But I dinna care
aboot thae Temperance Soceeities, wi' their pledges an' havers; an'
I canna see what hairm can come till a man by takin' a bottle o' guid
Glenlivet hame wi' him. I canna bide thae teetotal buddies.'
Geordie's speech was followed by loud applause, partly appreciative of
Geordie himself, but largely sympathetic with his position.
Two or three men followed in the same strain advocating a league for
mutual improvement and social purposes, but without the teetotal pledge;
they were against the saloon, but didn't see why they should not take a
drink now and then.
Finally the manager rose to support his 'friend, Mistah--ah--Cwafoad,'
ridiculing the idea of a total abstinence pledge as fanatical and indeed
'absuad.' He was opposed to the saloon, and would like to see a club
formed, with a comfortable club-room, books, magazines, pictures, games,
anything, 'dontcheknow, to make the time pass pleasantly'; but it was
'absuad to ask men to abstain fwom a pwopah use of--aw--nouwishing
dwinks,' because some men made beasts of themselves.
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