Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-01-16
8 THE BOARD OF EXCISE.
sELscrnp ny U. b. s.

. ~ 4 a. 4 .
tShall tho'throno Of iniquity have fcl--
lowship with thoc, which framcth mis-
chiofY"- Psalms xliv:20.
II is impossible for tho Writor to givc
connected history of intempcrancc in the
town Of 1---- in work or communioa-
tion so limited.
Ontho first Of May, at an early hour,
thoro was largo gathering at one of tho
village inns. Somo were there from curl
osity. They were thoro, not because they
wcro anxious to have tho lcgalizcd channels
and under currents of death dried up, tho
drunkard reclaimed and his family blessed,
but, as thoy said, "to sec tho fun" A
largo number Of others were thcro because
they felt very deep interest in tho result
of tho meeting. Appetite and ayarico
inclined thcm to do all in their power to
continue tho lcgalzcd traffic in the town.
On tho platform stood Mr.. Skunk, an old
distillor, who had kindled the fires to drive
bis hellish machinery for quarter of
century. Tho fumes and smoke of his
ruinous laboratory had settled in dense
cloud over tho whole town. lilo felt sure
that if the cold water men succeeded in
preventing licenses it would check his fires
and diminish tho streams of death issuing
from tho worm of his distillery. 1t will
not be u difficult task for tho reader to
determine which side of the question he
favored. Near him stood Mr.. Lawrence,
druggist. Mr.. Il. had made application
for license in writing and was careful to
state that he wished to deal in it only for
medicinal and mechanicul purposes. Ho
was cxpatating largely on the ultracism and
fanaticism of the temperance men in their
attempts to defeat all licenses i'll town, and
closed up his speech with tho laconio re-
mark, "Thcy have put back the temperance
cause twenty years" There stood also Mr..
Nash, q large AND extensive farmer, who
annually furnished from QUO to two thous-
and bushels Of corn and rye for tho distil-
lcry. lilo was vehcmcntly discoursing on
tho evils of cold water societies. Aud one
would have Judged from his violent gcsticu-
lation and boistcrous voice that he was in
great fear, if the fires Of tho dstillcry
should SO out, the country would be dcIugcd
with bread. MIR. Neal manifested his
interest in the matter by being present and
participating in the discussion. lie was
merchant, whose clerks had measured out
to customers, sufficient quantity of the
producr of tho still to poison generation
Ho prdcd himself on furnishing purc wines
for the communion table. "Choico liquors
of all kinds, sold on reasonable terms; inn
keepers, groccrs and elders of churches will
do well to call and examine before purchas-
ing elsewhere" was printed on an old
weather beaten sign over the store door,
which l remember seeing when boy. 1t
is needless to say That his influence was on
the side Of rum. And there, too, woro Mr..
Doty, Mr. Parks, Mr.. Frcclin and Mr..
Snibbs, inn~kccpcrs, who had already made
written applications for licchsc for the com
ing year Around them were gathered
their intoxicated customers FROM all parts
of tho town. Noisy and boistcrous in
language aud department., they passed
through tho crowd dcnouncing temperance
mon and threatening them with terrible
OWLS if they succeeded in preventing
licenses.
Tho hour having arrived Cor tho board
to convene, Mr.. Blakcly, the Supervisor,
called the members to order and stated the
object of the meeting. On taking their
seats it was discovered that only thrcc Of
tho Wardcns wcrc prcscnt-Mcssrs. Rogers,
Burton and Hayes, Mr.. llorDdon bcing
Of tho reader, that Mr.. Dlakc'y, when
nominated for tho Office, refused to pledge
himself 10 90 either for OF against license.
Claiming to bo temperance man, it was
thought BY many he would exert his innu-
cncc secretly, if not openly, against the
traffic. On account of this the lum sellers
were afraid to trust their cause in lis hands
and desired the presence Of Mr.. henderson,
rs ho was decided friend to tho liquor
party.
Immediately after TIC board was organ
lied Mr.. Doty, an Old veteran in the traffic,
who had become excessively ilcshy from
inlolcnt habits, presented Himself before
them saying:
81 hope iliis honorable body will bear
with me while / make u single sugges;ion
l feel noways anxious about the matter; but
it scoms 10 me, since our friend Henderson
is not here, it would be we'll to adjourn to
some future time lIo told me last night
ho would be here if possible"
"That," said Mr.. B!akcly: sis q very
good suggestion. The board will stand
adjourned until o'clock thia afternoon.
That will give you time to get him here"
Mr.. Doty made low bow to reciproca;c
tho favor aud passed out Of the room. No
time was lost in procuring horse and
buggy, and starting off Ned Darby, The
hosllcr, for Squire Henderson. Ned
cracked his whip, turned about The carriage
on short curve, as it anxious to exhibit
his skill as driver, and rcincd up to the
bar room door for his orders. Doty camo
up to him, gsyo him very significant look,
which Ned we'll understood, slightly tapped
him on the shoulder and said
SNOW, Ned, try your skill in bringing out