The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-03-29
ALTERITY IN THE BOWL.
The Horrible Possibilities Of Con.
duct While Thoroughly Drunk.


"It is possible for a man unde
the influence of drink to commi
murder and yet be absolutely un
conscious of his act and be utterly
incapable of recalling it," This wa
said by Chicago physician who il
eminent for his knowledge of brair
and nerve disorders. In substan
tiation of the statement that a mar
may be so drunk as to be uncon
scious and yet act seemingly in {
most intelligent manner, a gentle
man we'll known in Chicago rea
estate circles, tells the following
story of himself:
II met an old college friend wher
l was last in Chicago and invited
him to dine with me at a Clark
street restaurant.
ave had two or three drinks o1
French brandy before eating, and
we each drank a couple of bottles
of champagne. recollect distinct.
ly parting with him just outside
the restaurant, and then all was a
blank to me. When / recovered
consciousness it was in my room at
the Grand Pacific Hotel. Now, per-
fectly sober, but incapable, through
nervousness, of further sleep, !
arose, lit the gas and looked at my
watch. It was 2 o'clock.
II was thoroughly alarmed.
Throwing myself on chair sought
desperately to recall the time, eleven
hours in all, since I left my friend.
But no, try as l might, l could re-
member nothing. How did l get
to the hotel? There was uncon-
scious action certainly. had evi-
IDENTIFY carefully undressed and
turned off the gas. My clothes were
on the same chair | had been ac-
customed to place them, and my
shoes and stockings were beneath
the chair.
"This was the first time in my
life that had been really drunk,
and l was scared beyond estimation.
What had I done in these eleven
hours? What offenses might I not
have committed? / was morally
certain my name would be IN the
morning papers, and if so | should
commit suicide. None of my fam
lily had ever done a disgraceful
thing, and l would not survive dis
honor
"Presently, unable to bear my
own thoughts, l dressed and went
down into the Office. / asked the
clerk if he had seen me enter, but
he had not. I had evidently got
early to my room. There was some
consolation in that.
"Oh, how wretched | was. My
head ached, my heart ached.
would drink no more; never. The
night finally passed. After break,
fast, with saddened countenance,
hastened to the real estate office OF
-, whom you know. | remem-
bered he had given me an option
on some acre property in the city,
and that option expired the day be-
fore. AS the purchase of this prop
erty was the chief object of my COM
ing to Chicago, | was exceedingly
mortified that l should have let the
day go by. 1t was valuable tract,
and worth every cent l was asked
for it.
"Now note what follows. 1ncred-
ible as it may seem, | swear that !
shall relate it as it occurred, and
that every word of it is true.
Entering the brokers' office, af-
ter the greetings of the day, said
somewhat timidly: "Mr.-, il
you have not changed your mind
about that tract, 1 am prepared to
buy it this morning.
"The broker stared at me in as
tonishment for a moment, and then
said, laughingly:
"'Oh, l see; you will have your
joke
"Joke!' l replied. why, l was
never more serious in my life.
tell you l wish to buy that tract OF
land
"The land is sold-sold yester-
day. said the broker with smile.
WThat is too bad,' / exclaimed
bitterly. who bought it? l have
set my heart on getting it. Now
don't you think you might induce
him to part with it?'
az doubt it exceedingly. In fact
he told me that he bought to hold
for couple of years, believing 1t
would double in value.
az am greatly disappointed
more so than | can express IN mere
Words said. But will you tell
me the name of the purchaser? he
may be prevailed upon to part
with it,
"'Are you really in earnest?'
asked the broker, who seemed to be
completely mystified. DO you
mean to say that you have no rec
olloction of entering nv office yes