The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-12-25
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PEOPLE WHO DRINK.
OBSERVATIONS IN A FIRT CLAs<
BAR.ROOM.
New York Paper,)

New York Paper,)
Physicians say that nearly two thirds
of their male patients suffer in one way
and another from alcoholic poison.
No close observer will be disposed q
dispute this. 81.
From the low shops on South and
West streets, along the line OF the more
fashionable saloons on and near Broad
way, in the vicinity of the old postoff6
in the gilded retreats that gird the Ast6l
House, in the several places of note on
Printing House Square, in the coy bon.
doirs of Union Square, and in the mag.
nifcent marble palaces that fringe Mai.
jison Square, not emitting the frescoed
club room and the dingy slop-shops ol
the extreme East Side, from the Grstf to
the last, and in them all, the same story
of intemperance may be learned.
| / went into the basement Of one ol
Gotham's greatest architectural piles this
morning, and stood at the end Of The
counter half an hour to see what was
done. ets ,,.,sa
There we're four bar tenders all busHy
engaged. So
In that brief time they sold to all sorts
and conditions of men, 200 beersS32
WHISTLES, 10 lemonades, 2 plain seltzers
and gin cocktails.
1t was only an exceptionally busy lRlf
hour, to be>s sure; but as took my scat
at little table near the center, !, noticed
in the next half hour, ard made mem
orandum to- guard against Mistakes .
sale of 130 beers, so whiskies and gin
cocktails.
The men who drank were not "bulns.''
Very many of them were known to
the world of politics, several are noted
writers,th City Hall furnished its quota,
some do business in the swamp, and not
one seemed. in the least degree effected
by what he drank. .~r -sss
Leaving this place we went to another
saloon, equally well known, whose pro.
prietors pay an annual rent Of S60,
for the premises, which are kept open
from s o'clock in the morning until z in
the evening. -
Standing by little cigar case which Is
placed at one side of, the room, l devo.
ted half an hour to close count OF the
drinks and drinkers. ....,.,...
There were three bar-keepers, and they
had all they could do to attend promptly
to the customers. . sHfI
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
9S whiskies, four ginger ales, 8 elders
and II gin cocktails -. e g
As / went out I said to one of the
young men who drank six times, "What
are you drinking so much for to-day p
"Oh, nothing" he replied, II didn't
intend to. Charley and | went in for an
oyster, and were ordering when those
four, fellows from Albany came along
Charley asked 'em to drink, and one fol.
lowed the other.p 49,.
. That's the history Of many a Spree
The spree doesn't intend to 60 of, but
meeting friend the one tempts the 9TH
er. -
Returning to the saloon / visited first.
! ordered a lunch, and was soon joined
II always am-by an acquaintance, who
of course said, "W hath You take ?"
Being in a taking mood I said ! would
take glass Of rye. He took the same.
Having said ,"How," and emptied our
glasses, said, ,"Rufe, what did you
drink that whisky for1 Do you like
I'll ?" 81 So. - = - s,.,. !,
"No. Idon't like it. I'm drinking too
much, too. Guess I'll pull up. . -. i
ssWell tell me what did you order it
"Whn for socia5ility's sake, I sup.
pose. What did you drink it for p
"Because I wanted to ask just this
question. I've been looking at the fell.
lows drink there, and I believe that eight
out of ten drink just because they don't
like to say no." 3df77es
"Does it make your head ache to drink
whisky?" otass
"Yes."
$50 it does mine., IsworeI off whisky
and took to beer, but beer makes me bill.
ious" g. { n L8gfr'4 g9a
"Why drink anything 2" saareg 1s1
changed if T. know; but we all do
drink."q II u FI4ai
We we're Joined by an actor. Being
an actor, and in company of newspa-
per man, there was, he thought, but one
thing to do. II .eife s.
Said he, "What'll you take ?''
We took whisky. ls
/ So did be.
We each said "How," and then said I,
"Dan, do you like whisky ?" 5t.s,
81 hate it." &c.
"Why do you drink itl"
II don't often; | generally take gin /;
but they, both upset, mel give me ter
rible headache. But what are you going
to do? Must drink something"
In that way l have spoken to not less
than twenty men this very day. or the
twenty, fifteen said that drink always
gave them the headache, one owned that
uc lOFCu VIC tootC, ouu Ouc COEtcSS6u
that he was 'on tear" and he didn't
scare who knew 1t" ,sesiEii ~ 2 aas
1t stands to reason that this sort OF
things must produce some impression on
the human form divine. ,M ea
The doctor says it induces paralysis,
indigestion, headache, rheumatism and
weakness Of many kinds.
Not being doctor, / don't attempt to
indorse their opinions; but this will
say, that among all the hundreds OF
drinkers-regular topers, not drunkards
to be found in the first-class saloons oil
New York to day, lit will be impossible
to find q dozen men who will say that
lthey drink because they are fond OF
liquor.
They drink because it seems to be the
thing to do.
The tenting season is now over-the
trick milo has rpturnod fo tl,o ofolt tho