Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-09
= ALL-NIGHT DRUG STORES.
They Are Now o Permanent Institution
In Washington.


In Washington.
CLERK TELLS OF SOME OF THE CURIOUS INCL
DENTS WHICH HAVE HAPPENED. BETWEEN MID
NIGHT AND DAYLIGHr-soDA WITH A 'ssr1cK'
IN 1.-THE MORPHINE YrRND.
"Open all night" is the sign displayed on
the windows of at least three drug stores in this
city. Some people would perhaps think that
1t would not pay to keep drug store open all
night, but the revenue must Justify the ex-
pense, or the proprietors would not indulge in
the luxury OF two sets of clerks, for those who
stay on all night cannot be expected to work
during the day. nor can those who are COM
pounding prescriptions and selling soda water
and tooth powder during the day continue to
do that sort of thing throughout the night
Every drug store has a night bell and clerk
VINO sleeps in the back part of the stofe-usu-
ally back OF the prescription counter--and his
nerves are so trained that the first ring Of the
bell wakes him and he gets to the door as soon
as he can put on sufficient clothing to make
himself presentable. 1t is only in cases of
emergency that man goes to a drug store
with prescription after midnight, and so the
number Of times that drug clerk is disturbed
In his slumbers is not very great. Still there
must be demand for an all night drug store
or there wouldn't be such an institution. 1t is
amoaern invention anyway, and 30 Tar as this
city Is concerned 1t is
OF VERY RECENT DATE.
A STAR reporter recently dropped into one Of
these all-night drug stores and had quite an
interesting talk with the clerk as to the Incl
dents that have come under his personal super
vision while the great mass of citizens were
slumbering peacefully in their beds.
Keeping open all night was an experiment
| at first" said the clerk, 'but after nearly
year trial 1t Is now permanent thing"
Don't you have some queer customers
sometimes? asked the reporter.
"Indeed do" was the reply "Some very
curious customers blow in here between mid
night and daylight Some of them are regular
and some are eccentric. Sometimes men take
this store for saloon, and come in blooming
full to get another drink. OF course they don't
get it"
"Then you don't sell whisky at all at night?"
"Oh, no; 1t wouldn't do. II I sold to one
would have to sell to every one. You have no
idea OF the many men who come in and ask
it."
Glow do they take your refusal?"
Usually they accept the situation and go off
to some all-night saloon, but sometimes thew
will stop and argue, then plead and beg for
the drink. 1t don't do any good. They might
just as well go away when first refused Occa-
sionaliy man will get ugly when tell him
won't let him have a drink. I had case of
that kind last night. A man came in pretty
well loaded and wanted glass of soda with
lemon syrup. After had put in the syrup, he
said, Put stick in it. / told him couldn't
sell him any whisky, and he said he would
make me. He was great big fellow, but I
couldn't afford to have any foolishness wit
him. walked out from behind the counter,
went to the door and opened it, and told him
to get out He hesitated moment, and then
said If he didn't go, and quick, too, would
call a policeman and have him run in. Then
he went. know all the policemen on this beat,
and anyone of them would readily respond if 1
should call. There is usually one very near
here at all times during the night"
CASE OF MYSTERIES.
Just then an old colored woman, with shawl
thrown over her head, came in and handed a
bottle to the clerk. He took it, looked at the
label, and asked: ''This for the madam"
No indeedy," said the darby lone oh de
ladies done got highstrikes. thot it was a fit.
orful"
nns 's, stt pg the prescription and the old
That class gives us a great deal of trade"
said the clerk. Snow the girl for whom that
prescription is intended has probably been on
a big spree, and her nerves are all upset. That
will quiet her down and put her to sleep if she
will let up on her liquor Prescriptions coming
from that direction are not always for women.
Many men wind up a spree in that locality.
and try to straighten up before they go home"
Just then a new man came in with q wistful,
hungry look in his eyes, and, calling the clerk
aside, whispered something in his ear .sNo,"
said the clerk, mot without prescription"
but I believe will die il don't get IT,"
said the man.
''You may die If you do get it," said the
0'erL anS Ss I'm not going to run any risks"
enough experience in the business to know
what condition I'm in by my looks All want
Is a single grain. That'll last me until morning.
For Gods sake, man, don't you see how I'm
II know you're in agony, but can't give YOU
any morphine without prescription. II You
should happen to be in Just that state where
you would take too much and peg out. then
where would be? I'll tell you what will do.
III M you up something that will brace you up
a little until morning, but it won't have any
morphine in it,
The clerk fixed up nervine. which the man
swallowed at q single gulp, but his face had an
expression Of disgust as he went out of the
store and it could be plainly seen that it didn't
touch the spot.
II saw that that man
WAS MORPHINE FIEND
when he first came into the store, and I'll bet
five grains would only give him few hours
oblivion"
.'Do you have many calls of that kind2"
"Oh, yes; they ask for morphine. laudanum,
pareSorlc, cOcOalne, and all that sort of thing
Besides those who are addicted to the opium
habit there are the Jamaica ginger and alcohol
drinkers"
care there many of those?"
More than you would imagine. Many take
alcohol from an economic standpoint. Alco-
hol, a. you know, is IS per cent proof spirits.
The whisky that we use and sell Tor medicinal
purposes Is supposed to be between 40 and so
per cent, but II doesn't reach that standard. 40
that it is safe to say that alcohol il three times
stronger than whisky. Now there Ii q man
who Is q regular customer for alcohol who
buys 10 cents worth, and has it put in Q half
pint bottle, which he brings with him. He was
In here just before You came and got his 10
cents worth, which / put in his half-pint flask.
Now he fills up that flask with water and then
he has a drink stronger than that much whisky
would be-"
HE must be copper lined to drink that
stuff, !" said the reporter.
swell. don't suppose there's much of
the lining of his stomach left" said the
clerk. But he Is not the only alcohol
drinker by q good deal. Some put a little
sugar into the diluted liquid and some will
squeeze the Juice of Q lemon into the bot
tie. Sometimes have some very sad cases
The other night girl came in all trembling
with excitement. ! could see that she had been
crying and that she was in trouble. She had
put dime down on the counter and wanted
that worth of laudanum. told her couldn't
sell it to her without prescription from a
physician. She said that did sell to some
folks without prescription, and I toldjher that
I wouldn't let her have II anyway, because I
believed abe