The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-03-30
SIDE LIGHTS ON GLAsGoW
The A.Hrk tde,

fhe A.Ark tde.
 l To the Editor of the Journal and Corrier. Permit a few words in reply to the l writer who short time ago smoke in | your columns of the bright side of Glasgow life.
 l was so struck by the prevalence of drunkenness among certain class of the citizens of Glasgow that I resolved on making a tour of the more infected districts, Accordingly, one Saturday night I walked from the center of Glas- gow to Bridgeton Cross, thence took the
 underground train to Mary Hill and
 thence walked citywards via Fossil and
 Barscube road. The Saturday follow
 ing I again started about the same
 hour from the center of Glasgow and
 walked slowly due west along Trongate
 Argyle street. Main street, Anderston
 and Dumbarton road to Kelvinbridge
 partick. The result of both tours was
 practically the same I was impelled to
 feel black shame of my almost native
 city. Why? Because, if the majority
 of the inhabitants of the districts
 through which I Ipassed were not drunk,
 they were "stoving" with liquor. Be-
 cause wherever I went smelt whiskey; with it. Turn which way I would, had
 the very atmosphere seemed saturated
 to be on the lookout for dazed,
 drunken men reeling home with hands
 in their trouser pockets, and their hazy
 eyes seldom winking Every lurch they
 gave threatened to send them to the street like oxen under the hammer. And where the men were there were the women also. Staggering, laughing,
 shouting, dancing women, systerically grabbing at the nearest mankind, call- ing him their wee dearie," and adding
 Come on and stand us a bucket" It almost made me repent of my resolve at the outset, when, to satisfy my curiosi- ty, I elbowed my way into a crowd, out of which came mobbish roars and knocking laughter-to hear the frightfuI prostitution of that most sacred and loving of all expressions, For the love of Christ" and the prevalent use of Hell, preceded by the sanguinary adjec- tive which is generally associated with 1t by people of this class and condition. From observation freely used have long ago come to the conclusion that the worthless workingman methodical- ly gets drunk every Saturday. In this wise: He has a glass of whiskey and a schooner of ale or beer on his way home from the workshop or yard, and if he gets home he drops off to sleep in his | working clothes. Then about half past seven or eight o'clock he slouches out dazed and blickering to get another skinful of liquor. He can keep his | tongue and his feet wonderfully well 1 till he gets one or two drinks, and then | he feels more disposed to argue than | drink Among more of a similar kind | and state he gets all the argument he | looks for. This is more than he bar 1 gains for, and he gets noisy. Quick | aned by his friends CD he orders more
 liquor and by nine o'clock he Is rapid
 y hustled into the street by the l 'chuckerout." Various melodies, sad | and heart breaking, are played on this theme, but the saddest of all is where he music of life sheds tears of blood for he female victim of drink. have re- | oeatedly seen women Of all ages-look- ng ten to fifteen years older than they | Nere-steal shiverng along the street, with bare arms under short ,hawls, and apparently only a short irugget petticoat to complete their at ire, go swinging into the nearest pub Il ic-house (saloon.) They did not so in