The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-16


reporter to come up stars and he was now actu-
ally In the presence OF ths famed leader OF the
daughters Of Temperance Mrs. oaksmith kindly
regaled her visitor with q glass OF pure, fresh
water, which was most grateful to the taste and
Mrs. Oaksmitb, who IL o well Known authOress
and has written some exceedingly touching
poetry is lady about fifty years OF age-t IL very
ortnnatev be avoided in this instancemtai, ' Of
shapely form, with large head expressive of de-
cison and frmness, large, clear, steel-biue eyes.
WHICH SHEDS PLEASING DIGNITY
over her intelligent face. Her manner Is gentle,
remarkable even in her sex. In courteous words
she expressed her qualification at seeing the re-
porter, when the latter was introduced to her.
pardon this intrusion into YOUR privacy,n the
reporter said, ''but rumors have reached the
HERALD Office that the women OF Patchogue and
Blue Point we're initiating the tactics OF the
women IN OHIO and praying In all the bar rooms.n
Mrs. Oaksmith smiled. 20, we are unfortunately
would be quite foolish to pray In the saloons 8.
There H. it is true, strong feeling Of temperance
now which has partially been awakened by the
have come to the conclusion that there are not
enough Of us 20 make a similar attempt In our
@ IN SAID na
prayers, but we came very unwillingly to the con-
cuson that there awe were d not enough praying women
REPORTRR-YOu requested the directors of the
South Side Railroad to refrain from carrying
Mrs. OAKsMITD-Yes; resolutions were adopted
by the Sons OF Temperance-pm one of the
'SoDs"-to that effect, and we declared that this
very liquor which was brought here by the rail-
ROAD was
to many who without it would have happy times
ana by greater industry add materially to the IN
terest OF the railroad ITSELF" The President of the
Company listened very courteousy 70 the argu..
bat declined to accede to request on the ground
that the railroad as common carriers must receive
freight without tnquirng drst what 1t was, and
because, If the railroad would not transport the
liquor some other railroad wouid. We really did
not expect that the company would accede to our
requests bat our main object was 10 AWAKEN some
sympathy, some interest in this temperance move
ment
dies propose to take to rid Patchogue and Blue
Point OF the whlskey sh0psH
present petition demanding that no more licenses
be issued, and we shall press this petition upon
q great many names to this petition, and have no
doubt that the authorities will ultimately yield to
the voice OF temperance and issue more licenses
in the future. The organization which has been
discussing this important project Is the 'Blue
Point Division OF the Sons and Daughters OF
Temperance, - kind OF secret brotherhood and
sisterhoOd. tBy the way, people laughed when
called myself the ''chalrmann Of the committee
which waited upon the President OF the South Side
souls may as well be without sex.) There is
another large division IN SayvilIe and Patchogue.
FIRST ORIGINATED IN BLUE POINT,
but like the play Hamlet" with Hamlet lett ont.
These ladies have allowed their temperance meet
ings to degenerate into occasions for mere chit
chat, pleasant needew0rk and sOciabie reunions.
RKPORTER-Is there much lntemperance in this
section of the country-in Patchogue Tor instarlce'
Mrs. OAxsM,TH-Yes / am sorry 70 say, a very
great deal. Wherever there Is any intemperance
the grade OF public morals Is sure to be very low.
There are two large hotels here that are licensed
to sell liquor and they engender always an abund-
ance OF little fights and rows; then there is large
a large number Of smaller barrooms' which are
probably not licensed at all. Really, the extent Of
intemperance in this place is something alarming.
Why, you can see boys OF eight OF nine years go
down to the bay and drink ana swear like, hke-I
will not say like what The other day met in the
village three boys OF fifteen and they were all per-
lectly drunk. What we are dong now In order to
stop the tide OF intemperance Is done principally
TO save the boys; we know that we cannot save
where they can get their drink.
REpoRTER-I suppose there is no intemperance
among the fair sex in Patch0gue?
Mrs. OAKsMITH Yes; Its most frlghtful phase
probably prevails among the women. You can
have no idea to what fearful extent opium is used
ing cities. am sure 1t Ii quite as Vicious to put
ones self under the influence OF opium as to be-
come drunk. woman cannot be called respon-
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF OPIUM
This is one OF the very worst phases Of intoxlca-
REPoRTER-what do you think OF root beer,
Mrs. OAKsxIrH-Oh root beer why, have seen
boys here come reeiing out of shops where they
pretend to sell only root beer. Well we shall be-
shall, at all events. lessen the amount OF intern.
perance. We nave the support of great many
men, who are, in TACT the best workers. The great
trouble with women Is that, instead OF working,
they dawde as though they would much rather
play with Kittens.
REPoRTER-DO you approve OF the mode of war
fare adopted by the women in Ohio Z
Mrs. OAKsMITH-Not entirely. 1t is undoubtedly
great movement and one which Is doing great
deal OF good, although, must confess, IL origin
ated in an unwarrantabe piece OF mpertinenc
mans house is his castle, yet these women have
taken possession OF mems houses as though they
were their own. " course, a certain kind of re-
Ngious aqdacity was required for this good work
and 1t was necessary not to sickle at tribes.
REPoRTER-How many soldiers IN this crusade
can you muster sr,s;sS,~-:.. rx.yase~E=yzr- -
MIS-. UAKsMITH-In Blue Point we have about
thirty members. AT one time the number was 200,
but most OF them have neglected their duties and
dropped OF, but we snail drum up every one Of
REPoRrER-And if the petition is not erectua,
what will be your next plan, madam
Mrs. OAKsMrrH with a flash OF her determined
eyes)-Oh, we cannot fail. Where there's VIII
there's tCOnfidentiy)-I never
SEE LION IN NY PATH
REPoRTER-DO you consider beer a dangerous
drink, madam
According to my experience it is rather muddling
rather muddiinE.
Mrs. OAKsMITH-Oh, equally bad; worse, worse
almost than whiskey. People talk about the
healthy appearance OF the Germans and English
but do not regard the purple bioatedness OF the
English or the Emphatic blood OF the Germans as
particularly healthy.
REPoRTER-Whch drink do the people Of Patch.
0gue affect the most
Mrs. OAKsMITH Qaughing)-Oh, whlskey is the
staple here, much as oysters are the staple among
eataples. They have here frequently masked balls,
with "whiskey breakdowns."
RRrORTER--ls the consumption OF water smalle
Mrs. OAKsMITH with her bright laugh Oh no;
the consumption OF water Is very large for manu-
featuring purposes, II anybody were to freeze to
death here the corOner's jury might bring in the
famous verdict OF the Indiana corOner's jury, in
tha
bottle IN his nand-"He came to his death by the
freezing OF the water which somebody had put
into his BOTTLE"
REPoRTER-The water is good here, lpresume9
Mrs OAKsMiTH-Oh, very good. Those who do
drink water take 1t with great deal OF SPIRIT but
that's no pain. daughter from the audience, l. e.
the repQrref1
REF6STER-How does the number Of churches
compare with that OF the grogshopsy -
Mrs. OAKsMTH-There are four churches-one
Methodist one Catholic one Episcopal and one
Congregational, yet there are certainly more rum