Nebraska advertiser., 1878-07-18
THURSDAY, JULY -. 1873.
A MOURSPUL INCIDENT.
The Trials aud Troubles Of Temper
ancc Crusaders.


lhge last winter, war "a great success.
When tho crusade began, there were
five "snloOns," at which various Inn
moral beverages, from the mild lager
beer to fiery benzine whisky were sold
but before Spring, only one of the
"salooE.keepers" iBsulted female pub
lIc sentiment, by continuing 10 pros
ecute his business. OF the others. |
three had sold out theif entire stock |
TO the crusGdsre, at "a profit Of nearly |
2oS per cent, aud had removed 10 the
next town, where they opened larger
aud more attractive "Ealoons;" while |
the fourth reformed run-scller openly |
repenied for $3.50 cash, aud became "a
temperance lecturer at 80 "a night, |
which, together with his Income from
IA gambling house, made him very |
comfortable. In fact, he was nccus-
toned 10 say that. hs between selling
liquor for profit Of $500 year, aud
practlcing as II refOrmer at sll 900 Il
year. no intelligent mau could hesi-
tato 10 choose the latter. 6nd that he
hoped. In tho course Of few months,
10 find an opening ns "A reformed gam
bier that would make his fortune ut
ono blow.
Tho ono obdurato liquor dealer was,
without doubt. ono Of tho most
oxanperntlng TufiiIans OH record.
Night after night did the devoted wo-
mon OF Georgetown enter hls "saloon"
aud hold IA prayer meeting Of gront
size aud strength, but ho never once
tho male crusaders 10 smash hn bot
Ties about his cars. On tho contrary,
ho provided parlor organ, and six
dozen hymn books, aud Joined In the
singing with great nrdor. When no
was personally exhorted 10 give up
his nofarious business, no always ex-
pressed great desire TO reform, but
nxod his prloo at So 900. which was
considered to DO altogether too high.
It was useless To labor with such IA
hardened reprobate, aud after six
months of unromittlng effort, tho
earnest women shook his saw-dust
from their foot, aud abandoned tho at
tompt 10 reform him. When lao was
told that no moro prayer-moetings
would DO held In his saloon. he ex
pressed sincere regret. aud offered To
reform for only $1,000, but even this
oilcr was rejected, and then, for the
ilrst time. hc lost His temper, and re-
marked that people who refused To
save mn immortal soul and put nn end
10 drunkenness, at the price OF $500,
were lnsinoere. and should no longer
polluto his premises with their hypo-
critical prayers. In spite OF this one
failure, tho crusaders had accomplish
cd 30 much that. OH tho 23d OF No
vembor last. the anniversary OF the
formation Of tho Earnest Womon's
Anti-Rum, Beer aud Tobacco League"
they determined to.colobrate the oo'
oaslon by public procession and n
cold water festival In the Baptist
meotlng-houae. The procession was
60 march In front OF tho obdurate H.
quor-sellor's saloon, with any quau.
| tity of banners the Earnest Women
singing temperance hymns. thus dis
pensing with the services of beer
driaking German brass band. When
the saloon keeper heard OF the Intend
cd celebration, he smiled grimly, and
announced. that if the procession did |
not halt In front Of his saloon, he
should feel personally sllghtod.
Now, the sidewalk In front OF that
wicked mans saloon was wide, and |
was paved with n peculiar mixture of
tar aud gravel. IL was slightly out |
OF repair, and the liquor seller remark
od that he should show hls respect for
the temperance cause, by having II
put In complete repair. lie. howov-
CT. postponed the work from day to
day, until Il was generally thought
that no had abandoned his design /; |
but OH the very night before tho pro-
oesslon, u gang of mon, with lanterns
and tar barrels, appeared on the scene,
aud before daylight. the sidewalk was
finished, In the morning. two senti-
nels were stationed 10 warn podestri.
ans not 10 step on tho newly-laid
pavement, which, however, the liquor
dealer asserted. would he perfectly
hard before tho hour liked for the
procession.
10 was nearly Ii o'clock before the
Earnest Women, slnglng u powerful
hymn and carrying mora banners
than torch-llght political prooes-
sion, turned the corner aud advanced
toward the saloon, rhe two sentinels
were hastily withdrawa, aud the II.
qoor seller. with hls hat In his hand.
stood at his door 10 do homage 10 the
reformers, IA they neased him, ,hey
averted their gase, aud would have
passed him without recognising his
existence. but, unfortunately, tho pro,
eesslon, instead of passing his door,
halted before IL, aud standing perfect
ly still, ceased singing, and unmarked
with great unanlmity, good grs'
eious," and other words TO the same
general effect,
Contrary to the predictions Of the
liquor seller, the new pavement was {,
not dry. The composition had been {
spread 10 the unusual depth Of six ,
- a - ~.