The Press., 1893-03-30
Hartford Post.) "TREATING" NUISANCE.

Mr. Murphy has done well to expose the folly and wrong of the treating" habit so prevalent in this community and. in most parts of the United States. It is an Amelicanism and barbarous one at that, and it cannot be sanctioned on any other grounds than custom. This species of tippling is, we believe, fully as respon- sible for drunkards as mere craving for liquor or wine. of which it is so often the direct cause.
 Men whom we all know drink when they do not want to drink in amounts disagreeable to them, and even with per- sons with whom they are not on intimate terms, merely because every one else does so, for fear of giving offense or seem- ing eccentric. Could anything not actual ly vicious be more ridiculous, more de- moralizing to self-respect? It only goes to show how much we are all creatures of
 habit, to alarge extent made or unmade
 by our surroundings. Perhaps ribbon wearing, pledge sign l ing crusade is not imperative or advisa-
 ble here against this social folly. The danger is that such formalities, unless against open abuses, after they lose their novelty may become objects of ridicule.
 But none the less is the treating custom a curse to Hartford and every other place where it is habitually indulged in, and no time would seem more appropriate than the present to make every practical effort 1 to try to put stop to it. This can be done if public sentiment condemns the present syctem. No one but that at heart l Is at times disgusted with both the ex- lpensiveness and annoyance of promiscu- ous treating, though of course proper en- Itertainment of one's friends is and always will remain one of the greatest pleasures 1 in life.
 We may learn lesson from abroad, a world much older and in many ways more lscivilized than our own. There it is an
 unheard of thing, it would be considered l in the highest degree ill-mannered fol men to attempt to force each other to
 drnk, which is what treating practically amounts to. If man in England, oI France, or Germany feels inclined fol the time being Or habitually to drink
 champagne while his Companions or ac. lquaintances sip beer, all right,;;ne. of Ifense is given to the latter if he is not in, IcIuded in the round" On the next oc Ecasion their positions may be reversed Pay your own score is the rule the world lover. It is the continual mixing of drinks land overlooking the stomach with super Iiuous tipple of someone's else taste and ordering which in American life befuddles [so many mems brains and sends then lreeling horne when they had no intention
 of making night of it before they fel
 victims to treating.
 1 If you intend to drink no human power l will stop you. But have the good sense
 if you continue to drink, to drink where you want, what you want, and as much ol
 as little as you want and have the courage
 to strictly discourage treating by your in
 dividual example. Refuse drinks not or
 dered by you and pressed upon you.
 In short time @ revolution could bt
 accomplished here in Hartford in this
 matter, and it would be an immense gaiI
 to all but the saloon keepers. Yet il
 spite of all that can be said in favor O the reform, so tenacious is the treating
 nuisance habit that we fear it will be { long time before it's ghost disappears l from American bar-rooms, clubs and ho