The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-15
PROVIDENCE AND PROHIBITION.
How the Law Is Made of None Effect in the
Capital City Of Rhode Island.

| Special to the indianapolis Journaz.
| New YORK, Jan. 14--The devious ways OF
| Providence in the matter of prohibition are past
| understanding. I am speaking of Providence
| r. l.. where the laws are so stringent abso-
lutely to prohibit sales of liquor except on pre-
| scriptions A friend of mine. who is in the
glass business recently visited the Rhode Island
| capital and his observations of the way the law
is evaded are interesting I give them exactly
| as told me, and know that there is 40 exaggera-
ton.
My friend received invitation to dinner
at the SWEETEST club house in the city. The best
| men belong to it, and in the party that partook
of this particular dinner there were leading
business men. judge and several prominent
lawyers The superstition was that it would be
''dry dinner" for the law will not allow sale
of even bottle of beer To my friends great
surprise his neghbor on the left called for bot
tie of champagne. and it was duly punished in
quick time. few minutes later waiter
brought piece of paper, which looked like an
ordinary order check and laid it before the man
who had ordered the champagne He signed it
and passed it to my friend 1t read:
Received from [water's namel one package marked
Mumm's Extra Dry, which I agree to return in good
condition. Name of club man.
My friend read this extraordinary document
right.
is a loan, and not a sale. The person signing
this receipt is bound TO return the package or
another like it. These receipts are filed away,
and when dozen have accumulated against
member he orders basket of the wine and re-
turns it to the waiter or steward. There is no
law in the State that interfere in any way
with the transaction"
1t appears that when the club found itself face
to face with the new iron-clad law of Rhode
Island, Its legal mem bers set themselves TO work
to find a gap in the wall. They decided upon the
plan of loanng the liquid refreshment instead
of selling it, In the first place the members
stocked up the place on assessment, and after
ward it s kept going by the replacing of the net
goods used. by the members who them.
There are a number Of total abstinence men in
the club, but having upheld the club they can
only grin and bear it when the law proves in
adequate.
The amount of decrease in the liquor business
as whole may be learned from the following
incident. My friend called upon a grocer. to
whom he had been accustomed to sell few
gross OF TASKS once in while. He said to the
grocer: Il suppose it's no use trying to sell you
anything under the present lawl'
NO. said the grocer, with expressive
wink, lit isn't; but wouldn't you like to take q
smile YOURSELF"
The glass didn't care and they went to
an apparently solid partition and pulled il
easily to one side, revealing nice. cozy room,
well furnished with conyeniences for spirituous
comfort. They took their smile, and before
parting the grocer gave his order for carload
of TASKS. There are over 200 gross in carload
and Id TASKS in gross. Prohibition has not
killed the glass business in Providence.
The bar of one of the leading hotels is fitted
up to resemble of the temperance cafes
which have become so numerous throughout the
country. Dainty urns bear IN silver letters the
legends, .'cold tea" 'hot Coffee" pure milk"
etc. The cold tea be particularly recon-
mended to those who like whisky and the coffee
to such prefer brandy. The glass man was
witness to rather a curious scene in this place
1t early in the forenoon. and he had inst
taken little 'cold tea" for the weather was
chilly. The presiding genius of the place was
standing on tip-toe looking over the shutters of
the window. Suddenly he turned and said
Now you'll see some fun. The fellow who's
coming in now is no good I've got done with
him.
Presently the door opened and in walked the
IDEAL crushed tragedian." He rubbed his hands
together In that cheerful way that always indi-
Gates preparation for the first drink OF the day.
"Ah, good morning." said he. III take
coffee this morning, if you don't mind and he
smilinely put down fifteen cents on the coun-
ter. 'tAn right" said the barkeeper. and he
proceeded to put out emp OF genuine coffee
The theatrical gentleman tossed it of hurredly;
then he looked like Laertes stabbed with his
own envenomed blade.
.By the Olympian Zeus Sold!' he ex-
claimed and stalksd to the door without anoth-
er wore
II saw him on the sidewalk oracing a man 4or
hat fifteen cents" remarked tho barkeeper
with a grin. I'VE don't want any buns in
,ere" HOWARD FIELDING