The independent., 1907-01-31

out Nv III muu WHere cndHce has
thrown ye; little more makes ye
think tn stains on yeer coat ar-re
eppyiets; little more dhrops ye back
into tn mud again It's frind to thin
that ar-re cold to 1t an an inimy to
those that love it most. 1t welcomes
thin in an thrips thin as they go
out. ! tell ye it's threacherous dhrug
an 1t oughtn't to be given to ivry
man. To get a dhrunk a man ought
first to be examined be his parish
priest to see whether he needs it an
how it's goin' to affect him F"r wan
man he'd write on tn prescription 'Ad
lib,' as Dock O'Leary does whin he or
dhers mustard plasther FIR me; fr
another he'd write, Three times day
at meals But most people he wud-
dent prescribe it f'r at all
DO ] blame tn ladies? Faith, I do
not, Ye needn't think I'm proud iv me
business. ! ony took to it because |
am too ianial to be a mechanic an
too tender hearted to be a banker or
a lawyer No. Sir ] wudden't care a
sthraW il all tn dhrink in tn wurruld
was dumped tcmorrah into tn Atlantic
Ocean, although fr week or two af-
ther it was I'd have to get me a diving
suit IL | wanted to see anything iv me
frinds. Booze has always been a
poplar byrage with men, but tn
ladies have niver admired it much.
An / don't wonder. How aften have
sat with Hogan an ye'ersilf an passed
tn can an see ye'er wife lookin' on
with puzzled eyes. We'd begin perfect
ly cam an sinsible, but about tn third
dhrink some wan iv us Wud make q
remark that was about as funny as q
coffin plate an we'd burst into hoWls
iv laughter, beat each other on tn
knee, crow an gurgle with III tears
runnin' down our checks TIL good
woman knew tn jske was not worth
tn expinse iv a dhreary smile, an
twas not us but old King Alcohol that
was yellin' at It. Afther TIL jolly we
got to tn boastful stage. Ye told how
ye called Jawn l.. Sullivan a loafer in
tn year eighty-eigh Hogan admitted
that Whin he was eight years old he
was tn best debater in 9TH Brothers
school, an j recited few iy me ad-
vintures be flood an field. To'rd iliven
o'clock somewan mentioned tn death
| iv Bill Higgins. who passed away dur
in. tn Mexican War, an we had a
good weep. A little later / noticed
ye were broodin' over something. Ye
said naWthin' f'r a while an thin ye
got up on asst Hogan If he meant what
he said to We while ye were
Waitin' to start on tn Pat
rick's day p'rade two years ago.
At that tn good woman put down her
sewin' with an alarmed face an sint
ye off to bed an tn party was over.
Now what dye suppose ye'er wife
thought about dhrink while this here
| it, dxat n
know if ye want to know why nearly
all ladies ar're timprance rayformers,
stay sober yeersilf some night whin
yeer frinds are maxim merry. Be
hivens, whin / close up this establish
ment iv' a Saturdah night after me
boon? companyons have started to
grope FIR their varchous homes, | feel
like goin' down town an askin' to be
enrolled in the Young Ladies Timp'-
rance Union. | do so. .sa..
No, Sir, tn ladies ARE not to blame.
They've always thried to rayform man,
an they haven't yet got onto tn fact
that maybe he's not worth rayformin'
They don't undherstan' why a man
shud be allowed to pizen himself into
tn belief that he amounts to some
thing, but thin they don't understand
/
is an how 'tis on'y be fortifyin him-
silf with stuff that they regard as iv
no use except to burn undher a tea
kettle that he dares to go on liyin' at
all. He knows how good dhrink makes
| him look to himslf an he drinks.
| They see how il makes him look TO
ivrybody else, an they want TO take
| II away firm him. Whin he's sober
his bluff Is on tn outside. Whin he's
| dhrunk he makes tn blum To his own
heart Drink turns him inside out
as well as upside down. an while he's
congratulatin' himsilf on tn fine man
| he liz tn neighbors know him f'r a
boaster. n cow'rd an somethin' iv Il
I liar. That tn ladies sec an hate, They
4 do not know that there Is wan thing
an on'y thing To be said IN favor
/ lv dhrink. an that ls that II has
caused nanny a lady To be loved that
otherwise might've died single"
They're all right" said Mr. lIeu-
messy. I'm against IT.