The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-11-22
THE PEOPLE WHO DRINK,
The Result of Observations made by n New
York Reporter-Men Who Frequent the
"First-CIass ,, Bars.

The Result of Observations made by n New
York Reporter-Nren Who Frequent the
"First-Classv - Bars.
A New York Sun reporter has been
making n professional tour of the bar
rooms of the city, and gives the result
of his observations in the following ac-
count
Physicians say that nearly two-thirds
Of their male patients suffer in one way
or another from alcoholic poisons.
No close observer will be disposed to
doubt this.
streets, along the line of more fashion
able saloons on and near Broadway, in
the vicinity of the old post-office. in the
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 dipgy slop shops of the
extreme east side-from the first to the
last, and in them all, the same story of
intemperance may be learned.
And who are the drinkers?
Boys, young men, middle-aged men
| Auu Olu ueu.
They all drink.
Two young men meet in the lobby
of theater.
Whatn you take ?" Is the first and
oommonest salutation. They adjourn to
bar-room and drink. As the one pays,
the other looks at his watch and says
"Just in time for another. Repeat
and both drink again.
At each fall of the curtain at least one
half of all the men rise, push out, and
hurry for drink.
This is no exaggeration. We all know
it, and many of us do it,
went into the basement Of one of
Gotham's greatest architectural piles this
morning, and stood at the end of the
counter, half an hour, to see what was
done.
There were four bar-tenders, all busi-
ly engaged.
In that brief time they sold to all sorts
and conditions of men two hundred beers,
thirty-two whiskeys, ten lemonades, two
plain settlers and three gin cocktails.
1t was an exceptionally busy half
hour. to be sure but as took my seat
at a little table near the counter, I no.
ticed in the next half hour, and made a
memorandum to guard against mistakes,
sale of one hundred and thirty beers,
fifty whiskeys and six gin cocktails
The men who drank were not "bums."
Very many of them are known to the
world of politics, several are noted
writers, the City Hall furnishes its
quota, some do business in the swamp,
and not one seemed in the least degree
affected by what he drank.
Leaving this place, went to another
saloon, equally we'll known, whose pro-
prietors pay an annual rent of 100000
for the premises which are kept open
from eight o'clock in the morning until
seven in the evening.
Standing by little cigar case which
| is placed at one side of the room I de-
voted half an hour to close count of
the drinks and drinkers.
There were three barkeepers, and they
had all they could do to attend prompt
ly to the customers.
One company of six young men drank
six times in less than fifteen minutes,
and each took his whisky straight.
In half an hours time that bar sold
ninety. eight whiskies, four ginger ales,
three elders and fourteen gin cocktails.
The men who drank were respectable
men of business, few literary people,
and two or three persons who might
have been truckmen or mechanics.
AS 1 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; "I didn't
intend to. Charley and 1 went in for an
oyster, and were ordering them when
those four fellows from Albany came
along. Charley asked 'em to drink, and
one followed the other"
That's the history of many q spree.
The spreer doesn't intend to go off, but
meeting a friend the one tempts the
other.
This habit is not confined to old men
nor to men in trouble.
Boys hardly out of their teens drink
brandy and seltzer. Young men with
their friends take whisky, or perchance
open a small bottle. Middle-aged men.
who should be strong and lusty, take
what they are pleased to call a " bracer, I"
and, so far as L can see, the exceptional
person is the male who does not drink
at all times and under all circumstances.
1t stands to reason that this sort of
thing must produce some impression on
the human form divine.
The doctors say it induces paralysis,
Indigestion, headache, rheumatism and
weakness of many kinds.