Connecticut western news., 1877-11-30
Why We Drink.
NEW YORK BAR ROOMS.

NEW YORK BAR ROOMS. "Aonsieur X'' writes thus of drinking in New York: "'Physicians say that nearly two-thirds of thelr male patients suffer in one way or another from alcoholic poison. No close observer will be disposed to doubt thls. From the low shops on South and West streets, along the line of more fash lonable saloons on and near Broadway, in the vicinity of the old post office, in the gill ded retreats that gird the Astor House, in the several places of note on Printing House square, and in the magnificent mar ble palaces that fringe Madison square, not emitting the frescoed club room and the dingy slop-slops of the extreme east side | from the first to the last, and in them all the same story of intemperance may be learned.
 ''I went into the basement of one of Gotham's greatest architectural piles, thls morning, and stood at the end of the coun- ter half an hour, to see what was done. There were four bar-tenders, all busiy en- gagged. In that brief time they sold to all sorts and conditions of men two hundred beers, thirty-two whiskies, ten lemonades, two plain seltzers and three gin cocktails. It was an exceptionally busy half hour to be sure but as took my seat at little ta- ble near the counter, noticed in the next half hour, and made memorandum to orI 4f dred and thirty beers, fifty whistles and six gin cocktails. The men who drank them 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 affected by what he drank.
 Leaving this place we went to another saloon, equally well known, whose propri- etors pay an annual rent of $6O, ,OOO for the premises. which are kept open from 8 o. clock in the morning until in the evening. Standing by little cigar case which is placed at one end of the room, I devoted half an hour to close count of the drinks and drinkers. There were three bsrkeep- CTS, and they had all they could do to at tend promptly to the customers. One con- pany of six young men drank six times in less than fifteen minutes. and each took his whiskey straight: in half an hours time that bar sold nlnety-eight whiskys, 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; I didn't intend to. Charley and went in for an oyster, and were ordering when those four fellows from Albany came along. Charley asked lem to drink, and one followed the other That's the history of many spree. The spreer doesn't interd to go off, but meeting friend the one tempts the other.
 Returning to the saloon visited first I ordered lunch, and was soon jolne,i-I always am-by an acquaintance who said of course, 'what'll you take p Being in talk ing mood said would try glass of rye. He took the same. Having said How and emptied our glasses, said 'Rufe, what did you drink that whisky for? Do you like it?'
 No don't; I'm drinking too much too. must pull up.'
 Well what did you order it for?
 'For sociability's sake suppose. What did you drink it for?'
 'Becauae wanted to ask just this ques tion. I've been watching the fellows drink there, ank believe that eight out of ten indulge because they hate to say mo-
 Does It make your head ache to drink whiskY?'
 Yes
 So 1t does mine. Iswore off whisky and took to beer, but beer makes me bill lious.'
 Why drink anything?'
 Hanged if know; but we all do drink.
 We were joined by an actor. Being an actor, and in the company of newspaper man, there was, he thought, but one thing to do. He said 'what'll you take ? We took whisky. So did he. We each said How and then said I, Dan, do you like whisky ?
 I hate it.
 Why do you drink?'
 I don't often. Igenerally take gin, but they both upset me; give me a fearful headache. But what are you to do? Must drink something.'
 In that way have spoken to no 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 pro- duce some impressions on the human form divine. The doctors say it induces paral- ysis. indigestion, headache, rheumatism, aud weakness of many kinds. Not being doctor, don't attempt to endorse their opinion, but this will say, that among all the hundreds-re gnlar topers, not drunk ards-to be found in the irst-class saloons of New York to-day, it would be impossi- ble to find dozen men who will say that they drink because they are fond of liquor. They drink because it seems to be the thing to do.
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