The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-28
Copyright, 1908.
by the
Bobbs- Merrill Co.

white fluid; then. turning the stopper
slightly. he poured into another glass a
thick milk-like liquid.
When among my constituents 1 al
most invariably call for a gourd for
drinking purposes in preference TO a
tumbler; but in this company I shall
abandon custom Of the plain people and
yield to the habits Of the sons of Mann
mon. | am here. I take It, once more in
my official capacity as governor OF South
Carolina, and as I am not one TO offend
the best sentiments Of my people. I
pledge you. my friends, not in the I'M
taxed corn whisky of Appleweights pri-
vate still, but IN the excellent and foamy
buttermilk OF Mrs Appleweights homely
churn."
As he concluded, Gov Dangerield rose
and performed exactly the same solemn
rite with the jug before him. pouring
whisky into one glass, buttermilk into
the other, and leaning across the table
he touched his tumbler Of buttermilk TO
that extended by Gov Osborne When
the applause that greeted this exchange
OF courtesies had subsidized, Gov. Dan
gerteld was still standing. and in a
quiet conversational tone, and with
manner engagingly frank. he said
Before it seemed expedient to follow
the reform bandwagon. I held certain
principles touching the drinking habit.
But the American bar has destroyed
drinking as a fine art, and # has now
become q vulgar habit In the good old
times no gentleman ever jumped at his
liquor. He took II with a casual air.
even with sanctifying reluctance. The
idea Of rushing into a public place and
gulplng your liquor IS Tepugnant 70 the
most primary OF the instincts that gov
ern gentlemen. To precipitate a gill OF
appleJack into that most delicate or
ganism, the human stomach without the
slightest warning Is an insult 10 the
human bO0s 2y. more; Il Is an outrage
upon mans very soul The aim OF
liquor, ladies and gentlemen, is TO stay
and lift the spirit. not TO degrade II.
Drinking at proper intervals ceased TO
be respectable at a fixed date in human
progress-to be exact. at the moment
when il was no longer a mere incident
Of personal or social recreation, but had
become sociological and political issue.
staggering crunkeuly under a weary bur-
den OF most painful statistics"
You are eminently right, GOV. Dan
gerfeld.' said the governor OF South
Carolina, helping himself 10 the sailed
almonds; but you have used a phrase
which piques my curiosity VIII you
kindly enlighten US as 70 how you in
terpret proper intervals?"
with greatest pleasure" responded
Gov Dangerfeld Il remember, as
though It were yesterday, my venerable
grandfather saying that no gentleman
should ever approach the sideboard
oftener than once before breakfast, and
he was himself a very early riser.
discount this however. because he al
ways slept with a jug of Cuban rum
the annual Offering Of a West Indian
friend-easily within his reach at the
head OF his bed. II was his practice Tor
years to sip little rum and water while
he shaved. lie was a gentleman. If ever
knew one, and as I look upon him as
a standard authority In all matters Of
department and morals, l may safely
cite him further in answer TO your ques-
ton.
During the long open season in our
country my grandfather constantly rode
over the plantation in immaculate white
duck followed by a darby on a mule
carrying a basket on our ancestral es-
tate there were many springs givins the
purest and coolest OF water, and these
were providentially scattered at tho most
convenient intervals for my grandfdth-
er's comfort, And as a slight return 10
nature for what she had done for him IN
this particular, my grandfather. In his
early youth, had planted mint around all
these springs I need hardly point out
the advantages OF this happiest Of COM
binatiOns-a spring of clear icy water;
the pungent bouquet OF lush mint; the
ample basket borne by a faithful negro.
and my gradfather. in his white duck
suit and a Panama hat n yard wide,
seated by the messy spring. selecting
with the most delicate care the worthiest
Of the fragrant leaves.
"Now"-and Gov. Dangerfeld smiled
I can see that you are all busy guess
Ing at the number Of stops made 10y my
grandfather in the course Of a day, and
I hasten to satisfy your curiosity. Ny
grandfather always started ont Mt 6
o'clock In the morning, and the springs
were so arranged that he had to make six
stops before noon, and four In the after
noon; but at o'clock, when he reached
home. all tagged out by a hard days
work and sorely needing rsfreshment. a
pitcher of cherry bounce was waiting
for him on the west gallery OF the house.
After that he took nothing but a night
cap on retiring for the night. To my
friend. the governor of South Carolina.
l need offer no apologies for my grand
father, once a Senator in Congress. and
man distinguished for his sobriety and
probity. He was an upright man and A
gentleman, and died at ninety-two. fun
of years and honOrs. and complaining.
almost with his last breath Of a dis
tressing dusty feeling in the throat"
When, as time passed, IT seemed that
every one had told a story or made a
speech, II was Ardmore's inspiration that
Griswold should sing a song. The asso-
clate professor of admiralty i'm the Uni
versity Of Virginia had already pledged
the loyalty Of HIS State to her neigh
bors and twin sisters, the Carollnas. and
Barbara, who wore a great bunch of
her own white roses. had listened TO him
with new respect and interest, for he
spoke well, with the special grace of
speech that men OF his State have. and
with little turns of humor that kent the
table bubbling merrily.
l shall comply with your request, my
friends, II you can bear with the poor
voice Of one long out of tune. and II our
host still has in the house a certain an
cient guitar / remember from old times
But l must impose one condition that
shall not again in this place be called
by my academic title. I have known
wars and the shock Of battle along the
Raccoon'-here his hand went To his
lips in the gesture that had so often dis
tressed Ardmore-"and I have known
briefly the JOY Of a military title. Miss
Osborne conferred on me In an ov,o,.