The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-19
WHISKY'S VICTIMS.
Pen Portraits of Men Who Have Fallen
Through Drink-A Visit to a
Barrel Shop.
Philadelphia Press.

to argue with him, especially when he venti-
lates his opinions upon temperance, for he is
one of those old-fsshioned, perverse anomal-
les who are fond of their constitutional tods
but resent over-indulgence or drunkenness
on the part of Others as q kind of personal
attront. We were strolling along principal
thoroughfare of this city, when he was but
ton-holed and drawn aside by portly, seedy
individual, some fifty-ive years old. 'Who
is your fat friend?' asked l, after the two
had separated "Oh, he's one of them" was
the reply. i've just loaned him a quarter.
Yes, yes; know you think I'm encouraging
the very thing 1 reprobate, but you can lee
ture me on that point another time. Let's
follow him."
Presently we entered a barrel-shop through
a side doorway to the upper end There's
our friend; he's just had his five-cent
whisky as it is called, but it is as innocent
OF any extract of corn. or wheat, or rye as
the same quantity OF camphene or kerosene.
You don't know that man? Well, l do.
Twelve years ago he wrote himself a CAPT.
talist and didn't write lie, either. He
made more money every year than you've
made in your lifetime. Your monthly sala-
ry wouldn't pay for the cigars that he gave
away or smoked between Sundays, His
udlly CnampdSN0 Dill was larger IMAM Lil6
cost OF your living for week. He specu-
lated in mines, mineral lands and real estate
he never bet nor gambled and can't tell a
flush from pair.
Somehow whisky gradually got the bet
ter of him, paralyzed his energy and softened
his brain, and the time when he should have
had his wits about him. and his best and
strongest self in hand, found him wrung out
chaotic and incapable. His property is
gone, his family are scattered and impover-
ished, his friends aiieuated. He is misera-
BILE wreck, without sound timber enough in
him to reconstruct the manhood which rum
has rotted."
1t was an hour before noon, and we were
standing in the back part of the shop where
we could see everybody who came in. The
bar was of the simplest sort, with water
cooler and a tray of thick, three-ounce
tumblers; the liquor was in barrels ranged
along the floor at right angles to it, The
regulars were just beginning to drop in for
their I'll O'clock"
'See the subjects for the portrait gallery
are coming forward" said the Professor. Il
guess we shall be able to catch a few repre-
sentative characters for il before you finish
your cigar. Look at the taller and younger
of the two men who have just entered. He
has had more and better opportunities to
raise himself in the world and become a
business man on his own account than often
fall to the lot of young men.
"He has held lucrative positions time and
again, but has spreed himself out of them.
In his particular line of business he has that
tact or knack which is always gift and
never an requirement. In his way he is q
most capable fellow. Either one of dozen
mercantile houses | could name would be
glad to employ him tomorrow at a high
salary, could he give reasonable assurance
that he wouldn't disgrace his connection and
himself by public debauch before the next
new moon. As between good dinner and
4 0tol,h -,
because it represents two hummers He is
humming along over the down-grade at a
pretty lively gait.
1.-The shorter and elder man is still farther
along, though, and travelling at a quicker
pace. He comes of good stock, and is intelli-
gent and singularly well informed in some
directions As an artisan in one of the
higher grades of manufacture, there isn't a
member of the craft more nimble or skillful
Or, there wasn't year or two ago; for a
too frequent crooking of the elbow in tossing
off cheap and inopportune whisky has rob-
bed his hand of the cunning once familiar to
it. He hasn't worked at his trade for a
twelvemonth-probably will never work at
it again. Hammers are meat and drink to
him. and he would walk dozen squares to
borrow the price of one.
That's professional man Just lifting the
glass to his lips. Looks as though he had
seen better days? Yes, like the woman
Charles Lamb gave a sixpeuce to. You NAV
we'll say his hand trembles, but his stomach
can discount his white fist at the trembling
business at this moment, He's 'tapering
off after months spree. Down to his
last quarter he doesn't know where the next
one is coming from. lie hasn't seen his
fortieth year yet, but for half dozen years
prior to the centennial he made clean ten
thousand a year at his profession and held
high social position. After he gets braced
up he will write speech for some politician
with more money than brains, or a sensa-
tional volume for some buccaneer publish
ing-house, only to squander the fees in
another prolonged debauch.
There's another representative of one of
the professions, not so well educated, but
with far higher native gifts. He is a good
deal down at the heel, but is still a hand
some man, as you see. Time was, and but
few years ago when he was one of the most
prominent and stylish promenaders on
Chestnut street. He held his head high and
could afford to- Not a man or woman whom
he knew that wasn't proud of his recogn-
ton and greeting. His life is without color,
without ambition, without aim further than
the scantiest means of existence from day to
day. Rum, my dear fellow, is the cause of
it.
"Well, let us go out into the air and sun
light. One moment; take good look at
this Sphinx-like face. There is scarcely
bar-room in town that amt acquainted with
it. Its owner used to be one of the most
prosperous merchants in this city He was
a middleaged man. an influential tradesmau
and worth third of a million before you
were in your teens. His business was large
and every county in the State contributed to
his patronage To-day he is penniless,
homeless friendless vagabond. Rum, my
boy, rum!"
An innovation