The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-22
scHEMEs OF TAPERING OFF.
Some original Means hat Men Have Tried
TO Limit Their Drinks.

ct must DO a little discouragins 10 those two
man +" said A wcllknown New Yorker who WAS
standing on the piazza OF the clubhouse at a
seashore resort near New York. when they
both fell down within twenty-tour hours after
they had finished their cure. They both went
into quarantine together and did all they could
to help one another. Between them they man
aged TO put In the six weeks, and when they
came out you would not have recognized them.
they did not look like the same two men who
had gone into retreat. But the day after they
reached New York both OF them got so drunk
that they fell down in front OF Delmonico's
and had to be carted to a hotel In a hanson.
The cure they took was said to DO the best in
the country, too"
"whst are they going to do now
"Swear of again and not drink another drop
for three more months"
why not follow my ohemef" asked a fat
man at the table. Il never drink unless my
wife does. and I find that works TO When
l married she thought l was drinking too much.
l knew it. She doesn't believe In total absti-
nence for other people and she likes a cocktail
herself. But l had to diminish the daily sup
ply, and she suggested that I should never
drink unless / was with her and she wanted
q drink at the Same time. I consented
to the arrangement, expecting that It would
cure her taste for drink permanently. But
1t didn't. although 1t decreased my amount TO
the proper supply. That arrangement doesn't
interfere with our wine at dinner. nor docs
1t inconvenience us when We take supper to-
gether. II we are driving and want a drink
when we come home, that Is not forbidden. and
II we want a cocktail before dinner. that Is all
right. But 1t does prevent my taking two or
three gin rickeys during the morning and sew.
eral cocktails before dinner, not to mention the
Incidental highbalis and the brandies and sofas
That's a better scheme than Smiths" camo
from the other side OF the table. While he
,~els s,sd dr INK y a day the M Me-, S a7STnse H Mn. S eoS.
siderably more than that. We'll. the doctor
gave him a bell punch, and no was to pull! it
he followed that plan religiousIy. Then he grew
a httle careless, and for four, out o! the six
months he carried the thing with him he would
religiousiy pull the handle ON the punch unul t
Essisiered twelve; That he Always T Tid when
drunk before. But the doctor saw the bell
punch when 1t registered only twelve drinks.
his doctor that the man never claimed TO have
done him the slightest good. 1t Was rs gentle a
tns as I ever saw. "a although / / have have Known Of
cases in which men who used those particular
bell lunches were, able to keep th-ir drunks
Q of the best schemes l ever saw" said
another one Of the men. = was perfect 50 long
Know a man whose wife Thought that he crank
too much for ais means. she thought he drank
TOO much FOR his health as well. but she put 1t
on financial grounds. 4 woman kaows hat IA
soV4 as she objects 10 drinking on tho grounds
OF principe she Is very likely 20 have little or
no influence. So this wife put 1t on grounds OF
economy, and made heT husband prom.s Sc To give
her eXa ;lS the same amount that II" spent on
liquor. He WAS in his second year OF married life
and he promised Willingly. II lstonished him TO
see hoa much a. the end Of every day he was
compelled to HAND over to his wife. She would
have an accounting with him every night Gftc.
dinner. goins through the day drink by drink,
II did reduce considerably the amount he drank
for IL made linn realize how much he spcni
every day. But his wife got tired OF estimating
the amount he owed every night, he wouldn'
or ~cOc.Nnt remember. and they gave the plan
up. But II was ulc OF the best while 1t lasted"
A man Who determined to keep down hi
drin king y said the last man left who had not
put In hs oar, told me that he reduced his Gus
touar! supply BY a question oil time. At lirsi
he concluded 10 drink 40. hing before ! O'Clock
That LEFT him free until lunch time. Then ht
moved II on to , O'Clock. and the pronluitioC
moved in successive progression until Il reached
6o'L.ock. No" his cocktail Is the first frinl
OF The day. But us not tho last. There
are later WHISTLES and sOias, and sometime.
other liquors. Now he is trying TO work the tim,
test backward. starting at dinner. He does no
allow himself TO take a drink until ten-aftcr hi
dinner. He Is going 10 make IL steven. twelve
ana probably one. That Wi. give MIN on!
time for one drink before bedtime. and with tn
daylight arrangement in its present p%erferte,
form, H." expects 10 recover entirely from an!
possible i'll effect OF loo many DRINKS