Nebraska advertiser., 1877-12-06
THE PEOPLE WHO DRINK.
The Result Of Observations at First.
class Bars.

one way or another from alcoholic
poison.
No close observer will be disposed
to doubt this.
From the low shops on South ant
West streets, along the line Of more
fashionable saloons on and nea'
broadway, in the vicinity Of TIE old
Post Office, in the gilded rtreats thai
gird the Astor House. in the severa
places of note on Printing House
square, in the cozy boudoirs of Union
il. square, and in the magnificent mar
BILE palaces that fringe Madison square
not omitting the frescoed club room
. aud the dingy slop shops of the ex'
treme east side-from the first to the
last. and in them all. the same story
Of fintemperance may he learned.
And who are the drinkers?
Boys, young men, middle-aged men
and old men.
They all drink.
Two young men meet In the lobby
of theatre, "Whatll you take?" il
the first and commonest salutation. -
They adjourn to barroom aud drink
AS the one pays, the other looks al
his watch and says. Just time for an
other. Repeat"-and both drinh
again.
At each fail OF the curtain at leasi
. one-half of all the men rise. push out
and hurry for drink.
This is no exsggeration. We al
know it and many of US do it.
I went into the basement of one ot
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 bartenders, all bus
fly engaged.
In that brief time they sold to all
sorts and conditions of men two hun
dred beers, thirty-twO whiskeys, ten
lemonades, two plain SELLERS, and
three gin cocktails.
1t was an exceptionally busy hall
hour, TO be sure /; but as took my seal
at little table near the counter, | no.
ticed in the next half hour, and made
memorandum to guard against mis-
takes, sale of one hundred and thir.
.ty beers. fifty whiskeys, and six gin
cocktails.
The men who drank were no
"bums."
Very many of them are known Il
the world of politics, several are noted
writers. the City Hall furnished III
quote, some do business in the swami p
aud not one seemed in the least de
gree affected by what lie drank.
Leaving this place, l went to an
other saloon, equally well known
whose proprietors pay all annual rem
of $4,000 for premises which are KEEP
open from s o'clock in the morning
until in the evening.
Standing by little cigar case whicl
is placed at one side of the room de
voted half an hour to a close count o
the drinks and drinkers.
There were three barkeeper. anC
they had all they could do to attend
promptly to the customers.
One company of six young men
drank six times In less than fifteen
minutes, and each took his whisk ey
straight.
In half an hours time that bar sold
ninety-eight whiskeys, four ginger
ales, three elders, aud fourteen gin
cocktails.
The men who drank were respecta.
BILE men of business, a few literary
.' people, and two or three persons whr
might have been truckmen or me
chanics.
None of them showed the effects o
their drink.
AS went oct / said to one of thu
six young men who drank six times
what are you drinking so much 70
to-dsy?'
"Oh, nothing" lie replied az did
mt intend to. Charley and l wentir
for an oyster, and were ordering wheI
those. four fellows from Albany cam,
along. Charley asked 'em to drink
and one followed theother."
That's the history of many a spree
The spreer doesn't intend to 60 off
but meeting a friend the one tempts
the other.
Returning to the saloon 1 visited
first, ordered lunch, and was soou
joined-I Away am-by an acquaint
ance, who. of course, said, "What'l
you take?"
Being in a taking mood, 1 said
would try glass of rye. He took the
same. Having said How" and emp.
tied our glasses, 1 said, "Rufe. what
did you drink that whiskey for? Dc
you like it?"
mo, don't like it. I'm drinking
too much, too. Guess I'll pull up"
"Weil, tell me, what did you order
il for ?"
why, for sociability's sake, Fsup.
pose. What did you drink it for?"
Because wanted to ask just this
question. I've been looking at the
. fellows drink there, and believe that
eight out of ten drink just because
they dou't like to say mol"
"Does 1t make your head ache tt
drink whiskey?"
Yes"
$50 it does mine. swore off whis
key and took to beer, but beer make.
me bilious"
"Wby drink anything?"
Hanged if know, but we all de-
drink"
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