The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-09-15
A YOUNG WOMAN DETECTIVE.

AtRoeotAVA ~ ONfAn ssAAA AOA NV
remembering the golden rule. Atleast
they are frequently accused of this, but
as tin-peddler of fifty-nine years.
standing 1 deny the charge as applying
to peddlers more than to any other class
of traders.
Not only do deny it for myself, but
for the majority of the men who are
engaged in the businessmen including,
ofcourse, the many self-styled "agents, !"
those hawkers of patented articles who
are found in every State of the Union.
But in defense of the old fashioned tin
peddler, with horse and cart, pick up
the cudgels.
We we're as honest as other men! and
/ wish could say as much for all the
women we have to deal with. Not that
! intend to be disrespectful to the ladies',
for l always enjoy trading with them.
But during the last sixty years l have
obtained some very queer glimpses of
the workings of the feminine mind when
it is intent upon making bargain.
During the whole of my long career,
can truly say that l was never guilty
of but one trick of which / am really
ashamed; and in that was outwitted
by a young lady. She came within a
hands turn of sending me to jail. If l
had been handsome young fellow, the
case might have been different, or it
might not, cannot say; but she was a
young woman of good character, and
she was acting in defense of cause
which she believed to be a just one.
The story is against me, but l am going
to tell it.
To begin with, was not, in my
younger days, q temperance man.
was born in the old Bay State before
the temperance movement began. My
folks. in common with all other fami-
lies, always had liquor in the house;
and when any of us were not feeling
well. or were out in the cold and came
home chilled, mother would prepare a
little cup of ''toddy" to warm us up
and prevent our taking cold.
So l grew up in the belief that it was
right to drink liquors now and then.
None of our family were drunkards,
though / must say that one of the boys
came very near to being one. He saw
the awful precipice just as he came to
it, and stopping short, turned and es-
capped it. 1t isn't every one can do that,
SO don't go too near.
When l began peddling I carried a
bottle of "West India" tucked away in
my cart. I did not drink, as have
said, to excess, but used perhaps q
quart in a month. That was about the
Kind Of person was then, as regards
temperance.
From 1850 to 1858 my 'sround"-and
by round mean the route over which
l sold my goods LAY through a portion
of Southern New Hampshire and two
OF the western counties of Maine. i had
not been trading in this section very
long, when the Neal Dow temperance
crusade began, and the 'sMaine law"
wholly prohibiting the sale of all intox.
icating liquors, was enacted. That was
a law, too, as many persons well re-
member, which was supported by a
strong and enthusiastic temperance
party, a law that had genuine vigor to
enforce it.
Then came dry times in Maine. Not
a drop of liquor could be had legally
for love or money, and diligent search
and chase was made for all illicit sellers,
and for drinkers, too. You may be
sure there was moaning among the
steady old topers, and not little dis
content among the moderate drinkers.
/ had great many of both topers and
moderate drinkers among the people on
my route. Often, with q wistful look.
man would beckon me aside. / knew
what to expect. Haven't got drop
OF anything in yer cart. have We, Mr..
K-p'
When replied no he would turn
away in great sadness, or perhaps Wig
orously berate Neal Dow, or urge me to
bring him a'squart'' the next time /
came from ''over Hampshire way"
sympathized with these thirsty ones.
i did not favor the s.law," or any sort
OF prohibitory law then. lookedunon
prohibition as a fanatical raid on every
mans rights, and hence had no COM
Functions in seeing the law evaded or
broken.
But the man who broke that law did
1t at no small peril The temperance
people were alert and merciless. Every
where the State swarmed with watch
men Clubs, Temperance Bands" and
vigilance committees. Not only gem
tlemen. but often ladies, were on these
committees. Some of the women. in
deed, were among the most successful
OF the temperance police.
As have said, I did not sympathize
at all with this anti-rum crusade, and
after a year or two hit on the follow
ing ruse for outwitting the '.Ramrods''
las the reformers were called by the
topers-and Of supplying some Of nv
thirsty Maine friends with an OCCASION
al dram.
l bought q. lot of hard-shelled sous
haws, or crook-necked gourds, as
some call them These carefully pre-
pared by removing the inside Of the
gourds through small hole in the
stem end-not neglecting to preserve
the stem to be used as . stopper, or
rather to be placed over the stopper.
had dozen Of these hard-shelled