Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-01-05
RnshIng 10 Their Iteaths.

Howard" the New York CORE
spondent OF tho Philadelphia Times,
writes Our " first citizens" are going
off like hot cakes. It's as much as a
fellow Can do to attend to his business
and pay the last sad tribute TO departed
friends. First-class funerals are of daily
occurrence, and there are moro mourners
in the streets than ever before. Other
things are happening, too, and among
them softening OF the brain. For years
Printing House square, the Astor house
rotunda, Delmonico's and the Bruins
wick have been frequented by hand
some-faced, big blue-eyed, frank-man-
nered, open-handed paper dealer,
known TO every one, and jolly good
fellow all the time. He was fast liver,
a hard drinker and very light sleeper.
He made money easily, spent il like
water and was the personifcaiion
generous recklessness. Result?
Softening OF the brain. About
three weeks ago he was taken
TO an insane asylum, where he is of
course abundaRtly cared for, but the
doctors say he is hopelessly idiotic. A
friend Of mine, one Of these self-sacri-
ficing chaps, went to see him. The
poor fellow Is poisoned by tobacco. he
smoked cigarettes necessarily, 80 much
so that his forefnger and thumb we're
yellow stained. This complicates mat
ters. II he we're devitalized by loss of
sleep only, rest and regular hours
might recuperate him. II his interior was
simply overcharged with alcohol, proper
medicaments and total abstinence
from Intoxicating drink might bring
him up again. But on top, through,
under and all about every muscle, fiber
and tissue Of his mental, moral and
physical nature is that ineffacable stain
that nicotine alone can give and omnipo-
tence alone remove.
Anybody else?
Yes. indeed. They may not be lit
orally in insane asylums, but they are
the merest wrecks OF old time glory.
Come with me to that great exchange OF
downtown workers, the rotunda of the
Astor house, and stand near the cashier.
The place is packed from noon until
three, and tolerAbly full all the rest Of
the day. Thousands eat and thou.
sands drink and thousands smoke there
every day. The monthly profits are
said to be $4,000 great deal of
money. Is it the same crowd? Are
they the same thousands? Not by a
jug full. Within the past five years
two generations have come and gone,
and the third is rushing along as fast as
1t can go.
Howl
BY eating fast, drinking faster, and
puff, puff, putting with the eagerness of
a race horse, bound to win and lose no
time. There they stand or sit, as the
case may be. II they cat they throw
their victuals down at q gulp. II they
drink, it's one, two, three, "give me a
check" and off they go.
And thenf
Well they work till night, take their
dinner and repeat the dose in some up.
town house, according to their means.
The chief places are Delmonico's, the
Brunswick, the Fifth Avenue, the 81.
James and the Hoffman. Accustomed
though You may be TO the gay
and festive developme ents of Fhila-
delphiA, I can show you sights here in
the gastronomic line that would open
your eyes with wonder and shut 'em up
again in disgust
Well7
But 1t isn't we'll, it's fearful, and the
lev temperate old chaps who witness
this social breakup, who see friend after
friend depart-who has not lost q
friend5-are paralyzed with fear lest
some day we be left alone in our oiorv