The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-12-01
PeSple who Drink


Physicians say that nearly two thirds of
their male patients suffer in one way or an
other from alcoholic poison.
No close observer will be disposed to doubt
this.
From the low shops on South and West
streets, along the line of more fashionable
saloons on and near Broadway, in the vicin-
ty of the old post office, ing the gilded re-
treats that grid the Astor house, in the
several places Of note on Printing House
Square,in the cozy boudoirs of Union Square,
and in the magnificent marble palaces that
fringe Madison Square, not emitting the
frescoed club room and the dingy slop shops
of the extreme east side-from the first to
the last, and IA them all, the same story Of
intemperance may be learned.
went into the basement of one of Goth
ANS greatest architectural piles this morn
ing, and stood at the end of the counter, half
an hour, to see what was done.
There were four bartenders, all busily en-
gagged.
In that brief time they sold to all sorts and
conditions of men two hundred beers, thirty
two whiskies, ,.tens lemonades, two plain
settlers, and three gin cocktails.
1t was an exceptionally busy half hour, to
be sure; but as l took my seat at little
table near the counter, noticed in the next
half hour, and made a memorandum to
guard against mistakes, sale of one hun
dred and thirty beers, fifty whiskies and six
gin cocktails.
The men who drank were not "bums."
Very many of them are known to the
world of politics, several were noted writer's
the city hall furnished its quota, some do
business in the swamp, and not one seemed
in the least degree affected by what he drank.
Leaving this place we went to another sa-
loon, equally well known, whose proprietors
pay an annual rent Of $50, 900 for the premi-
ses, which are kept open from eight o'clocl,
in the morning until seven in the evening.
Standing by little cigar case which is
placed at one side of the room, l devoted
nan All hOuT W Cluse CuullL Vi lHe uTllhS
and drinkers.
There were three barkeepers, and they had
all they could do to attend promptly to the
customers.
One company of six young men drank six
timea in less than. fifteen minutes, and each
took his whisky straight
In half an hours time that bar sold nine
ty-eight whiskies, four ginger ales, three
elders, and fourteen gin-cocktails.
As | went out said to one of the six
young men who drank six times "What
are you drinking SO much for to-day?"
"Oh, nothing" he replied 81 didn't in
tend to. Charley and went in for an oys-
ter, and were ordering when those four fell
lows from Albany came along. Charley
asked 'em to drink, and one followed the
other"
That's the history of many a spree. The
spree doesn't intend to go off, but meeting
friend one tempts the other.
Returning to the saloon I visited first,
ordered lunch, and was soon joined-I al
ways am-by an acquaincance, who, of
course, said, "Whall you take?"
Being in a taking mood, said I would
try glass of rye. He took the same.
Having said, "How, "and emptied our glass
es, said, "Rufe, what did you drink that
whisky for2 Do you like it?"
"No, don't like it. Pm drinking too
much, too. Guess I'll pull up"
well, tell me,what did you order it fort"
"Why, for sociaability's sake, suppose"
What did you drink it for9"
Because wanted to ask Just this ques-
ton. I've been looking at the fellows drink
there, and believe that eight out of ten
drink just because they don't like to say
MOI"
" Does it make your head ache to drink
whisky ?"
Yes"
:" So it does mine. ! swore off whisky
and took to beer,but beer makes me bilious"
Why drink anythiHg?"
Hanged if know but we all drink"
We were joined by IN actor. Being an
actor and in the compony of a newspaper
man. there was, he Thought, but one thing
to do.
Said he, "What'll you take?
We took whisky.
So did he.
We each said, "How," and then said i
"Dan, do you like whisky?'
hate it."
Why do drink it p
don't often. l generally take GIN but
they both upset me give me a fearful head
ache But what are you going to do Must
drink something"
In that way have spoken TO not less than
twenty men this very day, of the twenty,
fifteen said that drink always gave them a
headache one owned that he "loved the
taste" one said he drank because he was
"blue, "and one confessed he was "on tear"
and he didn't care who knew it."
It stands to reason that this sort of thing
must produce some impression on the hu-
,..,., &c., If,-f,,