Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-02-28

ing what Is called the "absinthe hours" in
Paris, say from to in the afternoon, all
varieties of transient pleasures, followed
by fearful depressions, varied by terrible
spasmodc excitements are presented to the
frightened and Disguised observer, while
the philosopher finds ample food for reflec-
ton, the cynic abundant material for ridi-
Guile, and the moraist the broadcast posi-
Bile field for condemnation If not for pity.
Can II be that Americans are ordained to
become a nation of absinthe drinkersf
Heaven and our common sense forbid.
Several New Workers have recently fall
en- victims to absinthe. One was lawyer
ofgreat promise, formerly residing In West
Twenty-eighth street. This gentleman re-
Gently died in agony in a private lunatic
asylum, TO which he was consigned by his
friends, after long continued efforts 10
break him from the spell of absinthe.
He was in the habit of drinking seven or
eight glasses per day of the undluted poi
son, and was soon reduced to n mental aud
physical wreck.
Another victim was a married lady Of
high social position, formerly a resident of
4
al times, and there contracted n taste for
absinthe. Spite of her better judgment,
this taste grew upon her until she became
its slave. In vain her husband tried 10 re-
claim her; in vain her brother, Kew
York street broker, forbade any person to
serve her with absinlhe.
She obtained her pet poison some way or
other; at one time through the agency OF
her butler, whom she bribed, and who was
beaten half to death by the indignant
brother, when his treachery was discover
ed. She would call for absinthe at FASH
ionable party, and despite all disclaimers,
would "make a scene" until she was f,lrn-
ished with her destruction. Sue neglected
her family--once nearly poisoned her child
by giving it absinthe in mistake, and finally
died in an absinthe stupor.
There are other cases known of abSiuthe
madness among our native population. A
young clerk in wholesale dry goods house
on Broadway, and man of considerable
business ability, is now the mere wreck OF
his former self, and is almost an idiot.
Soon he will be complete driveler. lie
has stood under six or seven glasses of alb
sinthe daily for the last year or so, but he
can't stand much logger, and will soon mis-.
erably perish.
4 very sad case has recently come to
light. A little girl scarcely ten years OF age
is complete slave to her passion for alb
snthe and is now hopelessly idiotic. She Is
the child of French father and of New
England mother, and acquired the taste fol
absinthe by occasionally slipping it from
her fathers glass before dinner. Then sht
found her way to the absintbe bottle, by
stealth, and finally her ruin was complete
Though an exceedingly bright child at sew
en-, she is now pitiable spectacle.
Nor are these isolated instances. Tn
fact is, that there is vast amount of alb
sinthe drank in New York and Philadel
phia, by native Americans as well as for
eigners.
At one bar up town, in New York, the at
tendant says that there are calls for owe
five bottles of absinthe daily. Anothe
bar-keeper rates his absinthe drinking pat
ronage at SIS day and over 800 on Sunday
while a third estimates the number c
American customers who partake regular
ly of absnthe at about eighty.
These figures, which are approximate
correct, are social signs OF our times an
future troubles.