of it; they know you came for liquor,
and as your friend introduced you and
= S,~fk S,,x az n 10
and You say you are glad to see them ian
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 party
might ask you some other time, but tue
chances are they wouldn't know you from
tSi apple. most H.b a1op
Do we ask, coax, prevail on acquaintances
to 60 in and have neck-ties, gloves or boots
with usf "Come in and take bottle of
vino with me-" men will say, and take you
by the arm, and in you go. Do they ever
say, come in and have hat with me Z"
Are you continually asked to eat things !
Do they ask you to take pocket-k knives,
lead pencils, hair dye, tooth powder, paper
collars, or umbrellas with them. No, this
!" asking" business is confined to liquor. 1t
is liquor liberality, -or q custom rather
that extends itself to no other article, If
we except OJ sters and cigars, put 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 forced and ban
tered because he don't drink more. Ihe
same with Englishmen, Frenchmen and all
other people on the face OF the glooe
except: the Americans. You know how 1T
would be with six of the latter, did they 60
in for lager. There would be thirty six
glasses drank, or paid for, if OF all drank,
because each must task the others.
Humbug! Folly!
Imagine case like this did the "asking".
business extend beyond the confines OF
liquor. Two gentlemen walking up
Broadway. One is attracted by tine dis
play NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., shoes, etc, in
a window. "Bob, let's 60 in and have
some boots" In they 60: "T Take hold,
Bob. What's your fancy 2" "Thank you,
Tom, but Pm not taking boots just now"
"Oh, get in. Take hold. One pair won't
hurt you" ono, excuse me, Tom"
"Take something, Bob. Have pair Of
shoes. boot-iack, CATERS. Take home
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
SHOPPING IN JAPAN.-In blandness of
manner, the Japanese merchant cannot be
surpassed. Seated on q neat mat-covered