On an evening a little later, this same personage—a man greatly respected in his community, whose utterances5 on civic6 affairs are often quoted in the papers—attended a dinner at one of the big hotels. Many eminent7 jurists and publicists were gathered together to do honor to one of their number. A little bar, with a man in a neat white jacket in charge, had been set up in a room not too remote from the dining-room; and thither8 the Great Men repaired to refresh themselves after the arduous184 duty of imposing9 fines and prison sentences on ruffians who dispensed10 alcohol through the city to those who, like the Great Men, could pay for it. But—“Judge not, lest ye be jugged.”
And the Young-Old Philosopher told me that once he stood in the private office of a well-known lawyer when the telephone bell rang. He could not help hearing the conversation, which ran somewhat like this:
“Yes? That you, Pete?... A dozen cases of the same—you know. Tonight, if possible. Try to get it there. Same price, of course.... Without fail; and I have a friend who wants to see you. Here’s the address: 000 Sherman. Call him up. He’s all right. Good-bye, Pete.”
The Young-Old Philosopher has himself told me that he has no scruples11 about disobeying the liquor law; yet somehow it gave him no little pain to listen to this monologue12, uttered by one whose life is given to forensic13 pleadings, whose maledictions pour forth14 in cataracts15 of eloquence16 when some shuddering17 nobody stands at the Bar of Justice. It is as though a priest left the altar to abscond18, immediately after a high-minded sermon on the duties of Christians20.
In a far western State my friend saw the Governor take many highballs during and after a banquet in a public room. He saw the Mayor of the city do likewise; and he was conscious that a gentleman of the cloth was slowly but surely growing unconscious185 as the dinner went on its merry way. He had never before seen this happen.
He was told by a fellow traveler, whose word he could not doubt, that all but 25 per cent of the Legislature of another western State went out and got beastly drunk, after they had voted for Prohibition21.
He has heard the jibes22 that foreigners, seeing what he has seen, fling at us every day; and he has had no answer to give them.
He has come upon boys trying to open the lockers23 in country clubs—not little rowdies, but the sons of influential24 members—that they might steal some of the old man’s whiskey. They have boasted of their attempted and successful thefts.
He has seen flappers disgustingly intoxicated25. He has observed them putting their hands up to the hip-pockets of their boy companions, to see if a flask26 was there. Alas27! it was.
As limousines29 and taxis have flashed by him, he has caught glimpses of youngsters who, five years ago, would not have been allowed to go out without a chaperone, in such close proximity30 that for a moment he thought it was but one strange enigmatic form in the car.
He has seen college boys in groups of three and four disappear into a small compartment31 on a train—and emerge ten minutes later with downcast eyes and sheepish grins, flushed with liquor; and he has seen the same boys repeat the proceeding32 ten or a186 dozen times on a journey lasting33 but a couple of hours.
He has seen a woman, injured in the streets of one of our big cities, lying almost unconscious. A hotel was close by, and a doctor in the crowd suggested that someone rush to get some brandy. The man who volunteered to go came back without any—none was available, nor could the proprietor34 be induced to send any out, even if he had had it. He was suspicious of a stranger, making such a request—he was suspicious of everybody. Police in civilian35 clothes—oh, they were all too common these days, that he knew; and no one was going to catch him, even though a wounded woman lay prone36 and groaning37 at his door.
He has heard the social service worker in a New York hospital say that, while conditions had slightly improved during the first few months of Prohibition, they were now worse than ever. In the old days, a workingman spent, say, $2.50 on grog out of his weekly wages, and was content to let it go at that; now he spends ten and twelve dollars—he’ll get his liquor at any cost; and the wives and families of such men are in despair. With the passing of time, the people have learned how to get drinks, and how to make them, and they are becoming more expert every day. But they drink poison—anything they can lay their hands upon—and become all but raving38 maniacs39 for a while.
He has seen form letters from bootleggers in New187 York, giving price lists, just as though there were no law forbidding such transactions. Deliveries were promised within the city, at rates commensurately low. It was even stated that “prices were going down,” and that the best gin could be obtained, as well as other materials of alcoholic40 content. A printed address was given, and the mails were boldly used for this questionable41 business.
He has known friends who had been on the water wagon42 for years to take to home-brewing as a natural course. Their excuse was that they could not afford the prices asked by professional bootleggers; and they were certain that they could not possibly give a dinner party now—of all times—without offering some stimulant43 to their guests. In the old days they would have ventured to do so. Since Prohibition people expected—and usually received—plenty of wet refreshment44. They did not care to be segregated45 from their acquaintances; they did not relish46 the idea of having their invitations refused. So they gladly became law-breakers, and swiftly acquired skill in the preparation of all sorts of wines, gin and beer.
