The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-04-23
rRIELING WITH AN OLD Law.

l would not make light of the Law,
nor, would l make light of any seri-
GUS subject. recall the incident, and
smile in spite of the enormity of the
offence; and, perhaps. others may be
! likewise risably affected. 6
The first "sProhibitory'" liquor law
! in Massachusetts was enacted by the
Legislature of 1S38-'39, and was COM
monty known as the /" Fifteen gallon
Law Under this law it was pro-
| hibited to sell spirituous liquors in
! a less quantity than fifteen gallons !;
except, however, that the county COM
missioners might license apothecaries
or pfactieing physicians to sell for
purely medicinal and mechanical pur-
| poses. It was also provided that bona
f1e inn holders might be licensed to
sell wine and other feFmented bever-
ages to guests; but under the law, no
| tippling shop could be maintained,
and no spirituous liEuor eouid be sold
! by the glass, nor in any small quanti-
| ty for drinking purposes. =5tl.5' 51-
The first glaring trifling with the
| law occurred, if remember rightly,
in the town of Dedham. 1t was on
the occasion of general muster. In a
| far corner of a field a tent of goodly
gize was. erected, before which was
exposed in stunning capitals, a notice
to the effect that :" The WONDERFUL
| STRIPED PFC" was on exhibition. As
! the day wore on the visitors to that
| tent became more and more frequent
the number of patrons increased a.
mazingl v-until at length the full tide
of humanity seemed to be setting that
way. Finally an aronsed officer of
Al, - 10 To- na6 fol- "a q
look. .s - 73-@'H.n .n tiAi9F
The price of admission was only
acknowledgements cents. He paid his
money and entered And this was
what he found: In a small peniin one
corner was an innocent pig, striped
with black paint like zebra. In an
! other corner, behind a rough bar, was
q man drawing liquor from barrel,
and serving it out to his patrons
Said liquor smened like Medferd rum.
But the man did not sell it. q People
maid to see the wonderful Pig. and the
rum was a gratuiteus offering. The
officer called assistance and caused the
show to cease, but not, however, un-
! til the barrel had been. well nigh emp
| tied, and the owners purse well fill
ed. The fame of that pig became his
| toric, and for years, in Massachusetts,
&c Striped Pig" was the name bestoW-
ed upon surreptitiously.s sold liquor.
t. Another trifing with the law, quiet
and business-like, came under my OBJ
servation Mr.. Fowler kept large
grocery store on Commercial street,.
in Boston. One day, shortly after the
| Fifteen-galloH Law went into effect,
an acquaintance. called in and asked
| for a quart of brandY.sya5 fi.s-tf e..5f tlz-
| ssCan't do IT," said FaWler. q..s ss
"Can't do it % repeated the old GUS
toner, in SURPRISE si iya
"You know the law. | can't sell
less than fifteen gallons"
'sWheWi. Say, old chap, do you
mean to stick TO that?" u3l ID
81 must till see how things are
going to turn. People are watching
in every direction sftasl,atsgt
The customer scratched his head,
and finally bright light broke over
his face. .is'sa .8sa Iar :.
:. Say, Fowler. if had fifteen GAL
Ions of prime. old brandy to sell would
you buy it p .siaa5g aa4 Ia. sI.t-l
eff you'd sell it right, yes.I
"Then, just you sell me fifteen gall
! Ions and q quart, will you 7" b
Fowler took, and he blinked and
nodded prodigiously. He did the bu-
sines squarely., He measured out for
his customer fifteen gallons and a
quart, took his pay therefor, and then
he bought back fifteen gallons, and
his customer went away with his
quart of brandy rejoicing. aFH
But these were in the dark days,
when people had an idea that law
meant something They make short
er cuts with the law now.