In a few minutes it will be three years and a half since I have taken adrink. In six years, six months, and a few minutes it will be ten years.Then I shall begin to feel I have some standing among the chaps who havequit. Three years and a half seems quite a period of abstinence to me,but I am constantly running across men who have been on the wagon forfive and ten and twelve and twenty years; and I know, when it comes tomerely not taking any, I am a piker as yet. However, I havewell-grounded hopes. The fact is, a drink could not be put into meexcept with the aid of an anesthetic and a funnel; but, for all that, I am no bigot.
I look at this non-drinking determination of mine as a purely individual[Pg 10]proposition. Let me get the stage set properly at the beginning of myremarks. I have no advice to offer and no counsel to give. Most of mybest friends drink and I never have said and never shall say them nay.It is up to them—not up to me. I have no prejudices in the matter. Ifmy friends want to drink I am for that—for them.
These things are mentioned to establish my status in the premises. Ihave no sermon to preach—no warning to convey. I have no desire toimpress my convictions on the subject of drinking liquor on any personwhatever. That is not my mission. So far as I am concerned, all personsare hereby given full and free permission to eat, drink and be merry tosuch extent as they may prescribe