He has seen, in a Southern city, the wife of a leading judge serving a punch made of apple juice and peach juice—oh, a very heady punch indeed!—to State officials, who had no qualms47 about accepting it, though they were aware that the law was being broken. And he saw young men made quite tight on this same punch.
188 He has observed people entering a restaurant in New York with packages which obviously contained bottles. These, under the eye of a policeman in uniform, were taken from them by the employees of the hotel. One, a bottle of champagne48, was poured into a great pitcher49—the customers were graciously permitted to watch the process in a private room—and then served openly, again under the officer’s eye and nose, in the main dining room. So twisted has become our legal logic50, that it seems it is one thing to drink from a bottle and quite another to drink from a pitcher. A nation of sophists, as well as hypocrites.
He has seen motors searched on public highways, without a warrant; and he has known innocent occupants of the car to be told that “they could go on—the police had nothing on them.”
He entered a small police station in California with a friend who had lost a valuable cigarette case—a friend of distinction. The officers instantly recognized him, opened a desk, exposing dozens of quarts of whiskey, and offered both the Young-Old Philosopher and his friend a drink. These officers were quite drunk. They laughingly told the complainant that they had just “pinched” a roadhouse, and were going to sell to another roadhouse the stock which they did not consume—and “pinch” the second man in due season, taking the pre-arranged graft51 which would come out of his profit.
He remembers the case in the State of New York—no189 doubt others have forgotten it, as they forget much that they should remember—of an innocent farmer driving his motor through the countryside one day at dusk. He was ordered to stop by an officer who suddenly appeared on the road, and when he refused to do so he was instantly shot. Senator Wadsworth aired this frightful52 incident in the Senate, and the chief Prohibition enforcement officer of the State announced that it was the duty of automobilists to halt when they were ordered to do so, or they might suffer a like fate.
He has seen in many a woman’s club, bottles of liquor smuggled53 in, cocktails54 made by the employees and served in private rooms. Then, because it was strictly55 against the rules to drink openly, like cats who had just stolen the cream, the ladies and their men guests walked guiltily but airily into the dining room, imagining that there were no evidences of their wrong-doing. The neat little leather or silver cases which contained the forbidden alcohol were automatically returned to their owners, who in turn handed them to their waiting chauffeurs—the latter, of course, were omitted from the happy function—and were taken home to be replenished56 at the next gathering57.
He has known an old lady, very ill, who craved58, as she had never craved anything, a single glass of champagne; but even her druggist could not get it for her, at any price, on a doctor’s prescription59. And she was denied the exhilaration of this simple190 luxury, in order, so my friend supposes, that some worthless drunkard who might better be under the sod, should be saved.
Indeed, he has known many an invalid60 who might have gone to his grave a bit happier for some momentary61 stimulant which stupid reformers saw fit to withhold62.
He was told by the proprietor of several supper places in one of our great cities—and he cannot doubt his word, since he has known him for a long, long time—that one of the federal Prohibition officers who live on graft receives not less than five dollars for every case of wine which passes the Customs. Very swiftly this official is growing unbelievably rich; he does not wish, naturally, to see a return to what might now be considered the old, calm days. Not long ago, this grafter63 decided64 that it was about time to make a spectacular “raid” and close up, for a while, the cabarets along the route where he acted as supreme65 czar. For Washington might take his long inaction as neglect of duty. Therefore he set a night when he visited various restaurants in a limousine28, warning the proprietors66 that they must shut down. But he added, in the ear of each, “Don’t worry! this is only a bluff—a spectacular gesture. You’ll all be free to sell stuff in a little while.” He meant that phrase, “a little while,” for, of course, his graft ceased during the interval67 of grayness. But the federal government, getting his report, seemed pleased at his attention191 to his duties, and all was serene68 for him. Champagne was purchased soon afterwards in all these cabarets, and the jazz struck up a livelier tune69, and everybody was happy.
He has read with astonishment70 that the student-governing body in several of our colleges has found it necessary to take formal action for the suppression of intoxication71 among under-graduates. Was this ever done in “the good old days”? Think of it! Your boy, whom the Volstead Act was to protect from the scandal of drunkenness, must have what is comparable to the Mullan-Gage Act and the Hobert Act pressed upon him in his college, so that he may be made to see the dangers that lurk72 in alcohol. The great and holy Government cannot control him; a minor73 form of tyranny and suppression must come into existence to aid the already heavy machinery74 of the law to run smoothly75.
He has known of an exalted76 judge who purchased liquor from a police officer, had it delivered at his door in a patrol wagon; and that wagon was guarded by a man in uniform.
