Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-06-19
WOMEN VS.. wHrbsKEY

HetnarEsHhe Rem0nstFatAeR Oy IN
Women Of q western Town-The,
visit the Liquor and Gambling sa
looms and Exhorf the Keepers 1.
shat Up-IndignatIon of the Nal,
i Population ~ - INV
A correspondent writing from
| GAINESVILLE, Mich. !, June 5, eosnmu
.nieates the following episode to the
Detroit Tribune; .te,s, as.,F
Quite a connection was produced
here few evenings since By the
quiet visit of the Ladies' PhalanS
at the billiard saloons. As far as
we can ascertain, asecret society OF
about one hundred, comprising most
Of the leading respectable women
of the village, has been silently
formed during the past spring, with
out the, knowledge of the other sex
Gncluding some within, but COM
posed mostly of those without, the
Templar organization), for the
purpose of consultation, and taking
such influential measures as might
be deemed most proper to resist
the evil influence of liqnor and
gambling saloons. There are ten
places here where intoxicating
drinks are sold, including TIVE ho-
tells and two drug stores. dis fae
The two principal gambling sa-
looms, located on the, principal
street, are furnished in the most ell
egant and attractive style, with
ample room for idlers and loungers
"a billiard room in front, and a
copious bar at the side, with private
card rooms in the rear They are
kept Sby experienced managers,
and attract the married and single
men and youth of the town and
surrounding country. The temper
ance lectures of "the Buckeye
Broad Ak" had produced much ex-
element here, and the close Of one
of these lectures, on Wednesday
evening, at ten o'clock, furnished
the occasion for the grand denoue-
ment. From seventy to eighty Of
these ladies, without the knowledge
of any out of the society, left the
lecture hall and silently marched
to and entered one of the billiard
saloons. One of the two ladies APP
pointed to speak quietly addressed
the keeper, saying in substance, that
they had come, in behalf of them
selves and other ladies, to bear
their testimony against the bust
ness Of the saloon, as injurious to
themselves and their families, lead
ing their husbands, fathers and sons
into idle and dissipated habits and
ruin, respectfully asking, for their
sakes and the sake of society, that
he desist from the business and
follow some other calling, appeal
ing to his conscience and his good
will to his race, asking him what
would induce him to quit the bust
hess, and finally soliciting him to
pAomise them that he would follow
It no further, ETC., etc. The phalanx
then left, and proceeded in a body
to Ae other billiard saloon, and
thenlto one of the hotels, uttering
similar remonstrance and requests
as be fore, and then adjourned until
six O'Clock P. M. on Thursday, when
they Formed in a body and. pro-
eeeded to the other liquor selling
establishments, giving utterance
therein to the same request This
was grand army movement. On
Friday and Saturday We learn Of
occasional skirmishes made by
companies and platoOns giving oc-
casiOnal calls. The exact pro-
gramme to be pursued by this
society is unknown to the. other
sex, only as it developes in open
acts. The effect upon saloon and
grocery men was various. The
ladies exhibiting no violence, most
of the keepers were gentlemanly
in their answers and bearing.
Some stood pale and stolid !
some Acknowledged their occupa~
ton shameful, and wished
themselves out of it; some
admitted the crime against
their race, but had felt obliged
to gU into it to save their business,
as others had done so, some prom
ised to leave it as soon as they
could, with other apologies and re-
plies. Probably these keepers will
never be put through a more
searching ordeal than that of meet
ing these earnest women. Only
two of the men treated the ladies
with indignity, one Of whom wrote
an insulting letter-a total mistake.
The effect on the saloon loungers
might be compared 10 a bombshell
explosion. Divorces threatened,
denuneiations, execrations, jeers
and ridiculewere heard in the pub
lie, followed by curtain lectures the
most interesting; the ladies main
tanning the equal right of visiting
the haunts of their husbands and
SONS. Some exciting incidents took
place on the entrance of the pha-
ianx at the card room of the sec
ond saloon. Gentlemen busy at
play, suddenly espying the ap-
proaoh of their wives, quickly
closed the door. Muggins leaped
from the side window;high, low and
Jack made flight at the back door,
while the ladies took the same.