The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-08


apply your lips to the overflow at the
main. At the city limits there is a
final cluster of saloons with their at
tendant sheds and watering troughs.
You whip by in your light rig. Your
horse does the distance in forty-fve
minutes and you stopped for park
water not f1ve minutes since. If you
had a two or three hours jog in an
open wagon over the limey, simmer
ing road in the sun and dust
That is what you see every day and
could have seen for years; in fact, ever
since Mr.. Barstow first stopped there
and spent the nickel he felt honorablv
bound to leave. By this time he had
spent quite too many nickels, more
than strict justice called for, and Mrs.
BarstOw began to see it long after the
neighbors had said: Pity about Bar
stow, isn't it?'
This depression has lasted long en-
ough for Mrs. Barstow to do some hard
thinking. The result was that she as
tonished the ladies by taking part in
the next monthly meeting, when she
very earnestly asked their aid in the
new project. After the usual amount of
red tape had been unwound and tied
into neat little knots, it was discovered
that they lacked a quorum and that
any proposition requiring money
would have to be presented at two
meetings before it could be definitely
acted upon. 1t was disheartening.
The season would be well over by the
time of the third following meeting
and Mrs. Barstow could not wait So
she took it into her own energetic
hands and found that one woman could
do great deal if she had to. She
lived some distance from the main
street, which she thought was draw
back, but within week shiny green
pump held its handle invitingly up to
the passer-by, and upon it in white let
tiers an invitation: whoa, every one
that thirsteth." And she did not feel
that it was sacrilegious, either.
1t was astonishing how soon it be-
came known to the driving public. It
seemed as if weary horses and stray
dogs knew by instinct when to turn.
Birds and bees came in the early
morning. The tramp stopped and
famed himself with his hat while he
drank from the tin cup and added his
initials to the choice collection that
soon made its appearance in the char
acteristic American fashion. "'Drive
around by Barstow's" became a cur
rent order, and if good local trade in
melons followed it did not affect the
merits of the effort. Nor was it ex-
pected, for the water was free to all,
while with perseverance only worthy
of her cause Mrs. Barstow button
holed each member of the town board
in an attempt to restore that merito-
rious institution of our ancestors, the
town pump. More than that, she sue
ceeded in leasing the corner diagonally
opposite the largest saloon at the
limits. She offered the owner enough
to pay the taxes on the entire lot,
which he wisely accepted, and put up
small lodge with long shed. She
placed long troughs of flowing water
there and in it all found occupation for
a lame nephew Of whom they were
fond. OF course Barstow had to patron
ize his own, and soon the inviting lem
onades, ginger ales and iced butter
milk became known for themselves.
By the time the place was self-sup-
porting the ladies of the local society
had gotten where, in strict accordance
with their bylaws, they could begin to
pass resolutions on the subject.
Mrs. Barstow is wearing her old
wrap this summer, but she looks well
in it and she says that next winter she
is going to have beef tea, coffee and a
warm room there-"see if l don't"
-Gertrude Russell LeoCiS, IN Interior.