The state herald., 1892-07-22
sRSJolr HON. ID Inn.
The Reason John Hawy closed His Dis.
tlisrj.

Ah0 1sY8oOA YUM A1Wv SAOB0o I1N Obus
tiilsrt.
In the early days Of the present
century, In New England drinking
habits were very. common among the
people They were encouraged and
cultivated by the local dlstilleries
says the Youths Companion which
were found in almost all towns.
There was q heavy traffic In rum with
the West Indies with Africa and with
other parts OF the United States and
the distillation Of this liquor was con-
sidered q very important industy, Well
wQrthy Of fostering.
Unlike other commoditiea the de.
mand for which usually creates the
supply, an abundant local supply Of
liquor usually creates local demand
for 1t; and the New England towns
where rum was made consumed large
quantities Of the product Of their own
distilieriea
Merchants ind shopkeepors, to 1t.
tract custom. often made practice OF
placing open pals OF new rum on
their countera Each pail was pro-
vided with wooden dipper and
everyone who entered was free 10
drink as much rum as he liked.
In the town OF N. where little
rum was used except that inade BY tho
local distiller. John Hawa practice
grew up not without reason. OF attrib-
uting every case Of drunkenness and
the evil which resulted from II to the
man who mndo the rum.
Whenever a man was found intoxi.
cated-which was very. very often
and was roproached for his condition,
he would oxclaim
oh. that John Haws!"
The phrase became proverbial ia
tho plhce. Tho distilieE who was a
very important man In the town
heard II repeated, and became very
angry that people should impute tho
results Of their own excesses to him.
He threatened that II the practice
went on. he would prosecute for sian.
der the man who uttered the words
oh. that John Haws!" in any such
offensive way.
One evening In midwinter as the
distiller was going homo from n So
lectmen's meeting lighted lantern in
hand. he camo upon the body OF a
man lying In the snow at the foot OF u
tree. The light fell upon tho fore
head OF the figure and showed II
rough cut freshly bleeding.
What's thisP What's this?' ex-
claimed Haws STOPPING down.
As he did SO he noticed. to his horror
that tho face was that Of his own son
n young man Of whom he had great
hopes and In whom. to his grea,
pleasure he had seen little tendency
to follow the drinking habits of the
place.
The father saw the bleeding cut In
tho forehead and supposed. on the
instant that his son had been us.
saulted by some one whom ho the
father had threatened with prosoou.
tion.
lilo shook the boy by tho shoulder
TO SEQ II he still had life
What Is it my son?' no OK.
claimed. despairingly. '-Oh. who
has done this?"
The young man opened his eyes
sleepily.
oh that John Iaws!-that John
Hawsl" he murmurcd
The boy. in fact had been led by
companions into drinking his father
rum Mt the store. On his way home.
walking unsteadily he had struck hi.
head against tho trce ind had fallen
senseless His father had come VI
just rs his senses began to rcvive, and
no had drunkenly uttered tho current
phrase OF tho village
The father dragged his son home
ie was so much affected by tn,
young mans unconscious and entirely
true accusation. that ho soon gave VI
the manufacture OF rum; and there
has never since boon distillcry II
tho town OF NJ