It struck me, from watching those with whom I associated, that the life we were living was more destructive than that lived by the average man.
John Barleycorn, by inhibiting morality, incited to crime.

Everywhere I saw men doing, drunk, what they would never dream of doing sober.

And this wasn't the worst of it.

It was the penalty that must be paid.
Crime was destructive.

Saloon-mates I drank with, who were good fellows and harmless, sober, did most violent and lunatic things when they were drunk.