The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-05-24
THE DRUMsIEg.S STORY.


them, and wish to say before | go farther,
that for durability and beautiful / match
their goods against the whole world. My
route takes me through most Of the West
efn states; the incident I am about to re-
late occurred in q bright little city that lies
somewhat between the Atlantic and Chica-
go. After a long, cold ride, | reached the
hotel just in season for the elaborate sup
per that is spread temptingly before the
guests of that well kept house. late heart
ily. am a dyspeptic. Exercise was nee
esssary to insure a nights rest, and, with
regret, turned down my gas, and emerged
into the biting air of the frosty December
night. The town had always pleased me;
the fine business blocks, wide streets, rows
of comfortable, il not elegant, residences,
and well kept lawns, had always made it
seem to me a model town. q walk with
out aim or purpose is to ne irksome. l
soon wearied of the familiar streets. /
must do something. l counted the electric
lights, then the lamp posts, but soon tired
Of this. Then Noticed the unusual nam
Der Of saloons l passed in the side streets
where I had wandered. Here was a new
interest | wonld count the s~aloonsi Up
and down, from Main Street to the Dublins
Of the manufacturing district and the Can
ada Of the flats, | wandered until the time
to which had limited myself had expired.
turned to my room, and, drawing my
chair near the glowing CRATE, turned to the
pile of papers lying on the table by my side.
A light knock at the door aroused me, and
before | could respond, a tall, well dressed
man, entered the room. | politely gave
him a chair. and waited his pleasure. He
scarcely responded to my remarks about
the weather, etc. NV curiosity was
aroused.
'Are you the proprietor?" I ventured
to ask.
"Wcll, no; not exactly" he replied hes
itatipgly, with a most disagrceable express
sion. Did he laugha 1 thought so, but
his visage was not in the least mirthful.
@You are interested in saloons % he
asked presently.
'tYFell, yes, in a way; you havea al aston
ishing number here" | replied. Again /
heard a laugh; indeed the room seemed
fall Of laughs of all kinds. There vas the
loud ''haw-haw" of the very saloon itself;
the high, nervous chuckle; the more pol
ished caehination Of the parlor. / arose
and looked around. The room was empty,
save for my companion opposite, whose
unmirtfful expression forbade the thought
of ass ociating the sounds with him.
Il thought I heard"
I'm the street, in the street, my dear sir;
this is a noisy corner, . interrupted my Wis
itor. 1--WE were speaking of saloons" he
continued, 1--WE do a great business here, a
great business"
II wonder at that l replied. You
have an unusual number of churches,
and again I was interrupted by laugh
ter so near my ear that I sprang from my
chair. Ny companion was laughing nov,
and the remarkable contortion Of face so
riyeted my attention that I sank back into
my chair.
'You spoke of churches" he said, when
be could command his voice; they're a
queer lot, a queer lot; why, sir, there's
scarcely a minister that dares to lift his
voice againt our saloons; they don't even
pray for the temperance cause. Oh, sir,
how they dopray for everything but that"
and again he fell of into aughtera and contor-
ton that chilled my blood. Igrew uneasy,
for I recognized my visitor; most of rs be-
fore We have reached middle age AVE met
him. There are some who are, unfortunate
ly, too familiar with his presence; there are
others who like myself have ceased to fear
his power. was interested in his ideas
upon the subject OF saloons.
"But there is a flourishing Y. NJ. c. A."
| continued, ..that should be a power in
the community
My visitor sprang from his chair in his
excitement. s.You saw the building, sir, a
fine structure; built at immense cost;
rooms fitted up to rival the finest of our
cradles;-we call 'em cradles, sir, because
they have to do with the young, and we
rock and-oh, yes, fine building; but, SIR"
Il wish I could describe the diabolical
leer that accompanied these words. I COW
cred my eyes while he continued, 'sThey
never speak of temperance there; they sing
and pray, how they do pray!'
''No, sir; never a word Of temperance.
Look here, sir.' exclaimed my visitor,
dlawing a paper from his pocket, 81 have
hero a chart of the town, perhaps you
would be interested to examine it?"
He swept the papers from the table and
spread before me a map of the town. 1t
was unlike anything ! nave ever seen. l
can not describe it. Could Que look down
from the stars above through luminus va
por into the heart of the city, the view
might resemble this spread before me-. Resi-
denccs, business blocks, churches, were all
sketched with mastery hand upon the cam
vas.
eve represent our interest in blne, be
said, lit lights u2 well, you see
The town seemed fairly burning in blue,
s~ulphuroas vapor that seemed TO issue
from every patto of the chart. This streams
from the saloons were almost dazzling.
"Who is not against us is for u.s. con-
tAr.. ~~..r+ So 4ln