The National Temperance Almanac for 1836 demonstrated the pitfalls of male sociability in a story entitled “Convivial Club – Or Intemperance Contracted in Places of Amusement.” Although the illustration shows two portly middle-aged men seated at a table, smoking and filling their glasses from a shared bottle, the text tells the story of a group of young men who began rather innocently by meeting for cards and sharing a modest amount of wine. Rapidly and inevitably, the hours of their indulgence increased, cigars and strong liquor were introduced.  They all became confirmed drunkards and were often picked up off the street by the police. 

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