New Britain herald., 1923-02-23
Has America Forgotten How To Drink :?

Fifth avenue folks There was some-
thing mysterious almost about the
way he could handle babies, Seemed
10 see their minds and see the In
sides OF them and know almost by
instinct what was the matter with
the little fellows. even II they couldn't
tell themselves. Well he rolled up a
pile and went up 10 Canada 10 live in
the woods for a couple Of years,
"IIs came back 20 New York. but
he wasn't the same, He was no
longer the marvel, He was a good
doctor. all right, but there were hun-
dreds as good, He'd laid on too long
and lost his cunning, His fingers
had gone thick on him and the old
bean wasn't as sharp as II used TO be,
This may be old stun TO lot OF
sharps. but ] was never much for
high education and what learned
learned by watching drinking men
and women. ] got my education by
watching people. not reading books.
He Tells = Story.
well. Americans have forgotten
how to drink. Get me right. now.
and don't think I'm trying to say
that they don't drink. They do
drink. but they've got out Of the
habit and their ability to drink has
suffered. Let me tell you q story
that you might call typical.
Last spring ! took my place be-
hind the bar the minute we'd passed
the three mile limit and who lines up
at It but man I'd known for years!
He's a lawyer with a lot OF good
clients and a nice home out in West
chester county. used to make dou-
BILE Bronxes for him almost every
night when worked at the Belmont
Hotel. He would, stop In before
catching his train and shoot Just two
drinks--both double Bronxes-and
then he'd blow. Sometimes Of q
Saturday he'd shoot three. Once in
a while he'd vary It by taking a tall
Scotch highball with plain water.
Perfection Scotch was his favorite.
well. we talk over the old times
for minute and he introduces me to
a friend Of his--a man about SO. who
looked like he had seen things. They
hoJ a1,,h,o p.1n-as NJ, In ,,,,,ar &a,d
me he'd been obeying the law.
Hadn't hardly touched a thing since
the country went dry except now
and then shot Of hooch at the
club or at an evening party.
But you might as well say he'd been
on the water wagon ever since the
Amendment was adopted.
And I believe that about rs per cent.
Of Americans are like him on the
matter.
There's lot of talk about there
being more drinking now than there
ever was, but that Is bunk-ignorant
bunk. There isn't as much or nearly
az much, because 1t is too hard to
get and people cant pay the price
and more won't take the chance Of
killing themselves drinking the boot
eg stuff / know all about 1t and
veil let it go at that.
well, I notice that the second
louble Bronx kicked my lawyer be-
ow the belt. He used to be able to
hoot two. three or four Of them, one
lfter the other-bing, bling, bling,
Ike that And he'd be as sober as
Bill Bryan. But the second double
Bronx got to him. He began to
ak loose like, not like the gentle
nan he Is by birth and breeding
md education. He began to talk
heap and loud 1t wasn't for me to
ay anything when he took his fourth
nd began to get sloppy.
They put him to bed dead to the
world after the sixth and his friend
vas Just as bad He wasn't used to
/. He'd lost his capacity. However.
e was all right in the morning and
e blew in for bromo settler. Later
n the afternoon he dropped in again.
Yes, sir?' asks.
Gust Orange Juice"
please let me have a double
range juice--without gin. Just