The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-02-03
LAUDANUM BALLS.
A Drink that is Popular in New York Cit!


One day last week reporter who was
waiting at one Of the small towns on the
Hudson River for train to bring him back
to this city, was suddenly and mysteriously
overcome with thirst. The novel sensation
was SO peculiar that he wandered across the
way from the railway station to a small
corner-grocery store. Inside. as he had in
diligently sUrmised beer was on tap and
ready to be dispensed III dingy corner be-
hind green screen. He was about raising
the rim-bitten glass to his lips when an old
man came tottering behind the screen and
sprawled his arms out on the bar.
lie was very tired-looking old man. with
pale blue complexion. His gray eyes even
seemed to have been partially bleached
dirty white in their sunken sockets His
hollow cheeks gave greater prominence to
his long, pinched nose which, like the last
OF summer, seemed to bloom alone. \ grey,
stubby growth extending down on his
scraggy neck. and his hands and wrists were
simply knOtty bones covered with parched
skin. Altogether he did not look unlike
Chatham street waxwork model of Captain
Kidd in corduroy vest and trousers.
The old man gave private madhouse sort
of look at the proprietor of the place, who
Immediately dove under the bar, and as
suddenly reappeared with quart glass bot
tie containing a dark-brown liquid. The
old man helped himself to a small bar tum-
bier of the stuff and guided it down with a
grunt of satisfaction. He then paid 10 cents
for his drink and went tottering out into the
street
Rather a high-toned old bird that re-
marked the reporter, thinking of the eXpen-
sive snifter.
"Oh, yes; he's my best customer-good for
six balls day. replied the storekeeper
"A new tipple, that. Isuppose?' inquired
the reporter from force of habit.
ooh M. nOthinO new sir It's only lauda-
num-"
"Only WHAT exclaimed the reporter
"Only laudanum. The old fellow earns 81
a day, and he regularly blows in sixty cents
for it. Winter or summer it's all the same;
it's six laudanum balls day
The reporter eyed his informant to see if
he was joking. Evidently he was not. The
reporter then asked for the laudanum bottle
and tasted ii, and then went out and sat on
kindling-woOd box to watch the old man
give up the ghost But he did not. Pres
senly the old man seemed 10 brace up. He
went out in the street he was paving, jabbed
a crowbar into the ground, and took off his
vest and hung ii on it, Gradually change
came over him. He began 10 grow taller
His bison back lost its bow, his scraggy neck
lost its crook. His bent legs Strengthened
out His arms were no longer pasied, his
fingers ceased to tickle the air. Richard was
evidently himself again.
NOW mister, said the storekeeper to the
reporter, watch him If you want to see fun
He'll pound them stones like - in a min
ute. The balls beginning TO work.
The dispenser of the elixir of death spoke
the truth, for suddenly there was a cracking
| noise-whether it was the old mans Joints
| or his suspenders the reporter knoweth not
- and then the old man began humping the
| stones with the velocity. and strength of a
! steam cburn. This was kept up for a few
moments, and then the light began to fade
| from his eyes and the strokes became less
| frequent. His chin began TO sink on his
| chest, his back to bow again. Then the
| thumper stopped, and the old man collapsed
! into his former self. This transition from
| the brink of the grave 10 life and back again
| had occupied but remarkably brief space
| OF time.
! Are there many laudanum sharps
! sroundg softly inquired the reporter.
! THE woods is fun OF en-" was the reply,
4 as the storekeeper went back into his place
/ to serve the old man again.
/ The reporter, since his day up the Hudson,
! has asked many corner grocery storekeepers
/ and druggists in this city and the suburbs
/ for snifters OF laudanum, and in almost
! every Gaze he has been served. In most
| places the request was regarded a natural
occurrence. In a few he was looked upon
with distrust. BY one druggist in a fashion
| able suburb ne was told that "the world
would be surprised if he told how many
| heightened ladies were his regular customers
| for laudanum and snuff