New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-05
What Must be Done.

What 90 men lind at MatarAns, at ran 9.
at John Dufy's that takes them there.
| Look curiously in at the open door many
| times in going by these favorite resorts, and
| one will see nothing that seems very in.
viting-a black walnut counter, coiored
| glasses and dark bottles, a saw busted fioor
| and stout arm chairs, walls with tresco oor-
ders and theatrical prints. The charm is
one that can't be seen. putting aside the
question of liquor. One thing, men have
said when asked TO name what drew them
there. is the sociabiIcy Of the place, its per
feet freedom and equality, for men are all
on level round oar. There entire frank
ness OF ex preston is allowed. and If it runs
into grossness sometimes, yet 1t sometimes
brings out the best OF man-the freedom
does this. mind, not the liquor One meets
good fellows there. who are the happest
and most natural away from the constraints
of society. Just as women are most aiIiab!e
and confidential as they meet in each
others rooms with dressing gowns and
hair brushes after they Lave escaped from
company below. Did the ladies find 1t
irhsome to be polite and enchanting! No,
but the neglige coCc,ave was none the less
sweet. One can Eot tell which delights tie
IL st, the effort OF society and being at
ones best. or the luxurious ease Ii ones
chamber. but we Ike them both. Such Is
the great charm of drinking saloons to men
OF social temperament. II this idea Is
wrong, they Will Dc only to ready to gain
say it.
II soup ard coffee are 70 counteract the
craving strong drink they must be the
best of their kind, tnat il. n.ure than tribe
better than is commonly served at fanny
tables. 1t the COTE house is to prove more
attractive than drinking saloons, it will
have to be a vast improvement on present
models. Decent cheap eating houses CT
any sort are boon to the vlrtuOus poor, II
summer no less than winter, though it Is
im possible to see why they should be called
charities, when they pay expenses and III
terest beside. Il would be an injustice not
to have them, that is all. But the coffee
house that would draw men away from the
rum shop, must have every charm that tie
latter can boast. save one, and make the
place of that good with something better,
not in our educated, refined sense, but better
to the half raw. stupid tastes of the fellow
men and brothers that pious men and happy
women would tain see there.
There is power in liquor SO penetrating,
SO uplifting Tor brief time. that II is nope
less 20 combat the desire for it, except By
stimulating agencies that do its work with
nerves directly will do this, sleep and baths
and pleasant excitement will do it, not
alone, but taken together. Give men some
place where they have right, the best
right. to be, where cordial cheer presides,
where they may sing, joke, dance, not with
the restraint Of a moral asylum upon them,
but in the freehold spirits that make men
laugh and sing in the streets. II is not
reading rooms that men want where they
are not allowed TO speak above whisper,
aud the rustling of paper calls down the
librarians hasty warning. but conversation
rooms. and singing halls, and wrestling
matches, where the esprit is enough
to keep decent order without so much
as a pIacard on the wall. Every soul,
whether wealthy, or workingman, has a
right within limits to be happy in its own
way, and good people ought to beware how
they pass upon those limits. Give the free
impressionable roisterer chance to DE roll
licking and free, give the quiet man his
corner where he can snatch the rest and
laugh at his joke. Give the world ainuse-
ment OF the most genuine sort. fun that is
pure and simple, that sends its potent shock
through all :ne nerves, setting them to
rights when out Of sorts, clearing the head
and refreshing body and mind better than
any elixir handed down from the fall. Give
people chance az this, and at something
Ike broad social fellowship, and see whether
the rum shop can stand against such attrac-
tons. The church should do this work,
going out with hands filed with good things
CT the world. to tempt ne1 away from
poison and husks. The hesC woods, the
best music, the drama, ali the delights OF
society must b. poputarized, not demoral-
lied, and put IN reach OF everybody to this
end. The prohihitory policy does not work;
counteract'ug policy has not been tried
Golden Aye.