The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-01-06
AN HOUR In A DARKROOM.

AN HOUR IN A DARKROOM.
1t is not often that my lines fall in
such place as a bar-room. 1t hap
pened last week on this wise: Being
suddenly summoned to a suburban vii
lage, some twenty-five miles out of
town, was obliged to wait an hour at
the station before the returning train
would arrive. Being a-hungered, 1
went to the adjoining tavern to get
something to eat, as there was nothing
to be had elsewhere.
The establishment was rot large, but
was clean and comfortable. The din
ing-room opened out of the bar-room,
but having no fire in it was not avail
able, and neat tables were placed near
the stove in the bar-room. The house
was kept by an nglish-woman, who
stood behind the bar with her bare arms
folded, while she waited orders. asked
for coffee and rolls, and while she was
providing them | surveyed the scene.
The bar was plentifully supplied with
liquors in handsome array, with vari-
ously colored glasses, and the printed
license to sell was posted in the midst.
Above this display were numerous in
scriptions in neat frames, few of them
l remember. One was: "God Bless Our
Home Another read God Bless the
Old Folks at Home" And, filed with
surprise at finding such incongruous
notices in such place, read again:
GAS thy days so shall thy strength be-.
There were others which | do not now
rnnnllnnt M, l,,T,al, =
was eatmgit, a young man entered, and
was welcomed by the landlady as Gus
toner. He stepped to the lar and asked
for whisky. She set the decanter before
him, and he poured out glass and
asked her to Join him. She took bot
tie OF some other liquor. and, pouring
out a dram, clinked her glass against
his, and they drank together to each
Others health. He took a seat by the
stove, and she soon came out from the
bar and sat near him, beginning the
conversation by telling him of what a
time she had last evening with lot of
men who came in for supper. They had
chickens and oysters and drink, and
spent their money freely, "got high"
and one of them rolled on the fioor
She had to telephone for an officer to
come and get the drunken fellows out
She said she was doing good business,
getting ahead we'll The Young man
seemed to be interested in her report of
prosperity, and with large oaths fire.
quently expressed his satisfaction. Just
then the baker came in with the DAYS
supply of bread. and had q long CHAT
and chat with the voluble bar woman.
Her free and easy way reminde me of
bar-maids hid seen in England; but
rarely having any occasion to enter such
place as this, was not aware thatthe
class had been transplanted into our
soil.
Certainly this was the first time that l
eyer saw in any country pious prayers
and Bible promises done in big letters,
and hung up in frames over shelves
filled with intoxicating liquors. to be
sold to pro tane and rowdy customers.
And it seemed to me that as this was a
new chapter in my experience, it was
also new phase of human life altogeth-
er. And as came down the road to the
city, the bar and bar-woman, the pious
texts and the drinks made a curl us
medley in my mind while | fell away
into an afternoon dose. Did this wom-
an adorn her bar with these printed
prayers in the belief that her business
would be blessed thereby Was it an
intimation that the house in which she
ministered to the base appetites of men
was underline protection of Him who is
too holy to regard sin with any degree
of favorP She was not a hypocrite. l
felt quite sure, Tor she was ready to
drink with her customers, and TO mani
fest pleasure in the badinaye which they
INDUCED in while they took their drains.
Rather it eemed to me that she had no
conscience or concern about it; but hay
ing been brought up in Christian land,
she had adopted the thought and habit
OF others, not pausing to reason about
the inconsistency OF Keeping house for
the making of drunkards and king
God to bless her ruinous trade. l had
heard her say, when speaking of a man
who had been in: "He was pretty
drunk, and wanted me to ruSt him for
another drink; but / to d him, No |
couldn't trust him. but / would give
him drink, if he would clear out, and
so [ got rid of him." What a conscience,
and what calling!
And there may be lower and meaner
business than this among the trades and
trafiics of the word we live in. But |
do not know what the other one is No
other business in the world is attended
by so large an amount OF sn and mis-
cry. There is no traffic that is so ut
terly without apo ogy, Justification or
excuse. 1t does no good TO anybody,
and certainly does an immense amount
of evil. The customers to whom the
rumseller ministers are debased. and
more so the more they trade, and so it