I was impressed by the immensity of certain towns in the neighborhood, and there were some temptations in my way.

Many people, and especially the prominent men, indulged in ardent spirits.
One of my young friends induced me to go to dinner with him at Van Brocklin's, the fashionable restaurant of a near city.

We had a bottle of wine and some adventures and I was sick for a week after it.

Every day of that week I attended a convention of my ancestors and received much good advice.

Toward the end of it my friend came to see me.
"There's no use of my trying to be a gentleman," I said.