New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-25
stand az a reproach to the ungrateful Repub-
lie, while we run, like children, after new
playthingf
IN IMMOR1L SIDE-SHOW.

II ia TO the credit OF Art that she has seldom
directly glorifed wine-bibbing-at least I'D
modern times. Especially is this true OF our
English Art which, from IIogarth down 10
Cruiksbank. has done what it could to show
this ugly vice his own image-holding the
mirror up to nature. Thinking, as we do, that
Art has done good service in thus using her
powers, we must regret the course of certain
firm in orr city who seem to be devoting
their energies to making intemperance attract
i've to artistic natures-the very ones that
least need Indictment TO excess. Solomon
that Eastern Lord Bacon-hit for this class OF
people the very heart of the matter
when he warned the Bohemians OF his day
not to look on the wine when it is red, when
it giyeth its color in the cup. lie saw that
the beauty of the thing was what made Its
first danger to the golden youth he was adj
dressing.
What then, must we think Of the wisdom
of the people-for we acqult them of all i'll
intention-who make a picture gallery of their
shop window, and fill it full Of portraits of
the stomachs of wine-bibbers, from the mod
crate drinker up, or down, to the victim OF
elelirium tremens-the impression left by a
study of the series being, that the more you
drink the more beautiful your stomach becomes.
The first picture. showing us the stomach OF
an average deacon, is as repulsiye TO true
taste as Quaker lady's dress, from which
every charm Of color has been eliminated. 1t
is as dull to look at as the side of barn. 1t
i, "a empty of delight as the best parlOr in
New-England farmhouse. 1t is as proper as
the propriety of a maiden of scventy-five Sum
mers on receiving her first olier OF marriage
In fact, there is nothing more to attract the
eve i'm this deacOnish, virginia. stomach imam
in the Desert of Sahara or the architecture OF
the Fifth Avenue. Who would not turn
with n slight glow of satisfaction
from such tastcless, Philistian apartment to
the stomach of the moderate drinker, where a
little ornament III the way Of brilliant spot or
clouded stain breaks up the monotony OF the
drab-colored wals7 Here is hint Of wall
paper, a suggestion of drapery, hope OF car
pets-we begin to feel that something COM
Portable and hospitable is in store for us. And
this hope brightens into certainty as we move
on and find ourselves welcomed to the stom-
ach of the tippler. Here the wal is frescoed
with considerable elegance, and carpeted to
match, and if we had not cast furtlve
glance ahead and spied the glories OF the
sstc,m:ssccl: CT tie confirmed drnnkard glowing
with light and color, its Marcottish curtains
vailing the bright light. its Sloanish carpets
breaking the footballs, its Herterish wallpaper
masking the bare cartilage-if we had not
seen these splendors awaiting us, we should
have thought the tppler'S modest but cosy
stomach the very thing for us. But we can't
restrain our eyes from leaping on to the gor-
ceous get-up of the victim of deiirinm
yemens. No fashionable New-YOrk parlor-
where some crack upholsterer has been told to
90 ahead and cut out some other fellows
house, with "never mind the stamps" for all
instructions-was ever arrayed like one OF
these. We could linger forever before the
beauties of this "palatial apartment to use
the language of Jenkins. Like the country
parson visiting his lucky city brother with a
million dollar church, a stunning parsonage,
and swell salary, who cried "What! Brother
Ramshorn, all this and heaven too" we are
tempted to exclaim, "What all this upholstery
"and delirium tremens too !" and we appeal to
the reader whether it is not q nefariOus thing
to set forth a vice IN such attractive colOrs
that it makes even sober, steady going folk
feel so pleased with the probable consequences
as these pictures do