The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1886-01-16

novel as some of our temperance advocates
would have it appear. Temperance lectur-
ers make a practice of holding up woman
as an example for man to follow, SO far as
total abstinence is concerned. The TACT is,
and as journalists We must be truthful,
women, even those who belong to the very
~bestsociety. are addicted to spirituous and
vinous indulgences. This may not be cred
liable to the sex, nor is it any justification
to males who make no concealment of their
vices. Nevertheless, it is a solid fact. There
are in all large cities what are called fash
ionable restaurants, where ladies go, unat-
tended, and call for cocktails, brandy
smashes, gin-slings, rum-punches, sherry
cobblers and whisky straight, just as the
%sterner sex do in public bar-rooms. This
is not all, for many OF them keep liquors at
their W homes with which to treat their
callers and occasionally stimulate them
selves with. The public need not be as
founded at this assertion, because it is
well known that this custom has existed
from time immemorial. Thirty or forty
years ago there was scarcely a we'll kept
private house in which there was not a
sideboard upon which rested %decanters con-
tanning all kinds of wines and liquors and
a tempting display of wine and drinking
glasses. These were considered common
property for the use of all privileged to
cross the threshold. At that time ladies
did their tippling with the same freedom as
shown by gentlemen. But Of late years,
owing to the repeated crusades against in
temperance, the g%entler sex has shown
more c~ircumspection when INDUCING in
stimulants. A New York correspond
emit to the Philadelphia Times speaking
of New Year observances and the habits of
ladies in that city, says: Large heads, re-
morse and good resolutions are depicted
upon the countenances OF New Workers TO-
day. Men are calling for a second of Jam
uary drink with which to tone up the sys
tenn after a day OF dissipation, and,
although the weather is beautiful, the faces
you catch in the crowd are not cheerful.
The women, too, 90 not look as happy and
bright as usual, for yesterday was a hard
day on all classes, and the reaction comes
to-day alike to the rich and poor. Holi-
day cheer brings it sorrows as we'll as lows
and it is really a good thing when both are
over. Speaking OF drinking reminds me of
what a lady acquaintance said to me this
morning about it and it's effect upon her
sex. Everything in the world was made
for the enjoyment of man. aid she. You
have your clubs and gorgeous bar-rooms
in which to tipple and gossip. Women
must confne themselves to the home
circle. Propriety stands like d ghost,
warning us off any of the pleasure
resorts that are open to men and even
from having any such resorts for ourselves.
'This,' said she, leads to a great deal of
private tippling, especially among the
fashionable people, and now we are getting
to have little places away from home where
we can get a glass OF wine. Very many of
our best modistes are keeping well-6lled
~sideboards, where their lady customers can |
get q drink OF wine or malt liquors while
out shopping. OF course, she continued. /
we shall never have such liberties as YOU |
men have. 1t is the proper caper for you
lords OF creation to pass into a bar-room. |
order your liquor, drink it and then talk |
stocks, or whatever you will. Then, men
40 not gossip about each other. Our sex
cannot be treated with our habits, and in |
taking a glass OF sherry outside of our
o mes secrecy is a necessity. Only this
morning l wa at my dressmaker's, and
getting through with a little GRAND, l had
stepped into her sideboard room to take a
glass of sherry. There was half a dozen |
ladies in the outer rooms at the time, all
OF whom, I am convinced, knew of the ex-
istence OF the quiet room where a drink
could be found, and had been there for one.
Yet, If they had seen a neighbor taking a
toddy there, they would have felt com.
PEELED to speak of it as a gross breach o
propriety.'"