The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-09-16
Temperance.
Sign-BOards.

Vigorous opposition of the liquor
dealers to the temperance movement is
natural, and to be expected, for we war
against their pecuniary interests and
II you touch some men in the pocket
you touch them where they live. Were
these men to exhibit at their places of
read: Delirium tremens, fever, dis
ease, pauperism, crime, redness of eyes,
wounds without cause, rags, wretched-
ness, despair and death for sale here"
That would be a truthful sign, but it
would injure their business more than
all the temperance organizations in ex-
istence. The liquor-seller will not even
set up in his bar-room specimen of his
work; he puts up blinds at the doors
and screens at the windows to hide his
work from the passers-by; but the
shoemaker and the tailor exhibit their
work in their windows, and show what
they have made out of the raw mate
rial. The tailor, when he has finished
a new coat, places it where it may be
seen by the greatest number of custom
ers: when the shoemaker has finished
a first-class pair of boots, he places them
in his window, because the exhibition
tends to increase his trade. With the
liquor-seller it is quite different. He is
ashamed of his finished work. With
him the raw material is worth more
than the finished article. Were he to
exhibit that he would lose his trade. No
wonder he is ashamed to exhibit his
work. In the worlds great exhibitions
you have seen finished articles of nearly
every manufacture, from a toothpick to
locomotive, and the exhibitors were
anxious to explain the method of manu-
facture, or the texture of the woven
fabrics. Almost every conceivable speci-
men OF mans ingenuity and skill was
there represented, from the raw mate
rial to the finished article. But there
was one specimen of manufacture alb
sent. l remember, at the mechanics
fair in Boston, many years ago, being
struck with this fact, and on mention
ing it to Deacon Moses Grant, he pro-
posed to apply to the managers for per-
mission to exhibit a specimen of the
liquor-seller's work He knew man
who was once worth $4,000 who was
then debased and ruined through drink.
He agreed for dollar day to stand
in that fair, with label in front of him,
NhlOn ICdu hS lOllOWS. L was OHCc
worth $4,000. l was once respected
and respectable. l once moved in good
society. Such things as l am now are
made out of such men as l once was.
Please give us a premium for one of
the best specimens to be found in this
city" But they would not admit him.
The liquor-seller is ashamed of the re-
suits of his infamous trade. A boy was
passing by a uorshop and, seeing a
drunken man lying in the gutter in front
of the saloon, knocked at the door, and
said: " Mister, your signs fell down."
and the angry liquor-seller chased him
half round the square. See the results
Of this traffic in its true colors, placed
so full and fair before you that the very
youngest cannot err in their decision.
A liquor-seller had a tavern undergoing
repairs. One day boy came running
to his mother, crying out, " Mother,
motherN, :" What is it, my boy?"
" Mr.. Poole's tavern is finished,
mother" " How do you know, my
dear?'' inquired the mother. Why, 1
saw man come out drunk" Now,
that is the legitimate fruit of the dram
shop.-John b. cough.