Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-09-06
PROHIBITION IN vIRuoxr.

8 PROHIBITION IN vr1uoNr. h
, Correspondent Cincinnati Commercial. 8
In Burlington the landlord at the ho
tel at which ! stopped told me, In an
swer to questions, that just as mucl
whisky was sold in that place as ever.
: He took me to saloon and said !:
"Here, will show you how it is don,
here" He said: go up to the bar and
put on q knowing look, and ask for som.
Langley's bitters or beef tea.v
1, | did SO. l saw no bottle except o,
bitters and mineral waters and sspop,,
etc. @.E
asked for drop Of bitters.
The barkeeper took me all in with q
quick glance, and dropping o few drops
OF something into tumbler, placed Il
on the counter. Then he set an empty
tumbler, and motioning to the usual
water-pitcher, said
"Pour your own water"
ltwas an innocent-looklng ''crockery''
pitcher on a little rubber mat in the CEN
trelof the counter, but when tipped it
up | found it half full Of whisky. The
last place in the room anybody would
think of looking for it.
Ny friend then took me upon the
principal street Of the city, called
Church street, and at three drug stores
we were given whisky in responsible a
wink when asked what syrup we wanted
In two stores the whiskey was produc.
ed from a bottle under the counter, and
ct the other was drawn from faucet
uniform with the syrup cocks, and Ia.
beled "Don'tcare ~ or something Of that
sort.
In one evening counted six drunken
men pass my hotel, and one night the
young men of the university in the
place had banquet, which, toward the
small hours, became irregular Bacchan-
allan orgie, and several were put to bed
drunk.
In st. Adams / was told q saloon
Keeper sells liquor in two, four and six
drink fasks, labeled as though sold in
Plattsburg, just across the lake, in New
York state, with day and months written
on the labels. For instance, every flask
sold by him to-day is labeled: "Sold by
j. q Crumley, Plattsburg, N. Y, on
the 24th day of July, 1881"
But it was in a large town south of
there that / was shown the sharpest
practice in ways that are dark and
tricks that are for the benefit Of thu
bibul0us.
A gentleman whom I questioned
about the working of the liquor law
told me, just as was told in all other
parts of the state, that there was no
trouble in procuring whisky. He said:
am in very funny secret, which is
shared by most of our citizens who like
q little stimulant occasionally. Come
with me-"
lie took me to cross street, and we
entered room which appeared to be q
cigar store, with confectionery, etc.
We took seats at the rear, and nv
friend told me to keep my eyes open.
Within twenty minutes saw ten or
twelve gentlemen come in, some in
pairs, some singly, some in little parties
go to the water-cooler, take drink,
buy cigar, and 60 out.
Ny friend finally asked me if | had
seen any liquor said, and l said ssNo."
Nevertheless" sold he, "every gentle
man who came In here took o good
square drink Of whisky and paid for it,,
"Well," said l, ''the drinks must have
been IN the color or the cigars. know
it was not in the cigars, for most Of
them were lighted before the purcha-
ser left. 1t must be in the cooler"
"Well, go and draw some," said he.
went to the cooler, held the glass un-
der the nozzle, and pressed down the
button. ] was rewarded for my exer-
ions by flow of clear, cold water that
'oon filled the tumbler. l was puzzled
md my friend and the proprietor great
y enjoyed it.
My friend took the empty glass and
lrew from the same faucet half glass
# whisky. III was puzzled before. ]
vas now thunderstruck, and after
angling at me awhile, the trick was
explained. 1t was simple: Press down
he, button and water runs press up
With the thumb from below, while YOU
appear to press down with the fore
niger, and You get whisky; open the
cooler and you find in it Ice water. The
Whisky comes from q cask in hidden
'loset up stairs, and flows through a
mall pipe which descends in the par
ition and passes from the wall into the
,nft nm nf +ba ooolor o,1 on.,.4. ,.A1