Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-09-18
METROPOLITAN Foolishness!

Journal.
Metropolitan Foolishness,
The first impression of stranger j..
that New YORK i one immense rum
shop But such is not, by any means,
the case. There are 4 great many of
them. They are a. thick Il, dandciiouS
along the border of country COW path.
Assuredlv New York i a dry and
thirsty land" The pulse II the great
city beats to the chink OF heer-pols and
wine-ela>ses. II seems IL natural for
New Yorker to drink beer As lis to name
a Smith heir, John, or a dog, Tower.
Tipping i common to the Young aud
the old, the stranger and the native born.
Old DR.. Johnson's appetite for fish
sauce and veal-pie with plum>' showed
Itself in his face. Gluitony Wi, assert
Itself. The stamp OF inlcmpcFance j.,
superior to acid condiment, and aroma
tic deceit-. wine and Lager Beer" j.
written on the face OF the driu kcr a.
plainly a It's on the sign nj the srog-
gerry. The waiery eye, the bloatcd fi--
IRE, the uncertain gait, the Barlolphan
nose, all tell the same pitiiul story. Bat
appetite mus; be INDUCED nevertheless.
The Young men think more OF their
Indeed, mothers are secondary affairs
compared to a regular supply from the
tap-room. They will have drink in
spite OF want, in spite OF remonstrance,
in spite of warning.
'Back and syde go bare. % bare,
Beth foote and hand 90 colde:
But belly, God send thee good ale auolghe,
Whether II be new or Ode
After business hours at night the real
drinking begins. Friend meets friend
and each is expected to treat in his turn.
The bartender seasons the drink with
tlattery anc his customers swallow the
liquor, compliments and all. The two
stand hobnobbing at the bar till mid
night, slipping away their manhood and
exchanging the riches of Heaven for the
poverty of Hell. They wake in the
morning with headache and repentance
Perhaps they resolve 10 drink no more.
The rum-seller shall be foilcd in his an
ticipation of gains. The tailor and
boarding-mjstress shall receive their
dues. Bat pains in the head are tram
sient and contrition is fleeting. The
next night comes round and finds them
at the old trusting place. Instead Of
losing his customers the bar-keeper i
enriched by their constancy.
By and by when Bob and Harry are
poor, when their glorious young man
hood has been choked and slnothered in
drink, they need not turn to their smil-
ing tempter for help. They may have
nothing but crumbs and make their bed
in the gutter or the graveyard for all he
cares. He will give them curses instead
of bread and violence in place of char
itv.
Within a few months | have visited
several noted beer-gardens. | remem-
Der one in particular celebrated for its
extensive patronage. Hitler men, wo-
men and children come in crowds. Some
of the tables are arranged for whole
families with seats around like an old
fashioned bOX-pew. Walters are skip
ping about, taking and supplying orders,
with a dozen or twenty glasses poised
OH each hand.
Half way up the hall i music stand
occupied by band of Young women.
They are clothed in white but their inn
macul2te exterior must not be taken as
evidence ofspotless purity within. Their
cheeks are adorned with roses-laid
on with brush. Their hair is dressed
with more regard to bulk than to beauty.
and the music they force from those bat
tered pipes and violins is in keeping
with their toilet, coarse and unnatural.
The room is covered by an arched roof
painted in fresco, showing little cherubs
presenting to each other wreaths and
bouquets. The rising dust and smoke
clouds had begrimmed the floral orna-
ments and the cherubs looked like dis
mantled chimney-sweeps. And these
dingy angels looked down upon sort
of national potpourri. There was the
German with his mustache and eoatee
and an ample face for background.
The Irishman with his ready tongue and
generous feet, primed up to his fighting
trim and waiting to knock somebody
down. The Italian laborer who looks
as though he were bern of the rocks,
such is the scanned and craggy appear
ance of his face. And the native Amer
lean who refines his dissipation with
smart suit and clean linen. There they
sit, hour after hour, amid the din of
shutting feet, the Gathering of beer
mugs, the loud profanity and the ham,
mering of tables with clenched fists, till
they are nearly beer-loggen. The man
with the most capacious stomach reyeIs |