He has known another minion77 of the law who admitted that, though he had not violated the Volstead Act, for conscientious78 reasons, had never so much as had a case of bought-and-paid-for whiskey or beer carted to his door, he had somehow “found” a bottle or two in his home, left there by sympathetic friends, he supposed; yet he did not inquire. “Conscience doth make cowards of us all,” as Hamlet192 said; but how one absolves79 himself is a matter of private concern. Rationalism could go no further than this minion’s processes of reasoning. Strange indeed are the ways of powerful public officials, obeying one law to the letter, and letting their ethics80 slip and slide when it comes to some other law which they do not really wish to keep, and do not really wish to break.
He has heard a dapper young society man in Massachusetts glibly81 state that the best bootlegger in his town is a federal Prohibition officer, who can “get him anything he wants from beer to whiskey and liqueurs.” And the dapper young man thought this was “perfectly82 all right, and rather good to know in these arid83 days.” Moreover, one was perfectly certain that what one purchased from this scoundrel was the real thing—no chance of wood-alcohol blindness, or anything of that sort.
You will notice that what the Young-Old Philosopher has seen is not confined to any one section of the country. He has traveled considerably84 to make his observations.
This is the America of today, as the Young-Old Philosopher sees it. He says he is not so worried about the present generation as about the generation that may come after it. Surely the potential mothers and fathers of children a decade hence are not fit to take upon themselves the responsibilities and burdens of parenthood. What kind of offspring will they produce? So long as we are looking ahead,193 providing for the welfare of the race to be, let us wisely look far enough ahead so that our eugenics may mean something. It is folly85 to pretend to be altruistic86, to dip into the immediate19 future, at the expense of the present. We will produce a decadent87 race if we are not careful.
Neither do I. And neither do you—if you are a good American.
And what about the America of tomorrow?
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1
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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2
hypocrisy
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| n.伪善，虚伪 | |
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3
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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4
excoriated
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| v.擦伤( excoriate的过去式和过去分词 )；擦破（皮肤）；剥（皮）；严厉指责 | |
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utterances
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| n.发声( utterance的名词复数 )；说话方式；语调；言论 | |
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6
civic
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| adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的 | |
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7
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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8
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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10
dispensed
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| v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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11
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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12
monologue
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| n.长篇大论，（戏剧等中的）独白 | |
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13
forensic
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| adj.法庭的，雄辩的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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15
cataracts
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| n.大瀑布( cataract的名词复数 )；白内障 | |
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16
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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17
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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18
abscond
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| v.潜逃，逃亡 | |
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19
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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21
prohibition
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| n.禁止；禁令，禁律 | |
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22
jibes
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| n.与…一致( jibe的名词复数 )；（与…）相符；相匹配v.与…一致( jibe的第三人称单数 )；（与…）相符；相匹配 | |
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23
lockers
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| n.寄物柜( locker的名词复数 ) | |
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24
influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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25
intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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27
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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limousine
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| n.豪华轿车 | |
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limousines
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| n.豪华轿车( limousine的名词复数 )；（往返机场接送旅客的）中型客车，小型公共汽车 | |
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proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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compartment
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| n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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civilian
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| adj.平民的，民用的，民众的 | |
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prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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raving
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| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
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39
maniacs
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| n.疯子（maniac的复数形式） | |
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alcoholic
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| adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者 | |
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41
questionable
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| adj.可疑的，有问题的 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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43
stimulant
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| n.刺激物，兴奋剂 | |
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refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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45
segregated
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| 分开的； 被隔离的 | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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qualms
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| n.不安；内疚 | |
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champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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50
logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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51
graft
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| n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接 | |
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52
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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53
smuggled
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| 水货 | |
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cocktails
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| n.鸡尾酒( cocktail的名词复数 )；餐前开胃菜；混合物 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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56
replenished
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| 补充( replenish的过去式和过去分词 )； 重新装满 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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prescription
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| n.处方，开药；指示，规定 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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withhold
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| v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡 | |
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grafter
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| 嫁接的人，贪污者，收贿者； 平铲 | |
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64
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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proprietors
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| n.所有人，业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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68
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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69
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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70
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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71
intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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72
lurk
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| n.潜伏，潜行；v.潜藏，潜伏，埋伏 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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74
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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75
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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76
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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77
minion
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| n.宠仆；宠爱之人 | |
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78
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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absolves
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| 宣告…无罪，赦免…的罪行，宽恕…的罪行( absolve的第三人称单数 )； 不受责难，免除责任 [义务] ,开脱（罪责） | |
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80
ethics
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| n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准 | |
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81
glibly
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| adv.流利地，流畅地；满口 | |
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82
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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83
arid
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| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
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84
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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85
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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86
altruistic
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| adj.无私的，为他人着想的 | |
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87
decadent
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| adj.颓废的，衰落的，堕落的 | |
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88
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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