Connecticut western news., 1874-03-27
A Memorable Day in Dayton.
Forty Women Marching Gn the 3O(
 Bar Rooms.


 Friday will be a memorable day in the annals of Dayton. The Womens Prayer League, in two divisions oi about twenty women each, commanded by Mrs. Rev. Dr. Weakley, the wife ot Presiding Elder Weakley, of the Gin cinnati Conference, and Mrs. J. Harry Thomas,t 8 handsome young married woman, marched upon the 300 bar rooms of Dayton through drenching rain and sloppy streets. When the columns debouched from the English Lutheran Church, after morning pray CTS, the commotion in the streets was intense. The " salQonists" were in stantly notified to put their houses in order and to stand on guard. They were visibly agitated, a natural conse- quence of m assault to which no physi- cal or even legal resistance could be offered.
 Mrs. Weakley's column moved up Jefferson street to Fischer's, and marched directly to his door, which was shut in their faces. Then the women dropped on their knees in the nasty sloppiness, and began their de- votions. In the meantime consider able crowd gathered, curiously watch ing the operations, while the women prayed and sung by turns. Some of the spectators were visibly affected, but many made coarse side remarks, al- though no indignities were offered to the devotees. The spectacle was pro- foundly impressive. Fischer firmly re- fused to take the pledge.
 Moving a door or two south, the women halted at Wlnship's est. Charles" which was full of men drink ing. Mrs. Weakley offered him the pledge over the counter, which he de- clined, and proceeded to wait on his customers, who, unabashed, took their toddies" as though nothing unusual was going on. A gentleman next door invited the ladies into his office, where they sung and prayed.
 A few doors below they drew up in front of Nick Clemsens's restaurant and saloon, where the door was closed in their faces. They knelt in the filth again, and after devotions Mrs. Weak ley went to the side door to inter- view Clemens. She asked, "Won't you give up the business ?" Clemens sternly replied "No," saying that his place was quiet enough until the women came. In the meantime crowd had filled the bar room completely and drank copiously, while the women sung and prayed, making considerable noise. The crowd had now largely increased outside, but the police kept a passage way clear, and respectful attention was paid to the extraordinary scene.
 Riebold, Che proprietor, invited them into the gentlemen's parlor, where they prayed and sung, after which Mrs. Weakley was introduced to MT. Beber, owner of the bar, who said he intended to continue his business until he found something better. Riebold invited the cepted. Hadlock, the heaviest lager beer seller in Dayton, was visited. He was curt and stern, and did not want his business interfered with. He went outside, with a pencil and paper, to take names to prosecute for damage to his business.
 The Bicker Brothers were visited with similar result, and the ladies were permitted to occupy the saloon. The bar was surrounded with dense mass of men, who occupied all the attention of five bar keepers. The ladies prayed, sung, and retired.
 Meanwhile the column under Mrs. Thomas marched into the little saloon of Harry Smith, on Sixth street, who had been advertising his place for sale for $20 for month past, and, after a little, he surrendered, the women con- graduating him with feminine fervor. This was the only success of the day. Subsequently they visited the Ross Theatre, but were denied admission by all but Ross, who held private con ference with them in his back room. It seems that he wants to sell out.