Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-01-28
RUMsELLERs' TRICKS
As Displayed in Recruiting the Army
of Drunkards.

of Drunkards.
The other day while the Journal reporter
was talking with a joyial gentleman from
Boston, whose name we'll not mention for
certain reasons, which may appear, the scribe
was told the following story in regard to the
/ skiIIful eyasions of the Maine liquor Law:
'Did you notice the story in Boston pa
per about the fellow whose liquor saloon was
fitted up like circulating library, and when
a person called for brandy the inspiration
| vas drawn from volume marked Milton 5
Paradise Lost" That was a pretty good
story and it shows quite a philanthropic gen.
JUS on the part Of the bar-keeper, thai, what
! Milton considered Paradise Lost, should
afford some thirsty fellow Paradise Regained.
/ Now there is a little incident in my quiet life
which though true, may seem trifie pecu-
liar. You know that never partake Of the
ardent unless suffering from cold Here
our friend smiled a smile that seemed to
huskiiy whisper mot much water in mine,
and a good Bit of lemon"
As was saving continued the gentle
man from the Hub" II had the oppor-
tunity 10 notice hat devices, ways that are
dark etc, fertile imagination, when
spurred on by hope Of pecuniary gain, would
conjure up. was down here in Maine last
August on a little business connected with
Western mortgages and found myself one
Saturday evening stopping at hotel in
quiet village near the central portion of
Maine, that is the centre of the business por-
ton of your State. As sat down TO my sup
per who should take the chair opposite me
but an old acquaintance, mild hammered
man Of the insurance persuasion. After
finishing our supper and lighting our cigars
my friend j. who had been in the place long
enough to learn the ropes" proposed stroll.
in our walk a door over which was the sign
"curiosities from all parts Of the earth,
Relics from POmpei, Fragments taken from
Colossus at Rhodes Necromancy made plain
etc, etc Admission cts p" we entered.
4 pOrtly woman had charge Of the relics,
the antediuvian appearance Of which had all
been acquired within the past fifty years.
Some June bugs labeled 'necrophores, and
multitude of specimens Of Maine bugiom all
labeled under the head Of coleopteri.
necturus or two looking far less ugly than
when roaming mud creek in serenity, and a
shelf full of specimens thrown out from the
a..
Institute, these and other rubbish com
pleted the curiosity department. Standing
by TIA" door, giving each one who deposited
nickle in his broad palm, a 'wound-up-for-
tcn-hours smile, stood the boss of the place
Put t ncle sam as pictured out, before
your eyes imagine him clothed in a suit Of
black worstel of the fashion in vogue during
the war, and you have your man. The polish
on this suit and on the clerical tie may have
been acquired in searching for
relies among the pyramids of
Egypt, but believed it to have
been obtained in home enterprise ~ Costs
you only fifteen cents to test the most ac-
curate and scientifically constructed spirome-
ter known to the world of science. Go ahead
and try it Gus, said my friend and I'll beat
your record whatever it Is Ny blood was
up and grasped the mouth piece of that in
strumcnt with the determination to blow the
gearing ont of the Indicator. What's yer
capacty2 drawled the Boss Big above
par the bulls are working it for all it.
worth, said crcitcdly In the words of the
poet prepared to pIckcr, and taking long
drawn breath, placed the mouth-piece 10 my
lips and with extended eve. glared At the
machine, the bottom of which was on level
with my nose. 'Necromancy made plain
should say so. Gurgle gurglc, some fluid
touches my lips ere | can blow my blast.
Shades of my rich unclcs can it be Can thi.
that taste bc that which 50 often smell in
m, friends breath the first thing before break
fast, To be sure may now -Saggeratc a little
on the ideas | then had though | tell you
| VA. surprised to say the least, but had to
swallow or choke and Il swallowed. Judg-
ing from my friends smile after he had tried
his hand at the instrument, think he must
have beaten me but went away satisfied in
all hut my curiosity If I'd given my capac-
ty As low what would have been the results?
asked Beer, was the laconic reply of J.
As afterwards learned, the spiromcter was
connected by concealed pipes with small
liquor kegs hidden in a niche of the wall"