The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-04-07
RoLLnRsv1LLH LETTER.

RoLLERsvIJLE, April 3D. 1911.
Mr.. Editor:-On Tuesday evening last, our
little village Of RoIlersville was again aroused
into "newness of life," by a Temperance lee
ture delivered by Mr.. ShafeF, who is creating
quite sensation among the members Of the
| whisky ring, in our vicinity. The lecture was
largely attended, and was carried on with con-
siderable enthusiasm. The audience was very
attentive, excepting two or three who sppear-
ed to be slightly intoxicated0 and the house
frequently rang with their laughter and ap-
pIause. Although the house was crowded al
most to overAowing, nothing occurred to mar
the tranquility of the occasion, except little
incident which we must relate, it being almost
too good to keep, from the fact that the author
Of it came from abroad.
At the commencement Of the lecture, the
speaker, as usual, made the offer Of one dollar
to the rumseller who would come forward and
take seat beside him on the stand, and not
vince nor move until he had finished. The
audience were surprised to see young man
make his way through the crowd, and take his
position besides the stand. The speaker turn
ed and interrogated him after the following
manner. "Are you whisky dealerP" 'Yes''
Do you sell in this placer" "YesH "Where do
you liver" "In Fremont" ado you sell
there?" eyes," "What is your name?" [Out
of consideration for his friends, we do not give
the name.-Ed.] "Have you a mother?"
eyes" "Does she belong to the church7'
"Yes," "Is she Christiani" eyes," "Does
she approve of your selling liquor?" Here the
young man hesitated, seemed puzzled, and
gave no definite answer. "Well, do you think
you can stand itP" ayes. Could stand it bet
ter if had bottle"
The speaker having examined him to his
satisfaction, told him to take his seat on the
stand, (Which he did, and then proceeded
with his lecture, chipping away occasionally
at the youthful "sucker," as he called him, in
a way that placed the young fellow in a most
ridiculous situation at times, and he became
the laughing stock Of probably 800 ladies and
gentlemen.
He stood fire brayely until the lecture was
about half through, when it began to get too
warm for comfort, and he arose and inquired
if he could have the stand, when the speaker
got through. When he was reminded Of the
dollar, and the necessity of keeping perfectly
quiet in order to obtain it, he sat down and
took the remainder Of it as cody as q toad
would December frost. Finally the speaker
concluded, with the remark that if any per-
son had az ything to say, in a respectful man
ner, he could have hearing. Whereupon'
tho ''noted whisky dealer" arose, and mum
bled out something about ministers preach
ing for pay, and about striking at the root OF
the whisky business" and other remarks
equally absured.
Mr.. Editor, the fact ID we, "the natives"
hereabout, were utterly astonished. We new
er saw the like before. Why the meanest,
most ignorant and degraded being we have in
these parts, would thlnk more OF hiss reputa-
ton as man, than to get up before an audi
ence and attempt to vindleate the cause OF
whisky dealing We think he must have been
seeking notorlety, or trying to improve his or
atoEcal powers. If tae former, he succeeded
admirably, as he will be known as a sort of a
''whisky Jug" and an expert in the use of pro-
fane language in the presence Of the ladies. Ii
the latter ne proDaDly meant wen enough, but
he called in on the wrong occasion. He should
have waited until the little village boys held
their meeting to discuss the merits Of the hog.
On the whole, we think the meeting an en-
tire success At the close there was commit
tee OF three appointed, to kindly wait on the
"whlsKy man." and warn him TO ''put up his
lightning rods for tho thunder was surely COM
ing" Mr.. Shaffer intends giving another lee
ture at this place soon. He appears to be the
right man IN the right place, and when he
puts his broad shoulder to the wheel, the load
invariably moves. May success attend his
efforts, and may the day soon come when sr-
dent spirits las beverage) shall be effectually
banished from our shores. RoLLERsvILLE.