And that was the very point these drinkers made.

They knew that drink--and drink with a sailor is always excessive--made them mad, but only mildly mad.

Violent madness was objectionable because it spoiled the fun of others and often culminated in tragedy.

From their standpoint, mild madness was all right.

But from the standpoint of the whole human race, is not all madness objectionable?
And is there a greater maker of madness of all sorts than John Barleycorn?
But to return.