News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-09-09
EGGS FULL OF WHISKEY.
Boston Grocer's Device Evade the
Maine Laws.

Very distinct trails of the serpent that
biteth like an adder have been observed
in Maine, Rhode Island and other States
where prohibitory laws are supposed to
he In force, and the people who believe
In no rum except for mechanical purposes
have wondered how the bad stuff came
there, when so many paid officials are
on hand to prevent it. In Maine it is
criminal offence to sell anything harder
than soda water, yet drunken men are
seen on the streets of the larger towns
every day, and the local Judges are kept
busy in tining people for being intoxi-
Gated. The same results are noticed in
Rhode Island, only to a larger degree.
All these symptoms lead a philosophical
mind to ask: I" Where do they get their
liquor The toats, cars, stages and ex-
press companies are all watched, and
everything suspicious is overhauled and
inspected daily Where does the liquor
come from ~
1t comes from many sources There
are many hoes in the legal skinner,
and every one leaks little. In the first
place, a great deal of liquor, particularly
beer and ale, is shipped in barrels to
grocers and m 4r<ed Bermuda onions"
or =" Cincinnati hams" or something of
that kind. Then there are plenty of
coasters that come to Boston loaded
with lumber and 90 back to Maine with
a goodly supply of warming fluids stored
away IN sly places and delivered to those
who want it in boats that land on the
river banks at the side .of lonely roads,
and turn over their freight to innocent
looking farmers with faces as guileless
as cherubs. Every move of the Prohi-
bitionists has been met by a counter
move by the men who want their toddy,
and in spite of heavy fines and imprisOn-
ment, of constitutional amendments and
moral suas1on, the man who wants his
morning cocktail can get it in any State
of the Union, provided he wants 1t bad
enough.
There is a little back office on Con-
gress street, ne Franklin street, that
looks very much like a small grocery
store, kept by neat old maid On the
counter is pair of scales, show case,
brown paper, thread, and all the fixings
of country store. On the shelves
against the wall are red tin boxes full
of tea and jars and bottles innumerable.
In front of the counter on the floor is a
large wooden egg case, capable of hold
inc forty nine dozens when full, while
near by is small pasteboard box. par
titioned off into twelve compartments,
IN every one of which lies big egg,
white and clean as chalk In fact, they
are so very white that a man would at
once suspect them of being nest eggs,
such as unskilied pullets use for pat
terms when they begin to lay.
There are some there" said the pro-
prietor, pointing to the box, that are
as fresh as any in the city. I'll warrant
them every time
''How much are they dozen2"
Zone dollar. Don't be in Il hurry"
continued the proprietor, with smile.
''just take one of these and try it, and
if you say you ever saw such eggs before
III buy you dozen at any market in
Boston" Saying this he took up an
egg, loosered the wax that adhered to
the small end, drew out plug, inserted
a straw, pushed it over the counter and
said:
''Now she's all ready. Suck away"
The artist complied. and instead of
tasting egg, he found his tongue as
sailed by f1rst-class sherry. The egg
was no egg at all, but JUST glass shell
filed with wine and stopped up.
cit is one of my ideas, > remarke the
grocer, 81 got it up to sell in Maine and
other places where such stuff is orbid-
gill, or two-t thirds of a comm n whisk ey
glass; so, you see, one w ill furnish
good square drink to any in an who isn't
4 hog.
''The eggs are made of common glass.
: t first l put on cementcd cloth, but
that leaked, and had to plug the hole
with wood and cover it with white wax.
That works first-rate.
''As YET I have tilled.them with but
three kinds of liquor-whiskey, sherry
and claret; but 1 am going to make
some brandy eggs soon. sell my eggs
for 81 a dozen. and they retail for
fifteen cents each, though l shall have
to ask little more for those that have
brandy. l studied up the idea about a
month ago, and have applied for pat
ent on it, which l think | shall get"
GLOW many have you sold ?"
s'Oh, | haven't pushed them much on
account of not getting glass eggs fast
enough. l have sold 200 or 800 dozen
in Maine, and have about as many more
ready to ship. AS I Rhode Island, l
haven't tried that market any to speak
If. l find my eggs sell very well right
here. People want them as curiosities.
If man is on train he can just reach
down into his gripsack, take out an egg
in his handkerchief, put in mis- straw,
and pul away without attracting notice.
RUNNERS who have used my eggs say
it is much better than to drink out of
a bottle. 1t don't draw any attention"
Boston Globe.