The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-03-22
now AMERICANS Drank.

ue AulSIlCSu 3 manner OF ueOducl-
cry is pronounced by Germans and
Englishmen the worst and most ruin
Gus possible. They say of it that the
American dram m-drInker begins to fire.
quent saloons, billiard rooms and
worse places very early in life because
it looks manly, and proves that he
knows a thing or two. The "old
man" goes, and why shouldn't he. He
drinks because if he doesn't he is con-
sidered ''muff" by other fellows who
do drink, and he smokes because all
gentlemen throw away just so much
money in this way. The American
system of drinking is the very worst
and most soul-enslavlng ever known.
A gentleman Cat least we will sup
pose the case) enters fashionable sa-
loon intending to warm his inner man
with mild gin and water, two fiagers,
and hint of lemon. He runs across
an acquaintance, not friend, only a
fellow he has met three or four times
under similar circumstances.
"Hello, Jim how goes it, Anything
new2"
Nothing to speak Of"
Take something?"
"Thank you; don't care if 1 do.
Brandy and peppermint, please"
Jim has whole mob of fellows be-
bind him who look on with interest.
Jim graciously presents his friend.
Somebody in the crowd proposes that
Jim's friend will join them in gin and
bitters. Now, it would be the height
of i'll manners for a gentleman to re-
fuse to drink under such circumstances,
and JIm's friend tips up his glass and
swallows his enemy without compunc-
ton. Still more ill bred would it be
for him to go out of the saloon under
the weight of an unreciprooated hospi-
tality. He must treat the crowd-they
expect it. He orders out another round
and goes away If, indeed, he gets
away at affecting the worse for three
or four drinks, where he only meant to
take one, and has spent four dollars
and sixty cents something easier than
he made it.
In other countries, men drink when
they feel like it, 1ut 0nly when they
feel like it, and they buy their own
liquor. A German cutters a garden or
beer-haus and calls for a mug of ale.
He may be joined by friend, but that
friend pays for his own glass, and re-
news his own calmly at his pleasure,
and says nothing, concluding that the
other party will do the same thing at
pleasure. A Frenchman goes regularly
to his table in a cafe and orders his can
dOrdinGire. He goes there to drink
just so much wine, and expects to pay
for it. He would be insulted if an
almost total stranger would ask him to
drink, or, worse, would offer to draw
from his bottle,
The Frenchman or Englishman will
90 to a coffee-house for dinner at a
stated hour, and drink just SO much,
perhaps one bottle or two mugs of
porter.
The American goes out fifteen times
day for whisky straight, an apple
toddy or gin and tansy. But if he
meets friends in his rounds he drinks
even more freely than this, and is
proud of being called good drinker
by young fellows who lack his nerve.
The American drinks because the
weather is cold; drinks because it is
hot. He drinks because he doesn't
feel we'll; then because he feels fine.
He drinks because his wife has gone
out of town; then no dnn.s because
she has come back. Ha drinks because
he has lost money by speculation,
then drinks again when he has
made it all back. Drinks deep.
ly because he is crossed N love.
Drinks as bad when he has made the
quarrel up again. He drinks because
time hangs idly on his hands, and
there's nothing else to do. Drinks
worse when he is busy, because he
must have something to brace him up.
He drinks because he has lost a good
place, and times are hard. Then he
drinks when lie has gained another,
because "a fellow must do something,
you know"
In short, he never lacks an excuse tC
drink, and,
/ Hot or cold, wet or dry,
With spirits low, or spirits high,
With the Syren's voice forever high,
He drinks, drinks. drinks;
Because he is merry, because he's sad,
Because much drink hath made HIM mad,
The fagon is near for good or bad,
be clinks, clIDks, clinks.