The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-01-13
He Swore Off.
IRON. TIC Nhtcaqo Herald.

NtoSP ctSNsO w" DollSS, to
he dropped into enc of Porter Pal
mcr's cushioned seats in the ro-
tunda of the hotel. "No, boys, Pve
got some ideas on this business of
tipping. If you wish to publish it
you're welcome to do 1t. My pro-
prietor is a drinker himself in a
small way, and he might say he
had not engaged me to write tenn
perance lectures. But Tll tell you
what Tve been thinking about and
everybody ought to think of it.
That's the cost. Now, Pve got too
much ems to take up the temper
ance racket from any sentimental
idea, nor will L pratc about the
moralistic side OF it. Leave that
to the platform cranks and blue
ribbon idiots. My standpoint is
n of practically. What does the
tipping habit cost? l have been
q moderate drinker for twenty-five
years. / don't think the habit is
growing on me. ] know | am in
no dahgcr OF the gutter or tram
phood. My health is perfect, my
mind clear and active, and physi-
cally and mentally considered, my
seven or eight drinks Il dayo more
on occasion, seen to have done my
no harm. But | I'm damnable
poor" With this the newspaper
man stretched his legs and looked
at his friends, who were all his
juniors. They hardly realized his
poverty, for he was well kressed
and known to be Il gentleman.
"Fact," he said, 81 am poor and in
debt. or our you know the
craft does nst get princely incomes,
but they get enough to save some
thing from. The difficulty is not
SO much lack Of income as lack of
prudence in handling it. DO you
know what led me into this train
of thought? Ill tell you. / went
into one of the best saloons the
other morning to get Il cocktail. I
was Il little snaky and needed it.
l had just twenty-five cents. /
got my ten cents change, and then
leaned up against the rail and
looked around. l saw pictures
that were elegant. L saw mirrors
rejecting and duplicating them.
l saw the most magnificent cut
glass and silvcrware. l saw wood
carvings, marble things, gorgeous
tapestries, supurb %frescoes, and,
speaking to a young man present,
the barman said that it had cost
nearly 100000 to supply this one
place with these gorgeous things.
L looked for the proprietor. He
was not in just then, but his mag
nificent family sleigh stood out
side. 1t bore tufted plumes and the
horses wore banged tails and Rus
sian arches of silver gongs. The
cOachman wore Il green coat with
great pot metal disks for buttons,
and Il huge sealskin cap that cost
more than mine. And then, as |
looked l began to think. / turned
to the bar and said inwardly, Tll
put up the other ten cents and get
u cocktail.' Tho young man who
made ii attracted my attention.
He was one of four who was deal
ing out the brains poison. He was
young, stalwart. His dress was
immaculate, his linen faultless, hts
hands soft and white, his whole APP
pearance suggested the freshness
of early spring. In his polished
shirt cleaned a gorgeous diamond.
Upon his little finger blazcd anoth-
er. l looked at this chap, and I
began to reflect that I had spent
my last ten cents, and would be
compelled to borrow to see me
through the week. Then rejection
went still further, and l asked my
self how much Of my poor salary
went to keep up this style, and how
much interest l had in those dia-
mondS and furS and sleigh and
bang-tailed horses? Then | began
to look at the profits Of the business,
and remembered that there were
sixty average drinks to tho gallon
Of whiskey, and that the average
bar whiskey costs three dollars n
gallon. AT fifteen cents q drink
this diamond bedizened gentleman
behind the bar took in nine dollars
for something that cost three dol
lars, to say nothing of added water.
And then / remembered how few
OF these gentlemen had even % cent
to spend on anything but their sell
fish pleasures, how they wore the
finest Of clothing, the costliest of
underwear, silken and cashmere,
how their shoes and boots cost from
$l2 to $50 IL pair, and how l had to
tramp around with soft patches.
And the more / thought the mad
der ] got, and i have made up my
mind to leave no more Of my money
with these gentlemen who life 30
easily and luxuriously, and whose
gorgeous livelihood costs them not
an hours worry. Others may and
viii order drinks, no doubt, but
from me the saloons and their gor.
geous proprietors have got their
last dollor. This is my little Christ.
mas temperance lecture, bows
Try and profit by it.